The 2026 New York Giants started the NFL season strong after adding plenty of young talent in the last NFL Draft. Early in the season, the Giants' fifth overall pick, 21-year-old Arvell Reese, has given the team plenty of hope on defense. The former Ohio State star came to New York with high expectations, but nobody expected him to make this big of an impact this quickly. His pure athleticism has given New York plenty of opportunities to move him around the defense. Throughout only five weeks of the season, the 21-year-old has played snaps at linebacker and as an edge rusher. This was something he was known for in college as well, and it has translated very well to the NFL. This was a big reason the G-Men drafted Reese in this past year's NFL Draft. NFL defenses need linebackers that can stay in coverage with talented pass catchers and have the ability to play the run. The Giants rookie linebacker showed those abilities in college and has shown them throughout the early part of the season as well.
So far, the hot start to the season hasn't just highlighted Reese as possibly the best rookie in the league; it also has shown he is one of the best defensive players in general within the NFL. In just five starts, the 21-year-old has recorded 42 tackles, one sack, and one interception. Another big reason to be optimistic is his defensive core around him. The G-Men have built up a stacked defense with feared rushers like Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Not only do these seasoned veterans have much knowledge to help Reese get even better, but they also make his job as a defender much easier. When a team has multiple big-time defenders, they will draw double teams, leaving other great defenders with one-on-one matchups.
As time goes on, the former Buckeyes linebacker will help determine the success of the Giants' defense for years to come. Young players often have a hard time adjusting to the speed and knowledge needed to be successful in the NFL, but Reese seems to have fit in right away. Calling him the star of the 2026 NFL Draft may be a bit early, as other rookies still have the rest of the season to make their mark, but one thing is for sure. If the NFL season ended today, it's pretty clear the New York Giants struck gold with their fifth pick and got the best player available. Time will tell if this statement stays true, so we have to just wait till the end of the season to see.
