Joe Schoen: Giants weren't trading back if Arvell Reese was available

New York Giants rookie linebacker Arvell Reese was one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh.

The Giants selected Reese with the fifth overall pick, even though the former Ohio State star was projected as a top-three selection by many analysts. Reese could easily become a top contributor on the Giants’ defense next season, as the rookie flashed superstar potential on numerous occasions throughout his three seasons with the Buckeyes.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen was recently asked about the exact moment he knew Reese would still be available at No. 5. Schoen said the talented linebacker was an easy choice for New York.

"When Tennessee was on the clock," he told SiriusXM. "We knew leading up to it that if he was there, we had a couple of players in mind that—if they were there—we were going to stay. We had a couple of opportunities to potentially move back; we had gotten some calls earlier in the week. But there were a couple of players that we just weren’t going to move out of the pick if they were there, and Arvell Reese fit that mold. It was an interesting draft.

"The Jets did a good job keeping their cards close to the vest, and nobody really knew what they were going to do until they were on the clock. Everybody assumed it was Bailey or Reese, and then Arizona went with Love. Once Tennessee went with Carnell Tate, we knew we were going to be able to get Reese, and we were ecstatic."

Reese was projected as the No. 2 overall selection behind former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza by a wide range of NFL analysts. At 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds, he is a massive linebacker who will undoubtedly enter his rookie campaign with a chip on his shoulder. The former Buckeye should quickly become a star on New York's defense in 2026.

Reese and the rest of the Giants' 2026 draft class will put their talents on full display this weekend during rookie minicamp, giving fans their first glimpse of the rising star in action from May 8-10.