The 20-year-old defender from Cleveland, Ohio, had been widely projected as a top-three overall pick throughout the pre-draft process. He was rarely linked to the Giants until the final 48 hours before the draft kicked off.
Reese brings elite athleticism, versatility, and a compelling personal story to a Giants defense in the midst of a rebuild.
Dallas Cowboys (home, away)
Washington Commanders (home, away)
Philadelphia Eagles (home, away)
Arizona Cardinals (home)
Cleveland Browns (home)
Jacksonville Jaguars (home)
New Orleans Saints (home)
San Francisco 49ers (home)
Tennessee Titans (home)
Detroit Lions (road)
Indianapolis Colts (road)
Houston Texans (road)
Seattle Seahawks (road)
Los Angeles Rams (road)
1 / 14
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: Best photos from Week 18
Dallas Cowboys (home, away)
1 / 14
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: Best photos from Week 18
Dallas Cowboys (home, away)
2 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Washington Commanders (home, away)
3 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Philadelphia Eagles (home, away)
4 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Arizona Cardinals (home)
5 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Cleveland Browns (home)
6 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Jacksonville Jaguars (home)
7 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
New Orleans Saints (home)
8 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
San Francisco 49ers (home)
9 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Tennessee Titans (home)
10 / 14
New York Giants vs. Detroit Lions: Best photos from Week 12
Detroit Lions (road)
11 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Indianapolis Colts (road)
12 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Houston Texans (road)
13 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Seattle Seahawks (road)
14 / 14
New York Giants' 2026 opponents
Los Angeles Rams (road)
Here are seven things to know about the promising young linebacker.
Elite size and athleticism
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 241-243 pounds, Reese possesses long 32½-inch arms and a wingspan exceeding 6-foot-7. His rare blend of length and versatility allows him to play both off-ball linebacker and stand-up edge rusher, offering the Giants a dynamic hybrid defender with third-down pass-rush potential.
Cleveland roots
Reese grew up in Clevelandās Glenville neighborhood and attended Glenville High School, where he was a four-star recruit. He helped lead the Tarblooders to a state championship and played a key role in reviving the programās strong pipeline to Ohio State football.
"Dog mentality" from a young age
Reese developed his aggressive, competitive edge early in life. At just five years old, he jumped into pads and began playing organized football while watching his older brother, fueling the intense ādog mentalityā that defines his on-field play.
Family strength and inspiration
His mother, Maeko Walker, battled a severe stroke and serious health challenges in his eighth-grade yearāincluding multiple surgeries and time in a wheelchairāyet never missed one of his games, becoming a pillar of resilience and motivation. His father, Alex Reese, guided him toward football despite earlier personal challenges, later becoming actively involved in his training and academics after his release from prison.
Strong academics
Reese has excelled off the field as a two-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honoree while majoring in human development and family science, demonstrating discipline beyond the gridiron.
Breakout 2025 season
In his junior year, Reese recorded 69 combined tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks while starting all 14 games. He earned consensus All-American honors, Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, and Butkus Award finalist recognition after contributing to Ohio Stateās 2024 national championship team.
Explosive combine performance
Reese ran a blazing 4.46-second 40-yard dash with a 1.58-second 10-yard split, showcasing the speed and burst that complement his length and make him a dangerous pursuit-and-pass-rush threat.
NFL Draft: Arvell Reese is first Ohio State defender taken at No. 5 to Giants
Arvell Reese, a standout linebacker from Ohio State, was selected by the New York Giants with the No. 5 overall pick in the NFL Draft. He was the first defender from Ohio State to be chosen this year.
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
MLBĀ·Recap
Cubs win ninth straight, walk off Phillies, who have lost nine in a row and are tied for MLB's worst record
Cubs extend winning streak to nine with walk-off against Phillies, who are on a nine-game losing streak.
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
Sports
How to watch UFC Vegas 116 āSterling vs. Zalalā
Catch UFC Fight Night 274: Sterling vs. Zalal live on Paramount+!
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
Sports
Did the Titans just draft the next great WR out of Ohio State?
Yahoo SportsĀ·
Sports
2026 NFL draft: New York Giants select Arvell Reese at No. 5 overall
Yahoo SportsĀ·
Sports
Titans draft Ohio State WR Carnell Tate fourth overall in major surprise