Giants host linebacker Arvell Reese in NFL draft news and rumors
Getty
The New York Giants are looking into Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese before the NFL draft.
John Harbaugh’s actions at the Ohio State Pro Day sparked a new NFL draft rumor, as the New York Giants head coach was seen chatting up linebacker Arvell Reese throughout the workout. On April 3, the latest Giants news supported theories that Big Blue might select Reese if he makes it to No. 5 overall.
“Ohio State LB Arvell Reese has had Top 30 visits with the Jets, Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Chiefs, and Cowboys, per me and @MikeGarafolo,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport relayed on X. The trusted reporter added that draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah “has Reese as the No. 2 pick by NYJ in his latest mock draft.”
To be clear, there’s no guarantee Reese is on the board by the time the Giants are on the clock. In fact, Reese appears to be the consensus pick for the Jets at No. 2 overall, as Jeremiah predicted.
However, Harbaugh’s interest in the Ohio State hybrid LB/EDGE appears to be real, despite his current draft outlook.
Call it due diligence if you’d like, but Reese is a bit of a polarizing prospect. Some love his upside and potential, while others fear he will be positionless at the professional level.
Early on in the NFL draft process, it did not seem as though the Giants were overly intrigued by Reese. After the Combine, most of the Giants’ draft rumors revolved around teammates Sonny Styles (LB), Caleb Downs (S), and Carnell Tate (WR), as well as Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
But the Reese connection has heated up a bit in recent weeks. If the Jets were to pass on Reese, they could theoretically trade the pick to their crosstown brothers in blue.
Or, perhaps the Ohio State star slides to No. 5 due to positional concerns.
Arvell Reese Debate Rages on Amid Giants NFL Draft Rumors
Giants' Arvell Reese rumors fueled by NFL draft news
GettyThe New York Giants are spending a top-30 pre-draft visit on Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.
This draft class is filled with love-them-or-hate-them type prospects. And Reese is right there at the top of the list.
Some believe Reese is the most talented player in the entire 2026 draft class.
His Combine numbers were ridiculous, similar to Styles, and at age 20, the potential feels limitless as Reese puts on more size and muscle. Having said that, there are more technically sound edge rushers in this draft, and Reese said he sees himself as an edge at the NFL level.
“I think Arvell Reese is an incredibly explosive athlete who I would love to give the freedom to hunt the ball constantly (think Edgerrin Cooper),” NFL draft expert Trevor Sikkema weighed in on March 25. Despite that, Sikkema ended the post by adding that he believes Miami’s Rueben Bain is the better edge, with Styles as the better off-ball linebacker.
That’s basically the Reese debate in a nutshell. He’s an athletic freak, unlike anything most NFL fans have ever seen, but will his dynamic traits translate as a professional edge rusher or linebacker?
Needless to say, as of April 3, the jury is still out. But at least the Giants took a close look for themselves.