John Harbaugh makes Ohio State pass rushing LB Arvell Reese his first Giants pick

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News on Apr 23, 2026

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — John Harbaugh selected freakish, versatile, pass rushing Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with his first-ever Giants draft pick Thursday night.

Reese, 20, is a 6-4, 241-pounder who can play the edge or off the ball. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and played a variety of roles in Buckeyes coordinator Matt Patricia’s defense.

It sounds like that’s how Harbaugh and new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson intend to use him here in New York, too.

“The Giants told me they’re gonna get unique with me, use me in a bunch of unique ways,” Reese said immediately after the Giants picked him. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Reese is the third youngest top-five NFL draft pick since 2000 at 20 years and 235 days old, per ESPN.

He joins a Giants pass rushing and linebacking corps that includes former Panthers first-round pick Brian Burns, former Giants first-round picks Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux and former Bills first-round pick Tremaine Edmunds.

Thibodeaux has been a subject of trade conversations recently and shares an agent with Reese at Klutch Sports Group. But the Giants leaked after selecting Reese that they do not intend to trade Thibodeaux despite picking the Ohio State standout.

Harbaugh had a choice at No. 5 of the best corner, offensive lineman, safety or true inside linebacker in the draft. But he opted for a hybrid inside backer who has the physical traits to develop into a scary pass rusher.

Both New York football teams picked pass rushers in the top five on Friday. The Jets selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 overall after the Las Vegas Raiders surprised no one and picked Indiana Heisman winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall.

The Giants had a high opinion of Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love, but the Arizona Cardinals took the home run hitting weapon at No. 3 overall. Then the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 gave Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll another skill player in wide receiver Carnell Tate, rather than going defense for new head coach Robert Saleh.

That dropped Reese to the Giants. Harbaugh could have taken LSU Mansoor Delane to help a barren secondary, but he stayed close to the line of scrimmage with the Reese.

The Kansas City Chiefs then charged up from No. 9 to No. 6 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns and took Delane. They swapped picks and gave the Browns a third-round pick and a fifth rounder to get their guy.

“They made the best move in the draft,” Delane said of the Chiefs. “I’m excited.”