The New York Giants have officially begun their first training camp under the leadership of head coach John Harbaugh. One of the moves that Harbaugh will be judged on in the early part of his Giants tenure is the selection of his very first draft pick with the team; where the Giants drafted linebacker Arvell Reese.
Reese, who was selected fifth overall in the 2026 NFL draft, was shockingly still on the board by the time the Giants were on the clock and was just simply too talented to pass up on. So far, Reese has impressed Harbaugh with his football smarts on the field.
“Very encouraged. I think he looked good today from what I could see. I can’t wait to see the tape, but he’s playing really well. He’s been playing well the whole camp since he got here,” Harbaugh told reporters on Monday. “You see the talent, obviously. I think he’s very sharp for a first-year guy. He gets things right pretty much all the time, makes very few mistakes. He’s a very serious-minded guy, and he’s very determined. I mean, he’s doing things well.”
When Reese was selected by the Giants, many wondered where he would fit on a crowded group of pass rushers including Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter. However, Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen were quick to share their plans to play him at linebacker.
Reese is thought to be an exciting piece added to a defense loaded with talent, particularly at the front seven. The defense severely underperformed last year under defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. With Dennard Wilson now the team’s defensive coordinator, the Giants defense as a whole is expected to take a major leap forward, and many believe the Giants defense could be elite this season.
Clearly, Reese’s speed and overall talent are something that has the Giants coaching staff excited to see an immediate impact on the field in his rookie year.
Reese will be joining Tremaine Edmunds on the back end of the front seven that is thought to impress this coming season.
Reese’s performance so far in training camp is something the Giants can hope to transition smoothly right into their preseason games and into the regular season. However, so far, Reese is certainly showing why he warranted the fifth overall pick being spent on him.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants’ John Harbaugh ‘very encouraged’ by Arvell Reese
Reporting by Tyler Henry, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tyler Henry, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
