EAST RUTHERFORD - Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is coming to the Big Apple, just not to the team everyone expected.
The New York Giants have selected Reese with the No. 5 overall selection in the first round of the NFL Draft, the first pick of the John Harbaugh era. Reese was widely anticipated to be selected by the Jets at No. 2, and now he is a Giant.
Dec 14, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (26) fumbs the ball being tackled by New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesApr 25, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, US; New York Giants president John Mara (far left), general manager Joe Schoen (left), Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter, and head coach Brian Daboll (right) pose for photos prior to the start of the press conference to introduce the Giants first round draft picks. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn ImagesNew York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter.Jaxson Dart #6 and Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants celebrate after Skattebo carried the ball into the endzone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on October 09, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) takes a self with fans, after Big Blue beat the Dallas Cowboys, 34-17, Sunday, January 4, 2026, in East Rutherford.New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) walks off the field after winning a Thursday Night Football game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia EaglesNew York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates his rushing touchdown against the New York Jets.2025: Abdul Carter, No. 3 overall2024: Malik Nabers, No. 6 overall2023: Deonte Banks, No. 24 overall2022: Evan Neal, No. 7 overall2022: Kayvon Thibodeaux, No. 5 overall2021: Kadarius Toney, No. 20 overall2020: Andrew Thomas, No. 4 overall2019: Deandre Baker, No. 30 overall2019: Dexter Lawrence, No. 17 overall2019: Daniel Jones, No. 6 overall2018: Saquon Barkley, No. 2 overall2017: Evan Engram, No. 23 overall2016: Eli Apple, No. 10 overall2015: Ereck Flowers, No. 9 overall2014: Odell Beckham Jr., No. 12 overall2013: Justin Pugh, No. 19 overall2012: David Wilson, No. 32 overall2011: Prince Amukamara, No. 19 overall2010: Jason Pierre-Paul, No. 15 overall2009: Hakeem Nicks, No. 29 overall2008: Kenny Phillips, No. 31 overall2007: Aaron Ross, No. 20 overall2006: Mathias Kiwanuka, No. 32 overall1 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005Dec 14, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (26) fumbs the ball being tackled by New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images1 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005Dec 14, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols (26) fumbs the ball being tackled by New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images2 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005Apr 25, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, US; New York Giants president John Mara (far left), general manager Joe Schoen (left), Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter, and head coach Brian Daboll (right) pose for photos prior to the start of the press conference to introduce the Giants first round draft picks. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images3 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter.4 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005Jaxson Dart #6 and Cam Skattebo #44 of the New York Giants celebrate after Skattebo carried the ball into the endzone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on October 09, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.5 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) takes a self with fans, after Big Blue beat the Dallas Cowboys, 34-17, Sunday, January 4, 2026, in East Rutherford.6 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) walks off the field after winning a Thursday Night Football game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles7 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 2005New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates his rushing touchdown against the New York Jets.8 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052025: Abdul Carter, No. 3 overall9 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052024: Malik Nabers, No. 6 overall10 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052023: Deonte Banks, No. 24 overall11 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052022: Evan Neal, No. 7 overall12 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052022: Kayvon Thibodeaux, No. 5 overall13 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052021: Kadarius Toney, No. 20 overall14 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052020: Andrew Thomas, No. 4 overall15 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052019: Deandre Baker, No. 30 overall16 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052019: Dexter Lawrence, No. 17 overall17 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052019: Daniel Jones, No. 6 overall18 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052018: Saquon Barkley, No. 2 overall19 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052017: Evan Engram, No. 23 overall20 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052016: Eli Apple, No. 10 overall21 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052015: Ereck Flowers, No. 9 overall22 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052014: Odell Beckham Jr., No. 12 overall23 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052013: Justin Pugh, No. 19 overall24 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052012: David Wilson, No. 32 overall25 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052011: Prince Amukamara, No. 19 overall26 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052010: Jason Pierre-Paul, No. 15 overall27 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052009: Hakeem Nicks, No. 29 overall28 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052008: Kenny Phillips, No. 31 overall29 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052007: Aaron Ross, No. 20 overall30 / 30See all the NY Giants' first-round NFL Draft picks since 20052006: Mathias Kiwanuka, No. 32 overallThe 6-foot-4, 243-pound Reese had been pegged to go No. 2 to the Jets since the Combine, but there was recent speculation that he could slide a few spots if the Jets' Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey went edge David Bailey of Texas Tech, which is exactly what they did.
If that was the case, with Reese on the board for the Giants, they could not pass on him. Sure, his projection may be as an edge player, selecting him might be overkill with Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux - even if Thibodeaux emerges as a trade chip - on the roster.
But Reese has also stood out as an off-ball linebacker, and it's possible they wind up playing him there and just figuring out the best plan to make all of it work. Talent is talent.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Arvell Reese selected by Giants with No. 5 pick in 2026 NFL Draft