Kayvon Thibodeaux isn't Giants' only problem with Arvell Reese draft pick originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
No one was really blaming the New York Giants for picking Arvell Reese with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
On paper, that was great value. But on the Giants' depth chart, it's more confusing.
New York already has Brian Burns, and last year's top pick Abdul Carter, and trade candidate Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The reports came out almost immediately that this pick didn't signal a Thibodeaux trade, but something has to give on that front.
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Even if that happens, though, Thibodeaux isn't the only issue here.
Things are simply crowded for the Giants. Reese is versatile, but the Giants saw that moving Carter all over the place as a rookie may not have been the best move. Would they repeat that with Reese anyway?
"How do the Giants fit Reese into the mix?" ESPN's Jordan Raanan wrote after the selection. "They already have edge rushers Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the roster. This would seem to put Thibodeaux's future in further doubt. Thibodeaux is set to play this season on his fifth-year option. A trade could be on the horizon. Even with Burns, Carter and Reese, it will be a challenge for new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson to get the talented rookie on the field enough to justify this high pick."
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The Giants didn't worry about those questions when they got on the clock.
Reese had seemed likely to go anywhere from picks 2-4. He didn't, though.
"Quite simply, he's one of the best prospects in this draft," Raanan writes. "The Giants didn't expect him to be available. Reese projects primarily as an edge rusher but also has played inside linebacker at Ohio State. He can move around the field and is a unique athlete, having run the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at 241 pounds."
If everything works out, Carter and Reese could be a fearsome duo for years to come. There's some roster movement that might have to happen to get to that point.
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