Entering the first year of the John Harbaugh era, the New York Giants have completely revamped their roster under the image of their new head coach.
Free agency was successful for the Giants. They added several veterans who make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, tight end Isaiah Likely, and defensive tackle D.J. Reader will play pivotal roles for New York.
However, the 2026 NFL Draft class should be even bigger for the Giants. Guard Francis Mauigoa and cornerback Colton Hood are likely to be Day 1 starters as rookies.
But New York’s top draft pick, hybrid linebacker Arvell Reese, is supposedly facing the most pressure entering the offseason to be a Day 1 contributor, considering the question of what position he will be playing.
Arvell Reese Facing ‘Most Pressure’ Entering OTAs
According to Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo, Reese is facing the most pressure of any New York Giants rookie heading into OTAs.
It’s not necessarily because there’s a question of how good he is as a prospect, but because it remains unclear just how the Giants will use him in 2026, and how effective he’ll be as a pass rusher or off-ball linebacker.
“The New York Giants took a best player approach when they selected Arvell Reese. The team-prospect fit was initially odd, considering Reese was expected to transition from linebacker to full-time pass rusher,” wrote Melo.
“The Giants are loaded at EDGE, with last year’s first-round pick Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and for now, Kayvon Thibodeaux. That means the former Ohio State standout will be staying in an off-ball role. From Reese’s developmental plan to usage on defense, there’s some pressure to prove all parties involved can make this work.”
At Ohio State, Reese played as a true linebacker for the majority of his exhilarating 2025 season and moonlighted as a pass rusher.
His physical tools and 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame led most NFL draft analysts to project him as a pass rusher despite his lack of experience.
It seems like Reese will mostly be utilized in tandem with Edmunds, the Giants’ starting inside linebacker, considering the team’s depth at pass rusher.
But doesn’t that mean there’s less pressure on Reese to start his NFL career?
Arvell Reese Not Facing Pressure… Yet
Despite Melo’s argument, it doesn’t really seem like there’s that much pressure on the New York Giants rookie to perform quite yet.
Of course, when you select a player with the No. 5 overall pick, you expect them to be a contributor right away, and Reese absolutely should.
He comes out of the box as a rangy and athletic off-ball linebacker and will see plenty of reps at that position in 2026.
But there’s no pressure for Reese to be an All-Pro pass rusher right away, especially with how the Giants roster is currently constructed.
With Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux all set to come screaming off the edge for New York in 2026, Reese likely won’t see many opportunities to get after opposing quarterbacks as a rookie.
He can take his time developing his pass-rush skill set while making plays as a linebacker in the middle of the Giants’ defense.
Giants Draft Pick Arvell Reese Facing ‘Immediate Pressure’ to Perform Entering OTAs