The New York Giants drafted Arvell Reese in the first round for his unique ability to play both EDGE and off-ball linebacker.
According to general manager Joe Schoen, the Giants intend to take advantage of that flexibility.
Schoen opened up about Reese’s ability to play multiple defensive positions and confirmed coach John Harbaugh’s stance of using him both as a pass rusher and as a traditional linebacker.
The Giants picked Reese with the first of their two first-round picks at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh last month.
Many were curious why the Giants would choose Reese, who was primarily deemed an EDGE, after they picked Abdul Carter in the first round (No. 3) in 2025 and Kayvon Thibodeaux (No. 5) in 2022.
Joe Schoen: Arvell Reese Will Play Linebacker and Edge for the Giants
Reese enters the NFL as one of the most versatile defensive player the Giants have had in some time, and Schoen effectively confirmed they will take advantage of that.
“Yeah, he’s going to be an off-the-ball linebacker for us and play [weakside inside linebacker] and I love the versatility,” Schoen said on “The Insiders” on NFL Network on Thursday. “Can he play some edge for us? Absolutely. Can we have him cover tight ends? Absolutely. He can play Will linebacker and play sideline to sideline. He’s a freakish athlete with tremendous size and length and violence.”
Thibodeaux has been the subject of trade rumors, and a deal could move Reese down to EDGE full time. But the Giants defense needs athleticism and versatility, since they finished 28th in overall defense in 2025.
“I’m excited about [Reese], and our coaches are, as well, how they’re going to deploy him and use him on the defense with some of the pieces that we currently have,” Schoen said. “Really excited about how that’s going to transpire this fall, and I like a lot of the pieces that we have in the defense, and we have a very good defensive staff, and excited to see how it all comes together.”
Joe Schoen Thinks the Giants Have Improved
The Giants have picked in the top-10 in nine of the past 12 drafts. Reese was their eighth top-7 draft pick in that span. At some point New York is going to need to put all this talent together on the field.
But Schoen thinks this is the year, with Harbaugh in the mix along with their important offseason additions.
“I really like where the roster is now — defensively, the inside linebacker room, the pass rush,” Schoen said. “Certainly excited about some of the additions this offseason. How that’s going to transpire into the fall, we’ll see.”
Rumors of Schoen being fired have dominated headlines for weeks, though he appears poised to start his sixth season as Giants GM. His work, both in the draft and free agency, have put Big Blue in a good position, and now it’s time for Harbaugh and the coaching staff to put it together between now and Week 1 of the NFL season.
“It’s about those guys building chemistry and coming together and being able to go out and do it on Sundays,” Schoen said.
Giants GM Joe Schoen Confirms Plan for First Round Pick Arvell Reese