The expectation is that the New York Giants won’t get the chance to select Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese in the 2026 NFL Draft, barring a trade up, but that hasn’t stopped them from keeping close tabs on the dynamic freak athlete, according to the latest news and rumors.
“Ohio State’s Arvell Reese had dinner with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints this week in Columbus, and he also had a lengthy meeting with the New York Giants around his pro day workout,” reported ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler on March 26.
WBNS reporter Nicole Shearin also noted that “Giants HC John Harbaugh was spotted chatting it up with Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese” at the Ohio State pro day. Photos and videos of Harbaugh and Reese confirmed this Giants news.
Some might find it strange that the Giants are keeping such close tabs on Reese, considering he’s the favorite to come off the board at No. 2 overall, just behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza. But their interest could mean one of two things.
Either the Giants believe there’s a chance Reese could fall to No. 5 overall — and prefer to do their due diligence on the top-ranked draft prospect just in case — or Harbaugh and company are at least considering the idea of a trade up.
Potential Giants Target Arvell Reese Might Be the Most Talented Prospect in the Entire 2026 NFL Draft
GettyIs Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese an option for the New York Giants in the NFL draft?
Reese is currently ranked first overall on The Athletic’s consensus top 100 big board. That’s no surprise; his stock has only gone up after an impressive Combine performance and pro day.
“If you were in Columbus today, in person, watching Arvell Reese workout, and didn’t come away thinking that this is a premium level athlete with unlimited upside, you should quit talking about athletes. Forever,” ex-NFL vet and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick proclaimed on March 25, fueling Reese’s draft buzz.
“Don’t even bother watching his tape actually playing the game. In pads,” Riddick continued. “You will never get it. Ever.”
If Riddick sounds a bit argumentative here, there’s a reason for that. Video clips of Reese performing edge rusher drills went viral after the Ohio State pro day, as some social media accounts criticized the linebacker’s lack of “bend.”
It should be stated that Reese is not an edge rusher by trade. He might develop into one at the NFL level, but his college experience is at off-ball linebacker.
Needless to say, Reese supporters like Riddick took to social media to defend the 20-year-old prospect this week.
This is all relevant for the Giants, who might be hoping Reese falls to No. 5. If he does, it’ll be because teams are nervous about Reese’s transition to edge rusher.
Reese Is Often Compared to Ex-NYG Rival Micah Parsons
In 2025, the Giants drafted a prospect who had been compared to superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons. That player was fellow Penn State star Abdul Carter.
Carter still has a long way to go in proving the Parsons comp correct, but now Reese is generating similar attention.
“He’s probably the closest thing we’ve seen to Micah Parsons — on a prospect level — since Parsons himself,” The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner wrote on March 26. Adding: “He’s one of the youngest players in the class, and his body of work isn’t very deep, but his flashes in 2025 were brilliant.”
Similarly, veteran NFL draft expert Todd McShay (The Ringer) agreed that “Parsons is the most obvious comp for Reese, as he’s a former off-ball linebacker who has a similar skill set and transitioned to edge in the NFL.”
However, McShay also suggested linebacker Devin Lloyd as a potential NFL comp if Reese stays at inside linebacker.
At the end of the day, Reese’s most enticing trait is the “unlimited upside” Riddick referenced. NFL Network scouting expert Lance Zierlein wrote that the Buckeyes star’s “rare blend of traits, explosiveness and versatility could become a perfect storm of chaos once a defense decides how to deploy him.”
Giants Keeping Close Tabs on Freak Athlete With ‘Unlimited Upside’