It looked like the New York Giants got a steal when they saw versatile linebacker Arvell Reese still on the board with the fifth-overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but not everybody is a fan of the choice, with one critic warning the Giants they made a huge mistake taking Reese and choosing the wrong player for a position of obvious need.
The warning was relayed to Mike Sando of The Athletic. He was told by an unnamed team’s executive how the Giants “should have drafted Sonny Styles, because he’s the one that got Reese lined up every day, and I think was better than Reese. Reese just disappeared in some of those games. They are talking about playing him off the ball, but if they wanted an off-the-ball linebacker, take Styles. He’d be the leader, the captain, the culture, the play style — everything you want from John Harbaugh’s guy.”
A reference to Reese’s former Ohio State teammate Sonny Styles is significant because he went to Big Blue’s NFC East rivals the Washington Commanders just two picks after Reese. So the Giants made a conscious choice to take Reese over Styles, despite the latter being a more natural fit for the role head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen have planned for their top pick.
Moving Reese away from the edge, where some believe he plays his best football, is just one reason certain observers think the Giants lacked a coherent plan for this draft.
Yet, the doubters are missing the broader point about Reese, including why the Giants chose the right Buckeyes linebacker.
Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles Comparisons Won’t Go Away
This isn’t the first time a comparison between Reese and Styles reflected badly on the Giants. While it’s true Styles has more to his game than may first appear, there are also risks involved in using a top-10 pick on a player generally expected to be a starting middle linebacker as a rookie.
Reese’s more flexible skill-set actually gives the Giants a measure of insurance for his development at the pro level. If he doesn’t make it as an inside ‘backer, the 20-year-old has enough athletic upside to pivot to being a dynamic edge-rusher.
This may be Reese’ best long-term fit among a rotation already headlined by 16.5-sack Pro Bowler Brian Burns, 2025 No. 3 pick Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux, drafted in the Styles slot four years ago.
Adding Reese to this mix might look like a luxury the Giants can’t afford, but more planning went into his selection. Planning that also accounted for the other notable criticism of Big Blue’s draft approach.
Giants Deserve More Credit for Draft Plan
The Giants didn’t choose Reese on a whim. Not after Schoen spent almost a year laying the groundwork for the pick.
Taking Reese was no luxury, despite other needs on the roster. Not after the Giants were forced to trade All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals before the draft.
Losing Lawrence prompted another executive to tell Sando, “I just don’t feel like there is much of a plan. Did they replace Dexter Lawrence? You can’t keep on trading your good players. You aren’t gonna replace Dexter Lawrence with the 10th pick in most drafts, let alone this one. And considering the amount of money that Dexter Lawrence signed for (one-year, $28 million extension), like, how could you not get that done? What happened?”
It’s natural the Giants would take heat for losing a player of Lawrence’s quality. Particularly when they were beaten to a potential rookie replacement in the second round of the draft.
The Giants also missed out on reuniting Harbaugh with a six-time Pro Bowler in free agency. A decorated veteran who chose a return to Harbaugh’s old stomping ground instead.
It might look as though the Giants left a sizeable, Lawrence-shaped hole in their draft and post-draft plans, but appearances can be deceiving. The fact is Lawrence wanted out, so the Giants did well to get the 10th-overall pick for a disgruntled 28-year-old.
Especially when the pick became tone-setting offensive lineman Francis ‘Sisi’ Mauigoa. He’s already expected to meet lofty expectations in a key spot.
Taking Mauigoa was a win, but there’s still room for a direct replacement for Lawrence. Even after the Giants have loaded up on unheralded defensive tackles.
Ultimately though, replacing Lawrence’s impact doesn’t have to be a like-for-like process. This is the true value of taking Reese.
He can be just as disruptive in different ways to defy the critics and more than justify his selection.
Giants Already Warned About Arvell Reese Draft Mistake