The New York Giants were widely lauded for selecting Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt was among those praising the selection, but not just because Reese will bolster the Giants’ pass rush.
In the most recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” Klatt pointed to the competition the Giants will face in the NFC East as to why Reese was a strong selection.
“Who do [the Giants] see twice a yr? They see Jalen Hurts, they usually see Jayden Daniels,” Klatt mentioned. “Jalen Hurts particularly had the second most drop backs that wound up being scrambles — 20% of his drop-backs wound up being scrambles.
“Now you will have a man that may deal with that and do it principally by himself [in Reese]. So, it’s a nice match not simply because he is an ideal participant, but additionally due to who they play.”
The Giants had been truly in a position to hold Hurts in examine this previous season, sacking him seven occasions and permitting him to hurry for simply 35 yards over two video games. However Daniels rushed for 68 yards in the one recreation he performed in opposition to the Giants in 2025.
Nonetheless, the Giants may use the enhance of expertise that Reese ought to carry to their protection. They had been within the backside 5 in whole protection, tied for fifteenth in sacks and twenty eighth in run-stop win charge.
Whereas Reese has been labeled as an edge rusher within the lead-up to the draft, he additionally performed loads of off-ball linebacker at Ohio State. Klatt, who had Reese ranked third on his top-50 prospects large board, believes that the 6-foot-3 defensive standout’s versatility will likely be a boon for New York’s protection, citing a pair of his performances throughout his days at Columbus as a purpose why.
“One of many methods he made an amazing influence final yr for Ohio State was as a spy due to the athleticism that he has. And it is true, I imply his athleticism is off the charts. We noticed it in opposition to Arch Manning, and we additionally noticed it in opposition to Demond Williams Jr.,” Klatt mentioned on Monday’s version of “The Joel Klatt Present.”
“Demond Williams Jr. was one of many nice scramblers in all of faculty soccer. He could not do something in opposition to Ohio State, primarily due to Arvell Reese. Reese was spying on him, and he was watching him, and he couldn’t create outdoors of the pocket.”
New York Giants in Joel Klatt’s winners of the NFL Draft 🏈 Joel Klatt Present
Joel Klatt revealed who he thinks received the NFL Draft and explains why he believes the Giants had been a winner of the draft, taking Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa within the high 10.
To Klatt’s level, Williams put up minus-28 dashing yards in that recreation as he was sacked six occasions in Ohio State’s victory over Washington. Reese did not log any of these sacks, however he helped decelerate Williams’ course of on a number of events, resulting in sacks.
The Giants completed the season 4-13 and fired former head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen in November after Daboll’s 2-8 begin. Within the offseason, New York turned to rent John Harbaugh, bringing within the veteran head coach shortly after he was fired by the Baltimore Ravens in January. With a playoff-caliber coach in Harbaugh and new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson in place, Reese’s expertise may assist reignite the defensive facet of the ball this season, as some imagine he can help the Giants quickly turn things around.
