Arvell Reese named among NFL.com's Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates
NFL.com's Dan Parr recently ranked his top 11 candidates to win the 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Landing in the top 5 was Giants linebacker Arvell Reese.
"Reese would probably be higher on this list if New York had cleared a spot for him to focus solely on rushing off the edge as a rookie," wrote Parr. "I'm sure the Giants will let him get after the passer in 2026, but they are starting him off as an off-ball linebacker, where he'll be further away from the action and likely missing out on some sack production (aka DROY gold) that would have otherwise been there for the taking.
"Regardless, there are draft analysts, including colleague Lance Zierlein, who viewed Reese as clearly the best player in this year's draft. So, it was a surprise to some when he had to wait to hear his name called until Pick No. 5. If DC Dennard Wilson puts together a plan to squeeze the most disruption out of Reese's rare athletic gifts, he'll be front and center in the awards conversation. The process might require some patience."
Playing under new Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Reese had a breakout season for Ohio State in 2025. The talented linebacker totaled 69 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Reese's 2025 performance led to him being named Consensus All-American in addition to the Big Ten Conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten.
The rookie linebacker has done a little bit of everything over the first week and a half of training camp, from getting after the quarterback to stopping the run, with some strong coverage downfield mixed in.
Still only 20 years old, Reese has already made a strong impression on the veteran he will play next to.
"I think the most impressive thing is that he wants to learn," linebacker Tremaine Edmunds told the media Thursday. "I like to talk about off the field because he's somebody that wants to learn, somebody that wants to get better. Anybody come up, say something to him, 'I got you.' And he knows ball. So, at the end of the day the ceiling is high for him. And he's out here working every day and he's putting it on display. So, he's going to be a good player for a while."
"You see the talent, obviously," coach John Harbaugh said about the rookie earlier this week. "I think he's very sharp for a first-year guy. He gets things right pretty much all the time, makes very few mistakes. He's a very serious-minded guy, and he's very determined. I mean, he's doing things well."
View practice photos from training camp at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.
RB Eric Gray (20)
Line of s scrimmage
wide receiver Malik Nabers (1)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
linebacker Abdul Carter (3)
RB Eric Gray (20)
New York Giants defensive line
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Dante Miller (25)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Dante Miller (25)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
New York Giants offensive line
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
The Giants Foundation 5K & Kids Run
Bring your friends, family and neighbors out to run The Giants Foundation 5K Presented by Quest® on Sunday, November 8th and finish in the end zone at MetLife Stadium!
