2026 NFL Draft

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Arvell Reese was No. 1 on Giants' draft board

Apr 23, 2026 at 11:32 PM

Senior Managing Editor, Giants.com

Joe Schoen and his staff go through countless scenarios leading up to the draft, which this year included two top-10 picks for the Giants.

Not a lot of them had Arvell Reese, the All-American linebacker from Ohio State, available at No. 5.

"No," the general manager said. "We hoped."

Hope prevailed.

It was a forgone conclusion that Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza was going No. 1 overall to the Raiders. Then the waiting game began. The Jets took Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey at No. 2, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love went to the Cardinals at No. 3, and then Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to the Titans at No. 4.

That put the Giants on the clock to take Reese.

"Even before the draft, I always said that nothing was guaranteed," Reese said. "It was all just speculation and mocks and stuff. Whatever happened was God's plan. I wasn't questioning anything. I wouldn't say I was surprised or not. I'm just blessed to be here."

Five picks later, the Giants bolstered the offensive line with Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.

"These are two top-five players in this draft in our opinion," coach John Harbaugh said in a press conference following the picks. "You couldn't do any better. I think Joe probably ran about a zillion mocks – no, maybe that's a slight exaggeration. A zillion seems like a high number, but maybe it was a couple million."

"Close," Schoen chimed in.

"And this one didn't come up," Harbaugh said. "This was not one that was really anticipated. Just shows you that, you know reality is -- fiction is stranger than reality? Reality is stranger than fiction? It's one of the two. You know what I'm [trying to] say, right? This is exciting. This is not expected. This is something that's really a great, a great opportunity for us."

Schoen and Harbaugh concluded the press conference with revealing where Reese was on their draft board among non-quarterbacks.

"We had him No. 1," Schoen said.

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese puts on a hat after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, right, poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese walks out on stage after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa walks out on stage after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, left, is congratulated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa greets NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese celebrates with fans after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa puts on a hat after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese smiles after being chosen fifth overall by the New York Giants in the green room during the during the first round NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Doug Benc/AP Content Services for the NFL)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa celebrates after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese poses with a jersey after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa celebrates with fans after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese celebrates after being picked third overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the green room during the during the first round NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Doug Benc/AP Content Services for the NFL)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese walks out to the stage after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa reacts after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Evan Pinkus/New York Football Giants

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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa poses after being chosen by the New York Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is cheered by New York Giants fans after being selected during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Vera Nieuwenhuis/AP Content Services for the NFL)