Everyone agreed Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa would be top picks in the draft. But there were questions about where they would line up at the next level.
Coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen gave a clear answer after drafting them.
Arvell Reese will line up at inside linebacker opposite Tremaine Edmunds, and Francis Mauigoa will start his NFL journey at guard, where the Giants had a vacancy.
"It's two picks that strengthen us down the middle," coach John Harbaugh said. "Down the middle of our offense, down the middle of our defense. These are two -- these are great players, these are two top-five players in this draft in our opinion. You couldn't do any better."
View photos of the Giants' two first-round picks, linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
It should come as no surprise for Reese, taken fifth overall. He was the Big Ten's Linebacker of the Year and a consensus All-American at the position. The Buckeye exploded onto the national scene as a true junior in 2025 after helping Ohio State win the national championship as a sophomore.
But Reese was lumped in as an "edge" defender in mock drafts that carried football-starved fans and media for the last few months. On top of that, the Giants already had a trio of outside linebackers in Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter.
"Arvell is a versatile player, and we're going to play him at inside backer, Will linebacker," Harbaugh said. "Our defense is pretty flexible, position-less you might call it. We'll have an opportunity to move those guys around. But he'll line up next to Tremaine, and he'll be in the A gap, the B gap, the C gap, the D gap, off the edge. He'll be moving around with all of our guys. Abdul and Brian and Kayvon and Tremaine.
"We'll be running games and picks and stunts and different things like that on passing situations, and he's good in coverage as well, he's a versatile player. He's a young player. He's gotten better every single year, playing off the ball and on the ball, so he does both. Probably why he was our highest rated non- quarterback player in the draft. He's an exciting player. We are fired up to have him."
Edmunds, who made two Pro Bowls with the Bills before spending the last three seasons with the Bears, signed with the Giants this offseason.
The 6-foot-4, 251-pound linebacker has amassed 100+ tackles in every season played. He is also the youngest player in NFL history to reach 100 career games played.
That gives the Giants a formidable 1-2 punch at inside linebacker under defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.
"I had talked with Coach Dennard, [inside linebacker] Coach [Frank] Bush, Coach Harbaugh," the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Reese said. "They told me how they would use me. From that I just say I'm going to be used in a unique way. I'm a weapon. That's how it's supposed to be."
Reese said the majority of teams told him he would play outside backer, and then there were a couple of teams, including the Giants, that mentioned inside backer.
"It didn't really matter to me," he said. "Getting into the league is what mattered the most to me. It didn't really matter to me. I played both at Ohio State, [Buckeyes defensive coordinator] Coach [Matt] Patricia put me at both roles, so I'm just excited to be in this situation. … There's not one or the other that I like to play more. I would say I got more reps at inside backer, but I like playing, I honestly like playing both. That was my role last year, so I appreciated both, respected both roles."
On offense, the Giants returned all but five starters on their line from 2025, with the exception at right guard as Greg Van Roten remains a free agent.
Mauigoa started all 42 games of his Miami career at right tackle, never missing a start. But his 6-foot-6, 335-pound frame and 80 3/4-inch wingspan is an enticing prospect in between center John Michael Schmitz and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, who re-signed this offseason.
"We're going to put him inside at guard," Schoen said. "He can certainly play tackle. Sometimes we call these schools and get the film, and they have two really good rushers down there in Miami in [Ahkeem] Mesidor and [Rueben] Bain, and to watch the practice film -- he's going against NFL dudes on a daily basis, and doing a really good job, it was pretty impressive. He can certainly always bump back out to tackle at any point. We're going to start him at guard."
"I'm a resource," Mauigoa said. "Whatever they need me at, I'll do it. … I've been practicing throughout my whole college career at the University of Miami. We've been doing cross-training. [University of Miami assistant head coach/offensive line] Coach [Alex] Mirabal did a great job with putting me at guard on both sides, left and right, just so I can understand how guards operate and what they do and stuff like that. So, I've been getting a lot of reps when I was in training, though."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his ranking of the top 150 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 150 Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M
No. 149 Michael Heldman, Edge, Central Michigan
No. 148 Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech
No. 147 Parker Brailsford, IOL, Alabama
No. 146 Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
No. 145 Justin Joly, TE, N.C. State
No. 144 Brian Parker II, IOL, Duke
No. 143 Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
No. 142 Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
No. 141 Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
No. 140 Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin
No. 139 Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon
No. 138 Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
No. 137 Beau Stephens, IOL, Iowa
No. 136 VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
No. 135 Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
No. 134 Wade Woodaz, LB, Clemson
No. 133 Trey Zuhn III, IOL, Texas A&M
No. 132 Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan
No. 131 Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
No. 130 Bishop Fitzgerald, S USC
No. 129 Skyler Bell, WR, Connecticut
No. 128 Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland
No. 127 Jake Slaughter, IOL, Florida
No. 126 Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech
No. 125 Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame
No. 124 Josh Cameron, WR, Baylor
No. 123 Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
No. 122 Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
No. 121 Febechi Nwaiwu, IOL, Oklahoma
No. 120 Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
No. 119 Lorenzo Styles Jr., S, Ohio State
No. 118 Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
No. 117 Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
No. 116 Kage Casey, OT, Boise State
No. 115 Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
No. 114 Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech
No. 113 Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
No. 112 Kendrick Law, WR, Kentucky
No. 111 Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
No. 110 Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati
No. 109 Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
No. 108 Max Llewellyn, Edge, Iowa
No. 107 Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State
No. 106 Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
No. 105 Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
No. 104 Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
No. 103 Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
No. 102 Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
No. 101 Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
No. 100 Devin Moore, CB, Florida
No. 99 Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
No. 98 Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
No. 97 Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
No. 96 Austin Barber, OT, Florida
No. 95 Jalen Farmer, IOL, Kentucky
No. 94 Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
No. 93 Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
No. 92 Markel Bell, OT, Miami
No. 91 Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
No. 90 Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
No. 89 Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southern Louisiana
No. 88 Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
No. 87 Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M
No. 86 Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
No. 85 Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
No. 84 Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
No. 83 Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
No. 82 Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri
No. 81 Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
No. 80 Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
No. 79 Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
No. 78 Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee
No. 77 Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
No. 76 Jalon Kilgore, CB, South Carolina
No. 75 Logan Jones, IOL, Iowa
No. 74 Carson Beck, QB, Miami
No. 73 Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
No. 72 Sam Hecht, IOL, Kansas State
No. 71 Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
No. 70 Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
No. 69 Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
No. 68 Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
No. 67 Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn
No. 66 Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
No. 65 Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan
No. 64 A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
No. 63 Gennings Dunker, IOL, Iowa
No. 62 De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Mississippi
No. 61 Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
No. 60 Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
No. 59 Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
No. 58 Bud Clark, S, TCU
No. 57 Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
No. 56 Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon
No. 55 Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
No. 54 Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
No. 53 Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
No. 52 Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
No. 50 D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
No. 49 Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
No. 48 Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona State
No. 46 Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
No. 45 Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
No. 44 R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
No. 43 Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
No. 42 Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
No. 41 Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
No. 38 Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
No. 37 Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
No. 33 Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
No. 32 CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 28 Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 27 T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
No. 23 Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
No. 21 Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
No. 19 Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 15 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
