Giants rookie Arvell Reese's 'special' potential becoming impossible to ignore at training camp

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. - It's not hard to find him. Arvell Reese stands 6-foot-4, and when the Giants rookie linebacker moves, he flies.

Put that size and speed together and you get a training camp standout - a blur breaking the monotony of practice. Easy to spot.

Monday, he was impossible to ignore.

"I think he's going to be a pretty damn good player," Jermaine Eluemunor said.

With the Giants in pads for the first time, Reese delivered his most impressive workout of the summer. He shot downhill to stop running back Cam Skattebo on the first play of practice, stuffing him short of a first down on third-and-2. Reese contributed to several more run stops later, particularly as rain poured down at The Greenbrier. He batted away a pass to Tyrone Tracy.

Toward the end of practice came another highlight: Reese blew past All-Pro tackle Andrew Thomas to sack quarterback Jaxson Dart. Thomas shook his head after the play, which derailed the starting offense's drive during a move-the-ball period.

"The kid has a chance to be real special," defensive tackle D.J. Reader said.

Reese was among the more intriguing prospects in this year's draft because there was no consensus on his best NFL fit. He might have been the most physically gifted player in the class, with a skill set eerily reminiscent of Micah Parsons. Although Ohio State did not use him as a full-time pass rusher, Reese recorded 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2025. Analysts saw that profile and projected him as someone who could develop into a lethal edge rusher.

Other evaluators viewed him as an inside linebacker who could blitz situationally. The Giants saw both. Their plan was to start Reese next to Tremaine Edmunds, then move him throughout the front - from the interior gaps to the edge - in specific situations.

Their conviction went beyond a top-five grade. General manager Joe Schoen said Reese was No. 1 on the Giants' draft board, and they selected him fifth overall.

It is early in camp, but Reese looks like a justified investment.

May 21, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese (52) participates in a drill during organized team activities at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. / John Jones-Imagn Images

"No. 52, that boy," running back Tyrone Tracy said. "I mean, he's big, strong, physical. I think he's a great football player. I think Arvell is see ball, get ball. I think that's the best way to describe him, man.

"See ball. Get ball."

That is exactly what Reese has been doing. He has made himself a factor against the run, routinely blowing up plays near the line of scrimmage and crashing into oncoming blockers with little regard for himself or anyone else.

Reese also showed immense range during the Giants' first week of practices. He spotted Odell Beckham Jr. crossing over the middle, broke toward him and batted away a pass from Dart.

He's been flashing, but now he's doing it consistently. NFL rookies often follow a similar early trajectory. They are swimming mentally, which slows them down and leaves them a tick behind.

Reese's acclimation appears to be accelerating. The speed and violence the Giants fell in love with have become more pronounced with each practice.

"He's been playing well the whole camp since he got here," Giants coach John Harbaugh said. "He's playing really well."

The next step for Reese began Monday: Adding more to his plate. Reese lined up next to Edmunds for most, if not all, of the first week. During the first padded practice, the Giants began moving him around the line and deploying him as a rusher.

That is how he ended up beating Thomas.

The ideal scenario for New York is to unlock all of Reese's attributes without overwhelming him. Doing so would give the defense another weapon to pair with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns, both of whom have also flashed this summer.

Reese appears well on his way.

"You don't really get a chance to see kids that size move around like how he does at every different position," Reader said. "Really run around and be smart. He stays quiet and really tries to learn.

"He's got a real chance to be really, really good."