Revisiting the 2026 NFL Draft: Was Arvell Reese a luxury for Giants? Has Francis Mauigoa turned a corner?

The New York Giants ushered in a new era with head coach John Harbaugh and immediately introduced a new way of thinking. Leading into Thursday night of the draft, New York had been linked to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate and a variety of offensive linemen, but the availability of Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese presented a new wrinkle in the decision-making. In the past, New York may have gone with a bigger position of need rather than best player available. The selection of Reese breathed new life into the building and inspired hope for the future.

New York has overcome the loss of quarterback Jaxson Dart to sprint out to a 5-2-1 record. The process is paying dividends in the Big Apple, but were those the correct first-round selections long-term?

Removing the positional value of quarterback from the picture, Reese was the top prospect available in the 2026 NFL Draft. Many did not immediately associate the former Buckeye with the New York team, because they are chock full with pass rushers and linebacker is not typically a position taken Top-5 overall. Recognizing the potential of Reese and making that selection when bigger…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/