Through six weeks, Arvell Reese has already turned the draft into a what-if story for the teams that passed on him.
Reese entered the NFL with the kind of buzz teams dream about, and the only real debate was where he’d wreak more havoc: off the edge or from off-ball linebacker. He ended up with the New York Giants at No. 5, and early returns suggest that was a brutal miss for everyone else.
He’s not just holding his own. He’s been one of the best rookie defenders in the league and has put himself squarely in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation. There’s still a long way to go, but the case is getting louder by the week.
The numbers back it up. According to Pro Football Focus, Reese is second among rookies in tackles and run stops.
In coverage, he has allowed a passer rating of only 69.7. He’s also already recorded a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception.
For Dennard Wilson’s defense, he’s been everywhere.
His role has shifted as the season has gone on. Reese opened the year as an off-ball linebacker, but after Brian Burns suffered a season-ending injury, the Giants started using him more as an edge rusher.
He rushed the passer 18 times over the first three games, then jumped to 46 pass-rush snaps over the last three. That kind of flexibility can matter when award votes start piling up.
The award race has a couple of other names in it, too. New York Jets edge rusher David Bailey and Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez have both been productive.
The difference is that their teams likely won’t stay in the spotlight later in the season, while the Giants could still be in the mix for a division title. That matters in these conversations.
Week 7 gives Reese another chance to strengthen the resume. The Giants face the Houston Texans in a game that should draw plenty of attention, with both clubs chasing playoff position.
Houston has won back-to-back games, and C.J. Stroud has been playing the best football of his career as the Texans try to climb out of the 0-4 hole they dug early.
If Reese has a big day against that offense, it will be another compelling entry on his DROY case. A sack, an interception or a forced fumble would make the point even clearer. And if he comes away looking like the best player on the field in a Giants win, the race gets a lot harder to ignore.
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