The 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year race already has a crowded feel, and the Giants may have the kind of first-year defender who can crash the party fast. Arvell Reese, the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is getting early buzz as one of the top names to watch, and the way New York plans to use him only strengthens that case.
Reese landed in a spot that looks built for impact. The Giants are expected to start him at linebacker before moving him into a full-time edge role, and that kind of runway gives him a chance to make his presence felt right away. For a 20-year-old who was still on the board longer than many expected, it’s a clean path to production.
NFL.com’s Dan Parr already has Reese in the mix, ranking him fifth among his top 11 Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates. Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Rueben Bain, and David Bailey were listed ahead of him.
That placement suggests Parr may be factoring in the Giants’ plans for Reese more than Reese himself. But recent history shows a linebacker can absolutely win this award. Carson Schwesinger did it last season for Cleveland, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors as the Browns’ green dot and beating out James Pearce Jr., who still posted double-digit sacks as a rookie.
That’s part of what makes Reese such a fascinating candidate. He may not be lining up as a pure pass-rush stat collector from day one, but the Giants are going to let him do a little bit of everything.
He can rush the passer, drop into coverage, and impact plays all over the field. That versatility matters.
The names above him on Parr’s list don’t exactly slam the door, either. Sonny Styles is also an off-ball linebacker, Caleb Downs is a safety, and no safety has won Defensive Rookie of the Year since 1990. As for David Bailey, the source material makes clear the talent gap there isn’t much of a debate.
Reese’s résumé already carries weight, too. He was the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and New York clearly has a big vision for him in the middle of its defense. If that role unfolds the way the Giants expect, the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation could get very real, very quickly.
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