The Giants have an emerging defensive centerpiece in Arvell Reese, and the rookie’s early production is showing up all over the league’s weekly evaluations.
ESPN slotted Reese at No. 1 in its ranking of the best 2026 NFL rookies, listing the New York linebacker/edge defender with 56 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception after being drafted No. 5.
The takeaway was simple: the traits that popped at Ohio State are already carrying over. Reese has been praised for the way his physicality and speed translate immediately, especially when he’s shooting downhill against the run.
He’s also held up well in coverage, where his four pass breakups are tied for the second most among all linebackers in 2026.
His value for the Giants goes beyond one phase. ESPN called him the kind of player who can line up on the second level or come after the quarterback, and the numbers back that up: 10 pass-rush wins and two pass breakups on 93 blitz attempts this season. The piece also described Reese as a building block alongside 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter.
PFF’s Week 7 rookie grades backed up the buzz. Reese checked in at No. 6 among highest-graded players after Week 7 with a 77.0 grade. PFF noted that he has graded above 72.0 both against the run and in coverage, and his 23 defensive stops rank second among all rookies.
On the quarterback conversation, J.J. McCarthy is drawing attention for a better showing than the first watch suggested.
After his performance against the Houston Texans, The Athletic said a deeper look revealed more improvement than initially seen. It still wasn’t a finished product, and the article stressed that McCarthy remains an incomplete player making his first start for this Giants team.
But the cleanest sign of progress came under pressure, where he completed 8 of 10 throws.
The Athletic also pointed out that McCarthy’s willingness to stand in and throw was encouraging, especially for a Giants team that had expected injured starter Jaxson Dart to bring that sort of edge. Even with the positives, there were still clear areas to clean up, including pocket movement, mechanics and touch on throws between the numbers. The piece concluded that the outing against the Texans was a good step, not a final answer.
FOX Sports took a skeptical view of whether the Giants are dangerous, but still noted reasons McCarthy can function in Matt Nagy’s offense. The analysis said he may not be able to keep producing at the level he showed in the overtime win over the Texans and the fourth quarter against the Saints, but that a new setting should help him.
The larger point was that he needs to get the ball to the playmakers. Malik Nabers has four straight 100-yard games, and Cam Skattebo is coming off a career-high 124 rushing yards.
The concern, according to FOX Sports, is the defense. The Giants are allowing 128.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks 25th, and they are 29th in sacks while sitting 20th in pressure rate. The Saints scored a season-high 34 points against them, and the Commanders put up 27, their second-most points in a game this season.
On the roster front, Deonte Banks is being viewed differently inside the locker room than he once was. The New York Post reported that Banks has become a symbol for the Giants, but not the one tied to his rocky start as a first-round pick. The story said he no longer represents draft bust expectations after the promise he showed in his rookie season.
And Jermaine Eluemunor had strong words about the current coaching style when comparing John Harbaugh and former coach Brian Daboll. Speaking to USA Today, Eluemunor said Harbaugh is the tougher coach, but also explained why that can still be appealing.
“He’s harder. He’s tougher… but you want to play for him more,” Eluemunor said.
“But the thing is, you’re having fun doing it because everyone just wants to play ball. It feels like the type of ball you grew up playing where it’s just fun.
You’re going out there not worrying about everything because you know you’ve covered every single thing. You’re well prepared.
You’re focused. You’re confident”
In Other News...
Jameis Winston Sent A Strong Message After Giants Benched Him
Jameis Winston is back in a backup role for the Giants after losing the starting quarterback job to J.J. McCarthy, who made his first start on Oct. 25. The move came as New York continues to sort through its quarterback depth chart, with Jaxson Dart still working his way back from injury and the team trying to settle on the right mix under center.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said Winston and McCarthy have been working together on third-down situations since the change, a sign the Giants are trying to keep both quarterbacks engaged while the new starter settles in. McCarthys debut gave the team a needed boost, and Winstons response has been to stay involved and ready, even as the pecking order has shifted around him. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Trade Deadline Backfield Plan Is Starting To Take Shape
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One name that keeps coming up is Tony Pollard, whose profile makes him an interesting alternative if New York decides Jonathan Taylor is too steep a target. Pollard has a track record of production, and his contract situation could make him more attainable than a true premium rental, though any deal would still depend on what kind of return the Giants are willing to send and how Tennessee views its own roster balance going forward. [Read more 🡒]
John Harbaugh Brings One Reason For Giants Fans To Believe
A first-year coach doesnt usually get much room for optimism in midseason, but John Harbaugh has given Giants fans a reason to keep looking ahead. New York is sitting atop the NFC East at 4-2-1 even with key injuries to Jaxson Dart and Brian Burns, and the timing of the bye week could not be much better for a team trying to steady itself before the stretch run.
Harbaugh now gets a chance to reset a roster that has already shown resilience, and the next opponent only adds to the intrigue. The Eagles come out of the same break dealing with their own injury issues and a recent slide, which makes the post-bye matchup feel like an early measuring stick for how real this Giants start can be. [Read more 🡒]