Arvell Reese has given the Giants something they have not had from a rookie linebacker in a long time.
Through seven NFL games, Reese has already piled up more than 50 total tackles, making him the only Giant to top that mark in his first seven career games since tackles became an official statistic in 1994, according to the team. That kind of early production does more than validate a draft pick. It gives New York a fast-rising defender to build around, even as the load around him gets heavier.
Now comes the tougher part. With veteran Tremaine Edmunds on injured reserve, the Giants have to keep Reese moving downhill and chasing plays without dumping every veteran job on his plate. His best work so far has come when he’s allowed to play fast and react, not when he’s buried under too much responsibility.
General manager Joe Schoen highlighted one snap against Houston as a perfect example. Reese came after C.J.
Stroud, then stayed with the play as it moved downfield and finished the tackle. Schoen pointed to both the burst and the effort it took to redirect and finish.
That kind of range has mattered for a defense already dealing with injuries. Against the Texans, New York was missing five defensive starters and still held Houston to 237 yards and three third-down conversions in 12 tries. Reese wasn’t the only reason for that performance, but he helped give the defense enough speed to survive when things broke down.
The Giants also have another experienced option in Micah McFadden, which gives the staff some flexibility while Edmunds is out. That makes it easier to protect Reese from being asked to carry everything at once.
There is another school of thought, of course: if a rookie is already earning trust, why not give him more and let him learn on the fly? The Giants drafted Reese fifth overall for a reason, and seven games is not much of a sample.
Still, tackles only tell part of the story. They do not capture coverage, gap discipline or communication, and the upcoming division matchups figure to challenge Reese in different ways than Houston did.
For now, Schoen’s praise fits. The smarter move may be to let Reese keep attacking, but not overload him while the Giants adjust without Edmunds.
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