1 Giants rookie who stood out most in 2026 minicamp

The New York Giants may be the single most improved team in the NFL following the 2026 offseason. New York made a handful of key improvements over the past few months that have changed the trajectory of the franchise. The most important was adding John Harbaugh at head coach. Harbaugh should bring his competitive nature, and a culture of winning, to an organization that desperately needs both.

New York also brought in an excellent rookie class. The Giants had two picks in the top 10 after trading away Dexter Lawrence just before the draft. New York turned those selections into a pair of foundational players who should be leaders on the roster for years to come.

But the Giants did more than just add blue chip players. They also made smart decisions in the later rounds to flesh out their depth too.

The Giants took part in rookie minicamp from May 8-10. It is always the first major step of the offseason, just before OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and of course training camp.

But which player from New York’s rookie class will make the biggest impact during the 2026?

One Giants player stood out from the crowd during rookie minicamp.

Arvell Reese made a strong first impression at Giants rookie minicamp

New York already had high expectations for Reese after selecting him with the fifth overall pick.

The Giants saw exactly what they wanted during rookie minicamp, as Reese wasted no time before making an excellent first impression. Reese’s teammates gawked at how big and athletic he is when wearing his pads on the football field.

“Shoot, I mean, you see how big he is?” rookie cornerback Colton Hood said, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “He came up here and probably looked like the Hulk, you know what I’m saying? Just his physical abilities, and not just that, but he’s a smart football player. He knows football. That’s why he’s going to be a problem for sure.”

Even Harbaugh admitted that it is different seeing Reese’s athleticism up close and personal.

“You saw it on tape, or you saw it at the [pro day] workout at Ohio State,” Harbaugh said. “When you see it in person in your kind of setting, it’s more.”

But Reese is much more than simply an athletic freak. Harbaugh praised the rookie linebacker for quickly picking up the mental side of the game too.

“Picks things up really quick,” Harbaugh said via the team website. “Very serious minded. Very diligent about the assignments. I don’t think he’s got one assignment wrong throughout the two days, which is great to see.”

Reese’s cerebral nature as a football player could set him up for a big role on New York’s defense this fall.

What role will the Giants have for Reese during his rookie season?

The Giants already have some big plans for Reese during his rookie year.

New York’s decision to pick Reese was initially a bit of a shock for some fans. Even Giants receiver Malik Nabers did not know why his team added yet another edge rusher. But the thing is, Reese is far more than a simple edge rusher.

Reese has a ton of experience playing off-ball linebacker during his two seasons at Ohio State. In fact, he only took six snaps aligned from the line of scrimmage before the 2025 season. So playing as a linebacker in the NFL will be a natural fit for him.

The Giants plan to use Reese as a hybrid defender who primarily lines up as the team’s WILL linebacker. That should keep Reese on the field when the Giants are in their base defense.

However, New York also plans to use Reese as an edge rusher when the situation calls for it. If the Giants play their cards right, they could create some huge plays with Reese by disguising his role on any given play.

Reese’s versatility should keep him on the field for every single down. As such, it would be surprising if he does not make the biggest impact of any Giants rookie in 2026.

If Reese really is the player New York thinks he could be, then their defense will be a lot better this fall.

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