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Arvell Reese (8) | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The New York Giants are ready for the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. New York has only two picks in the top 100 (5th and 37th), while having five picks in the 100s (105, 145, 186, 192, and 193). Still, it’s possible the Giants trade back to recoup picks in the middle rounds of the draft. Joe Schoen and the Giants traded their 2026 third-round pick (69th overall) to the Houston Texans last year, which allowed for the selection of quarterback Jaxson Dart.
The Giants don’t have a pressing need at edge — at all — unless the Giants trade Kayvon Thibodeaux and look to dispense with his $14.75 million price tag. Thibodeaux is playing on the fifth-year option, and the Giants spent the third overall pick on Abdul Carter last year, while also having Brian Burns on the roster.
It appears highly unlikely that the Giants will select an edge with their first-round pick, but Thibodeaux’s future could make an EDGE selection more plausible, albeit still unlikely; unless, of course, it’s a player like Arvell Reese, who may be best suited as a linebacker, but will be considered an edge for this article.
Burns, Thibodeaux, and Carter are a good trio of edge defenders, but there’s little proven talent behind them. Chauncey Golston spent most of 2025 injured, but he is solid depth and could have an important rotational role in 2026. Caleb Murphy, DeMarvin Leal, and Trace Ford are also on the roster. As the great Ernie Accorsi emphasised, “you can never have too many pass rushers.“ With that said, here are some EDGE rushers to consider on each day of the draft.
Day 1
Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Arvell Reese is a dynamic 6-foot-4, 241-pound hybrid EDGE/LB, who may be best suited at the second level, but could also be a full-time edge defender. Reese generates unique power and force into contact while being an exceptionally fluid athlete in space. Reese played two seasons for the Buckeyes – a total of 960 defensive snaps. In 2025, he aligned 327 times as an edge defender (250 on the right side and 77 on the left), while playing 286 snaps in the BOX as a linebacker, and 34 snaps as an overhang defender. He recorded 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, 27 pressures, and 34 STOPs for Ohio State last season, while missing only 6% of his tackles (4 missed).
Here’s my synopsis of his play:
Arvell Reese is a lean, explosive, and versatile player with elite athletic ability. His movement skills + power are a rare combination with his body type; plus, he possesses a tone-setting jolt in his hands when he’s stacking & shedding offensive linemen. He exercises good patience when necessary and his short area quickness allows him to pounce like a venus fly trap on an unsuspecting victim.
Reese’s power on the EDGE pops off the screen, whether due to his ability to stand up OTs when he is setting the edge or if it’s him generating quality force through the ground and into contact with his impressive bull-rushing ability. That power is coupled with a slippery finesse style that allows him to dip/slip/rip through the high-side and create havoc, while possessing the pass-rushing IQ to spin/cut-off rushing paths for the quarterback.
Similar to Abdul Carter, Reese can be effectively employed on the EDGE or at the second-level. I could make a strong case that he’d be better off as a linebacker than a full-time EDGE, which may entice the Giants more; sure, he can be used on the EDGE in passing situation, but his linebacker skills – albeit not totally refined due to a lack of experience – are sufficient, while still possessing a ton of upside, to be relied upon in early down situations. Reese can rush, spy, carry receivers, and is a smart second level option, while possessing the power and strength to play on the edge when necessary.
Overall, Arvell Reese is one of the more unique and talented players in the draft. At just 20-years old, the sky is the limit for the young man, and he will not wait long to hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.
I can see why some people would find this pick redundant, after the Giants spent a top-five selection on Carter last draft, but these are two different players. Sonny Styles is a great player for the Giants to consider, but Reese could be an asset at linebacker as well, especially with development. There’s a lot of upside and versatility to a player like Arvell Reese. If he’s officially considered an “EDGE”, then he would be the first player I’d consider there in the first round.
Reuben Bain Jr., Miami
The 6-3, 270-pound fire hydrant run stopper with relentless pass-rushing upside has historically short arms, which hinder his upside. He has 30 7/8” arms, which is 1st-percentile, and his wingspan is just 10th-percentile. These measurables will turn teams away from his production and overall film.
He added 83 pressures and 37 STOPs in 897 total defensive snaps through the 2025 season (557 were pass-rushing reps). He had 15.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5-sacks. He was Bain Jr., who missed 20.3% of his career tackles, but – similar to his teammate Ahkeem Mesidor – many of those tackle attempts should have NEVER BEEN tackle attempts, and were set up by Bain’s unique abilities.
Bain was a Consensus All-American in 2025, while earning the Ted Hendricks Award and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year honor. He was First-Team All-ACC in 2025 and Third-Team in 2023. Bain Jr. was a team captain in 2025 and, in 2023, he led the FBS with defensive line tackles for a loss and sacks.
Bain Jr. would slide into the 4i/5-techinque in base personnel and could operate as a three-techinque next to Dexter Lawrence in many situations. He would improve the run defense as an outlier. He’s an unlikely candidate for the Giants, but not the craziest selection in the world.
Day 2
Zion Young, Missouri
Young is a 6-6, 262-pound three-down edge with good length (33-inch arms). He’s well-built, with solid technique and use of his tools as a run defender; shock power in his hands, with a good base to set the edge and control the point of attack. He doesn’t have the fluidity of some others on this list, but he sure does fit what the Giants want to do from a physical standpoint on the edge.
Young started his collegiate career at Michigan State, where he had a solid sophomore season. He then transferred to Missouri and blew up in his senior year. He had 57 pressures, 31 STOPs, and eight sacks, while catapulting himself into a First-Team All-SEC spot. Young’s ability to defend the run and get after the passer makes him an interesting option for a Giants team trying to get stronger up front.
Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Malachi Lawrence blew up the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine:
Lawrence had 27 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks through his collegiate career. He recorded 40 pressures in 2025, with 28 in 2024 and 25 in 2023. Lawrence had an impressive 19.2% pass rush win rate in 2025, and he had a total of 49 stops across is four seasons at UCF. He played 1,326 snaps on the defensive line, mostly on the EDGE – 1,196 of those snaps wide of the 5-technique position. Lawrence missed 22.4% of his tackles in college.
Lawrence is a different build then many of the other edge defenders discussed; firstly, he has above-average arm length and his athletic profile is a bit more advanced than Bain Jr. and R. Mason Thomas. Here’s a synopsis of his play:
Malachi Lawrence is an explosive, twitchy pass rusher with impressive pop-on-contact that allows him to threaten with power, which is coupled with an array of dangerous pass rushing moves packed with violence, although they’re not always in a crisp manner, consistently.
He is undersized and power, when he isn’t moving forward, could pose a problem against double teams. His ability against the run could be an issue at the next level and he must be more disciplined. Still, his pass rushing prowess and upside makes him an exciting option and a dangerous threat as a six-technique and pass-rushing specialist.
Day 3
R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
R Mason Thomas is an incredible pass-rushing specialist who is in the mold of a Nick Bonitto from Denver. He had 9.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks in 2025 and 9 sacks in 2024 with 12.5 tackles for a loss. Thomas recorded 35 pressures in 2024 and 28 in 2025 with 19 STOPs in each season. He had a high 17.9% missed-tackle rate, but his energy put him in many positions where he altered the play, though he didn’t FINISH the play. R Mason Thomas was First-Team All-SEC in 2025 and Second-Team in 2024. Here is my synopsis of his play:
R. Mason Thomas is an explosive high-side edge rusher who consistently uses his hands with precision to create separation at the top of the arc. He shows impressive ability to bend through—or around—contact while maintaining balance and body control, allowing him to stay oriented toward the quarterback and finish plays effectively. Thomas has an impressive blend of power and finesse pass rush moves, and he’s a sudden athlete who understands how to use his hands at the top of the arc.
Thomas is a sufficient run defender whose length affects his ability to excel. Still, he plays with physicality and excellent leverage as a run defender. Thomas may not project as a consistent three-down player for every defense – although he can certainly execute that role – but he will be a valuable pass-rushing specialist for every team. He is a difference maker and should hear his name called on day two.
The Giants currently have a day-two pick. As talented as R Mason Thomas is, it would not be wise for the Giants to spend Pick No. 37 on the 6’2, 241-pound edge rusher with very bad measurables (31 5/8” arm length and sub-9” hands).
Caden Curry, Ohio State
Curry had a productive senior season; he recorded 16.5 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks for the Buckeyes. He played a total of 1,087 snaps through his four seasons at Ohio State, with 2025 being his only year with more than 231 defensive snaps. Curry was very productive in 2025; he recorded 46 pressures and 40 STOPs – the 40 for 40 PFF club, while only missing 7 tackles. Curry, like Bain Jr. and R Mason Thomas, are outliers which could lead to a slight slide. Curry’s arm length is historically low — 30 1/8-inches. Something to consider, and is not always ideal to add. Here’s a snyoposis of his play:
Caden Curry is a high motor player with less than ideal athletic ability and zero percentile arm length. His effort & hustle are elite, which – coupled with solid hand usage – allows him to harass as a pass rusher. Curry is strong enough, and possesses enough technical savvy, to be a solid run defender that can set the edge, despite shorter arms. The man’s hair is on fire as a player, which will endear him to coaching staffs across the NFL.
Overall, Curry isn’t a dynamic athlete and his measurables are sub-optimal with abysmal arm length – this will drop him down draft boards. Still, he’s solid depth and a special teams player who can earn snaps on defense due to his adequate overall tool-kit and competitive toughness.
