John Harbaugh answers where Arvell Reese will play for New York Giants

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Arvell Reese’s arrival in New York already comes with one big question: Where exactly will he play?

For a player whose entire rise has been built on versatility, the answer was never going to be simple. The New York Giants didn’t draft him to fit into a rigid role, they drafted him to expand what their defense can be.

And based on early comments from the coaching staff, that vision is already taking shape.

John Harbaugh outlines Arvell Reese’s role in the New York Giants’ defense

Speaking via SNY Giants on X, Harbaugh made it clear that Reese won’t be boxed into one position.

“Arvell is a versatile player. We’re gonna play him at inside backer, WILL backer. Our defense is flexible, position-less,” Harbaugh said.

“He’ll have an opportunity to move around, but he’ll line up next to Tremaine [Edmunds],” he added.

That comment says a lot about how the Giants view Reese. Rather than forcing him into a traditional linebacker role, they are leaning into what makes him unique: his ability to impact plays from multiple alignments.

Pairing him next to Tremaine Edmunds also provides structure. Edmunds brings experience and stability in the middle, while Reese is free to play fast, attack gaps and move around the formation.

Why the New York Giants see Arvell Reese as a defensive chess piece

The Giants didn’t just draft Reese early; they made him one of the first cornerstone pieces of this new defensive identity.

Selected No. 5 overall out of Ohio State, Reese entered the league as one of the most explosive defenders in the class, coming off a season where he showed he could rush the passer, stop the run, and cover ground sideline to sideline.

That versatility is exactly what New York is betting on. Reese split his time in college between edge rusher and off-ball linebacker, and that hybrid usage is expected to continue at the next level.

In practical terms, that means he can line up next to Edmunds on early downs, then shift into a pass-rushing role when the situation demands it. With the Giants already building a strong front, Reese becomes the piece that ties everything together.

It is not about finding one position for him. It is about creating mismatches, disguising looks, and giving the defense a level of unpredictability that offenses struggle to read.