Sending Reese from the second level makes sense for the Giants, who have options on the edge but lack pop in the middle of the defense. Ohio State’s playmaking product gives new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson options for pass-rush packages on third downs.
With Thibodeaux’s long-term future likely not in New York, Reese could eventually become a bigger contributor as a running back, but for Year 1, sending a rookie in Will’s place makes sense. It allows the Giants to ensure he is on the field and provides flexibility.
The additions of Reese, fellow first-round pick Francis Mauigoa and others, the hiring of Harbaugh and a projected second-year jump for quarterback Jaxson Dart have the Giants believing they can turn around a 4-13 campaign.
“Yeah, I would think so,” Schoen said when asked if his team is ready to compete now. “And yeah, you’re right, we only won four games, and that’s not good enough. We had five games where we had leads in the fourth quarter, some of those by double digits, and you wish you could have closed them out. Then there were two finalists for offensive and defensive rookie of the year. So there are some fundamentals in those games last year, and we would have liked to finish those games last year. better.
“But with the offseason additions through free agency and the draft, I really like where the roster is right now — defensively, the inside linebacker room, the pass rush, adding Colton Hood, Sisi (Mauigoa) in the draft, bringing back Jermaine Eluemunor, a healthy Malik Nabers with (Isaiah). We’re definitely excited about Malachi. We’ll see how it plays out in the fall, but right now the guys are working hard in the free competition and the rookies will enter next week.
The Giants have finished with six or fewer wins in each of the last three seasons and haven’t had a double-digit win campaign since 2016.