Giants select Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa with 5th and 10th picks in the NFL draft

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants selected Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese with the fifth pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, then took Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, sticking with their stance of going with the best players available rather than filling needs.

Reese, the first player drafted with coach John Harbaugh in charge, joins a defense that ranked 30th out of 32 teams in the league last season but already had a wealth of talent at the position with Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and the No. 3 pick a year ago, Abdul Carter.

Having all of them on the roster gives new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson some intriguing possibilities.

“The Giants told me they’re going to be unique with me," Reese said on ESPN. "They said they’re going to use me in a bunch of unique ways, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Reese could play weakside linebacker, tormenting opposing quarterbacks along with Burns, Thibodeaux and Carter. Burns is coming off setting a career high with 16 1/2 sacks, second only to Cleveland's Myles Garrett, who broke the single-season record.

Carter on social media posted, “Arvell” with a fire emoji, followed by, “We bouta be crazyyyy.”

Reese fell after the Jets took Texas Tech's David Bailey second after Las Vegas, as expected, chose Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top pick. The Giants would have seriously considered Jeremiyah Love if he was available, but Arizona took him No. 3.

Eschewing voids at wide receiver, safety and off-ball linebacker, New York taking Mauigoa with the 10th pick adds young protection for franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart going into his second professional season. And while the team is set on either side with Andrew Thomas on the left and re-signed Jermaine Eluemunor on the right, the team could move Mauigoa to guard or set up a succession plan for him.

“I’ll die by this shield,” Mauigoa said when asked about Dart. “I’m ready to die for you, man.”

The Giants had the extra selection after acquiring it from Cincinnati in the trade that sent defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. Their next scheduled pick is the 37th, early in the second round on Friday night, and they don't have one in the third because it was part of the trade to move up for Dart last year.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese poses with a jersey after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese celebrates with fans after being chosen by the New York Giants with the fifth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

Bailey gives coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets a big-time pass-rushing presence for a defense that was among the NFL’s worst last season.

The pick kicks off what should be a busy early stretch for New York, which has four selections in the first 44 spots in the draft. The Jets also have the No. 16 overall selection along with the first pick in the second round Friday night (No. 33).

“I feel like this organization is trending in the right way,” Bailey said. “I’m just ready to work.”

Bailey is the highest-selected defensive player by the Jets in the NFL draft since the 1970 merger.

With Las Vegas long linked to quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall, the most suspense centered on what New York would do one pick later. In the last few weeks, Bailey and Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese were most often linked to the Jets — and it was just a matter of which one they’d select, if they didn’t trade the pick.

General manager Darren Mougey stayed at No. 2 and took Bailey, who’ll be expected to help boost a pass rush that ranked 31st in the NFL with only 26 sacks. The crosstown-rival Giants drafted Reese with the fifth overall pick.

Bailey was a force last season for Texas Tech, tying for the FBS lead with 14 1/2 sacks. He also ranked second with 19 1/2 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups in 14 games, including 13 starts.

With the Jets, Bailey will help replace edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, who was traded to Tennessee for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat in February.

“That feeling, it's like no other,” Bailey said of getting sacks. “It's really what I be chasing. I have a lot of motivations for why I play the game. That's one of them. That feeling when you get a sack and the crowd is on your side, especially during a home game — but regardless, home or away — it's one of the best feelings. I take a lot of pride in that.”

After three seasons at Stanford, the 22-year-old Bailey transferred to Texas Tech and was an AP All-America pick, the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year, the conference’s newcomer of the year and a finalist for the Lombardi Award as the country’s top lineman.

The Jets canceled their top-30 visit with Bailey last week, leading some to speculate that the team had waning interest. But Mougey said Tuesday at New York’s pre-draft news conference that wasn’t the case.

“In regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him,” Mougey said. “We were just kind of juggling our 30 and how to use them and I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation because there were other ones we may have changed, as well.”

Bailey will get his visit to the Jets' facility, after all. As New York's top draft pick.

“I had a great interaction with them at the combine,” Bailey said. “Obviously, they canceled the 30 visit, but other than that, man, I had a great FaceTime with Mougey and everybody.”

It’s the fourth time in franchise history that the Jets picked second overall and first since they took quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021. Running back Blair Thomas (1990) and wide receiver Johnny “Lam” Jones (1980) were the others.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey poses with fans after being chosen by the New York Jets with the second overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey, right, poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the New York Jets with the second overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey celebrates after being chosen by the New York Jets with the second overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)