EAST RUTHERFORD - The New York Giants see value in doing their own mock drafts, believe it or not.
In trying to project how things would play out as the 2026 NFL Draft approached, team brass ran "a zillion" of simulations, hoping to predict which players would be available when the Giants went on the clock with the fifth and 10th picks overall.
The only one that played out with the Giants landing Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa?
"Reality was greater than fiction," Giants coach John Harbaugh said.
The Giants were downright giddy Thursday night as Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen talked about their two first-round selections, together doing their best to paint a picture of harmony, cohesiveness and collaboration despite months of speculation and rumors to the contrary.
Reese, the linebacker from Ohio State, was the top non-quarterback on the Giants' board. Believed for months that he would be the choice of the Jets at No. 2, the 20-year-old defender who is just scratching the surface considered to have the highest ceiling of any player in the Class of 2026 was there at No. 5.
"We hoped," Schoen said. "But there weren't a lot of scenarios that we went through where he may be available."
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) sacks Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) in the second half of the college football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) warms up prior to the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pressures Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey (5) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 4, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese runs during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) stretches during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 19, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Sept. 27, 2025. Ohio State won 24-6.From left, Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tywone Malone, linebacker Arvell Reese and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald work out during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026.Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) and linebacker Arvell Reese (8) celebrate during the NCAA football game against the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) and cornerback Devin Sanchez (6) celebrate following the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) blocks a pass by Ohio Bobcats quarterback Parker Navarro (13) in the second half at the Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) scrambles past Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles (0) and linebacker Arvell Reese (8) during the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025. Ohio State lost 13-10.Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images1 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.1 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.2 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.3 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) sacks Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) in the second half of the college football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.4 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.5 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) warms up prior to the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025.6 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pressures Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey (5) during the first half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 4, 2025.7 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.8 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.9 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese runs during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026.10 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) stretches during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on March 19, 2025.11 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.12 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.13 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Sept. 27, 2025. Ohio State won 24-6.14 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosFrom left, Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Tywone Malone, linebacker Arvell Reese and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald work out during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026.15 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2) and linebacker Arvell Reese (8) celebrate during the NCAA football game against the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.16 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) and cornerback Devin Sanchez (6) celebrate following the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.17 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) blocks a pass by Ohio Bobcats quarterback Parker Navarro (13) in the second half at the Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.18 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Ohio Bobcats at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.19 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosOhio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.20 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosIndiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) scrambles past Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles (0) and linebacker Arvell Reese (8) during the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025. Ohio State lost 13-10.21 / 21Meet Arvell Reese, NY Giants' newest draft pick in photosApr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesSame went for Mauigoa, the powerful offensive lineman from Miami who will begin his pro career at right guard after dominating at tackle in college. The Giants had a gaping hole between center John Michael Schmitz and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, and a patchwork collection of one-year, prove-it hopefuls that included former Ravens starter Daniel Faalele and busted Giants draft picks Evan Neal and Joshua Ezeudu was the reason for plenty of apprehension as offseason plans unfolded.
Three weeks ago, Harbaugh called the Giants' offensive line a "work in progress," admitting that the entire project might take more than one year for completion. When Schoen referred to the quest to improve the line from when he first took over in 2022 as "mission accomplished," some observers scoffed at the suggestion.
"[The Mauigoa] advances it," Harbaugh said. "Finish it off in practice the next few weeks, put it all together. Makes us a lot more stout, and it's two picks that strengthen us down the middle - down the middle of our offense, down the middle of our defense - and these are great players. These are two Top 5 players in this draft in our opinion, you couldn't do any better."
In Reese, the Giants add to a defense that is moving forward without All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who was traded to Cincinnati upon his request last weekend. He
"As soon as I settled down, that's what I thought about, like, 'Dang, you've got Kayvon Thibodeaux, you've got Brian Burns, you've got Abdul Carter,'" Reese said. "That sounds like a great situation playing alongside those guys."
As for Mauigoa, he made a splash on stage after his selection with the 10th overall pick when, asked about Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, the 20-year-old quipped: "I'm ready to die for that dude."
On top of that, when asked about blocking for Cam Skattebo, Mauigoa replied with a laugh: "I'm gonna have a lot of fun with that dude."
With Reese and Mauigoa in the fold, the Giants were certainly having a lot more fun than they've had in a while on Thursday night.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Giants' draft reality greater than fiction as Harbaugh era kicks off