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<\/p>\nThe Giants had two first-round swings in the NFL Draft and hoped to knock them out of the park.<\/p>\n
They did.<\/p>\n
With the fifth pick Thursday night, the Giants took Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. Five picks later, at No. 10, they added Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the pick they acquired trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals.<\/p>\n
Giants coach John Harbaugh said that general manager Joe Schoen ran \u201cabout a zillion mocks\u201d for what could happen with both picks. This pairing of two 20-year old prospects? Didn\u2019t come up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was not one that was really anticipated and it just shows you that fiction\u2019s stranger than reality,\u201d Harbaugh said about his first Giants draft since being hired in January. \u201cOr reality\u2019s stranger than fiction. It\u2019s two picks that strengthen us down the middle. Down the middle of our offense, our defense. These are great players. These are two, top-five players in this draft in our opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reese (6-4, 241 pounds) was widely expected to go in the top three picks \u2014 and possibly at No. 2 to the Jets. But they took another edge rusher, David Bailey, and then the Cardinals picked Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3. The Titans took Reese\u2019s Ohio State teammate, receiver Carnell Tate, at No. 4.<\/p>\n
That meant Reese fell to the Giants, where he joins a deep edge rushing group that includes All-Pro Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey told me how they\u2019ll use me and from that I can say I\u2019m going to be used in a unique way,\u201d Reese said on a conference call with reporters. \u201cI\u2019m a weapon. That\u2019s how it supposed to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
How unique, exactly?<\/p>\n
Harbaugh envisions\u00a0Reese lining up at multiple linebacker positions but he\u2019ll get plenty of reps next to free agent linebacker signee Tremaine Edmunds.<\/p>\n
\u201cArvell is a versatile player,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cWe\u2019ll play him at inside backer, WILL backer. Our defense is pretty flexible, positionless you might call it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reese, who will turn 21 on Aug. 30, is still considered raw as a pass-rusher. He had only 6.5 sacks last season for the Buckeyes, his first full one as a starter. But he was a consensus All-American and his upside is high.<\/p>\n
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Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa celebrates with fans after being chosen by the Giants with the 10th overall pick during the first round of the NFL Draft.\u00a0 Credit: AP\/Sue Ogrocki<\/p>\n
The same could be said for Mauigoa, also an All-American. The 6-5, 329-pound lineman started three seasons at Miami at right tackle but Schoen said he will start off being used at guard, something most scouts projected for Mauigoa.<\/p>\n
The Giants need a starter at right guard after bringing back Evan Neal and Joshua Ezuedu on one-year deals. They also signed guards Lucas Patrick and Daniel Faalele to one-year deals.<\/p>\n
Mauigoa, who turns 21 on June 4, also brought a heartfelt message to second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, who he will be helping to protect.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ready to die for you, man,\u201d Mauigoa told the NFL Draft broadcast.<\/p>\n
When asked later to follow-up on that statement, Mauigoa said it\u2019s part of his mentality: put everything on the line to protect the quarterback.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re supposed to do,\u201d he said on a conference call with reporters. \u201cIt\u2019s not something that people want us to do. It\u2019s something that we\u2019re expected to do. That\u2019s what we need to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Giants also weren\u2019t worried about Mauigoa having a herniated disc in his back, something ESPN reported this week. Schoen said the team was comfortable checking him out and it helped that the Giants hired Adam Bennett as their new athletic trainer.<\/p>\n
Bennett spent the previous three years in the same capacity at Miami so he was familiar with Mauigoa and assisted with evaluating him. The Giants also don\u2019t think he\u2019ll need surgery to address it. \u201cHe\u2019s fine,\u201d Schoen said.<\/p>\n
Now the Giants hope it works out. Schoen and Harbaugh said that Reese was their highest-rated, non-quarterback in the draft and they didn\u2019t expect him to be available at No. 5<\/p>\n
Yet it was the gamble they were glad worked in their favor to strengthen the trenches. The same applies with Mauigoa, who is the highest-ranked offensive lineman the Giants have taken since drafting Neal in 2022.<\/p>\n
Neither Schoen nor Harbaugh saw it coming. But they\u2019ll gladly take it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is exciting,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cThis is not expected. This is something that\u2019s really a great opportunity for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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