Arvell Reese has moved himself into the early conversation around Nfl Defensive Rankings 2026 by leading the NFL with 26 solo tackles through four games, and the New York Giants rookie is now getting Defensive Rookie of the Year attention alongside Sonny Styles. It is a comparison that was expected to linger when both former Ohio State linebackers entered the league, but Reese has made the stronger opening statement.
The Giants selected Reese at No. 5 in the 2026 NFL Draft after the New York Jets, the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans had already picked, and the early returns have justified that investment. Through four games of the 2026 season, he has become the reigning NFL Rookie of the Week and has given New York a linebacker who is already trusted to do a little bit of everything.
Reese has set the pace early
Cole VanWeichen said Reese's 2025 season was special, and the early NFL production has only strengthened that view. “In my opinion both have looked like top 10 picks so far, but Reese has been the one who’s really jumped off the screen,” he said. “His game against Arizona was the kind of performance that makes you sit up. He plays fast, he plays with confidence, and the Giants are trusting him to do a little bit of everything, which is exactly how Ohio State used him.”
That is the key point. Reese is not just making tackles, he is becoming the sort of defender a coaching staff can build around quickly. When a rookie linebacker leads the league in solo tackles this early, it tends to tell you he is reading the game well, arriving with urgency, and handling responsibility without hesitation.
Styles is still in the picture
Sonny Styles remains very much part of the discussion, even if the start has been quieter. He began his collegiate career as a safety in 2025 and is still learning the linebacker position, which helps explain why his early NFL impact has not matched Reese's volume.
VanWeichen was not ready to move away from Styles long term. “Styles has been a bit quieter, but I’m not worried,” he said. “Once the game slows down for him, I think he’s going to be a really good player for a long time.”
That is probably the fairest way to frame the rivalry right now. Reese has had the better single season so far, while Styles still has the athletic profile and upside that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place.
A comparison that could last for years
The draft debate around the two players may have started with the Giants and the No. 5 pick, but it is now being shaped by what they do on the field. On Sunday, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles were set to meet as opponents for the first time, which gives the comparison an immediate stage.
John Harbaugh said he had “ran about a zillion mocks” and that this one “didn’t come up. This was one one that was really anticipated,” a reminder that this matchup has had attention for some time. VanWeichen, for his part, summed it up simply: “At Ohio State, it’s honestly close.”
If he had to choose, he said he would “lean Reese as the better single season, Styles as the better career.” That feels like a sensible early verdict. Reese has the edge right now because the production is already there, but Styles still has time to turn his quieter start into something much bigger.
For the Giants, the early signs suggest they made the right call. Reese has looked like a game-changer and a dominant player, and his 26 solo tackles in four games have turned him into one of the more interesting rookies in the league. For Styles, the challenge is less about talent than timing. Once the game slows down for him, the rest of the league may see why this comparison was always worth watching.
