By Eddie Castro
The NFL Draft is one of the most anticipated offseason events. It’s where some of the very best college football players witness all their hard work and dreams come true. It’s where the parents and loved ones see all their sacrifices come into good fortune as they see their son’s dream of becoming an NFL player come full circle.
For the typical New York Football fan, it’s witnessing the next step of your team rebuilding in hopes of capturing the ultimate goal, the Lombardi trophy. For the New York Giants, they had many holes to address both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The team held the No.5 and No.10 picks in the first round.
At No.5, the Giants selected Arvell Reese, the 6’4/243-pound linebacker out of Ohio State. Reese along with edge rusher David Bailey were considered the best defensive player in the draft. At just 20 years old, Reese is the third youngest player to be selected in the top five of the draft. Reese played two seasons with the Buckeyes gathering a total of 960 defensive snaps. He ended his college career with 112 tackles, 13.5 for a loss, seven sacks, and two passed defended. 6.5 of those sacks came in 2025. Reese is considered an explosive and versatile player.
He was a 2024 National Champion and was an All-American in 2025 while winning the Big Ten linebacker of the year award. Reese will now be lined up with a tremendous front-seven that includes Abdul Carter, Kavon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. The Giants would go on and select Offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa out of Miami with the 10th overall pick. The 6’6, 329-pound lineman is considered to be a top-tier pass blocker that will strengthen the team’s offensive line providing more protection for quarterback Jaxson Dart.
As far as the New York Jets go, we all know all too well the team’s now 16-year playoff drought continues to hang over the heads of owner Woody Johnson, General Manager Darren Mougey, and Head Coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets had three first-round picks and they made sure to solidify the many holes they have as a team. Gang Green had the No.2 overall pick in which they selected edge rusher David Bailey out of Texas Tech. Standing at 6”3, 251 pounds at 23-years old.
Bailey is a very explosive player who will provide interior pressure instantly for new Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker. Last year, the Jets ranked 31st in total sacks at 26. Bailey by himself last season had 14.5 sacks for the Red Raiders. The Jets’ next pick at No.16 drafted tight end Kenyon Sadiq out of the University of Oregon.
Sadiq has been regarded as a “steal” for the Jets at No.16. He provides speed and athleticism to a Jets team that lacks just that. The 21-year-old opened many scouts and observers eyes at February’s NFL combine when he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, the fastest time recorded by a tight end in 20 years. Sadiq also had a 43.5-inch vertical jump and an 11.1 board jump. Sadiq caught 51 passes for 560 yards (11 yards per catch) and 8 touchdowns on his way to being named second-team All-American.
Mougey would make another move in the draft jumping back into the first round to select wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., out of Indiana. Cooper Jr. provides another weapon on offense across from their already polished Super Star in Garrett Wilson.
To put a bow on the draft for both the Jets and Giants, I think it is safe to say both organizations got it right with their picks. Both teams tackled the positions that were needed. These moves don’t necessarily mean franchise turnover by any means. However, this is a good start for both franchises to develop these young and promising players in the hope that these players along with other potential off-season moves could lead to a breakout year or at least something promising for fans to look forward to in the future.
Both the Jets and Giants look to change the narrative of being laughingstocks in their respective divisions. It’s only a matter of time before we can both see these two storied franchises not only make the playoffs, but once again start competing for division titles and perhaps beyond that. All in all, it was a good few nights to be a New York Football fan.
Sports Notes: (Baseball) The New York Yankees return to the Bronx after a 9-game round trip. They will welcome the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium to kick off a four-game series. The Mets wrap up their three-game set at Citi Field with the Washington Nationals tonight. They will then head West to begin a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels tomorrow night.
As we go to press, Sports Talk With Eddie Presented By Our Time Press aired this past Wednesday. Make sure you haven’t already tuned in to our YouTube and Facebook channels to catch what was an exciting week in New York Sports.