The New York Giants received wide praise for their 2026 NFL Draft class. Not everyone agreed.
Raul Allegre, a two-time Super Bowl champion kicker who won under coach Bill Parcells with the Giants, gave a critical review of the team's two top-10 picks. According to CBS Sports, Allegre spoke in an interview with Bolavip US and raised concerns about both linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.
On the Reese pick, Allegre said the Giants passed on a player he preferred. Reese came to New York from Ohio State, where he won a national championship in 2024 and was named a consensus All-American and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year in 2025.
"The question here is whether the team is in a better position now," Allegre said. "Obviously, the fifth pick was already theirs, and they ended up going for Arvell Reese. Personally, the player I liked the most was Caleb Downs, and I debated whether or not to take him twice. He ended up going to Dallas, which is not positive at all for Giants fans."
Downs, a do-it-all safety from Ohio State, was also Reese's former teammate with the Buckeyes. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys, a division rival. Allegre's concern is that Downs could make a sizable impact for what was last year a downtrodden Cowboys defense, while Reese's value at linebacker is harder to weigh at the same draft position.
Draft analysts have been more positive on Reese. CBS Sports draft analyst Josh Edwards noted that across 22 snaps in the first two weeks of the preseason, Reese stood out with his sideline-to-sideline range and executed his role fitting run gaps. Reese can also line up as an edge rusher on passing downs, giving him versatility beyond a traditional inside linebacker role.
Allegre's concern about Mauigoa was centered on health. The offensive lineman dealt with a back issue that limited him during the pre-draft process. The Giants acquired the No. 10 pick as part of a trade, and used it on Mauigoa with the expectation he would be a starter at a position of need.
Both Reese and Mauigoa were projected as immediate starters, which drove much of the positive coverage the Giants received for their draft haul. The class also adds to a young core that already includes quarterback Jaxson Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, wide receiver Malik Nabers, and edge rusher Abdul Carter.
The hiring of head coach John Harbaugh has been viewed as a signal of a new direction for the franchise. How quickly Reese and Mauigoa develop as starters will go a long way toward determining whether the Giants' offseason optimism holds through the regular season.