The New York Jets are staring down a pivotal offseason, armed with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a long list of needs after a 3-14 campaign under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn. While many expected the Jets to target quarterback Dante Moore, the Oregon signal-caller has opted to return to school, forcing New York to pivot.
And that pivot could lead them to one of the most intriguing defensive prospects in the draft: Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese.
Reese isn’t just a consolation prize-he’s a potential game-changer. At 6-foot-4 with elite burst and closing speed, Reese has drawn early comparisons to Micah Parsons, and not without reason. He posted 34 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks this past season for the Buckeyes, showcasing the kind of disruptive presence that the Jets sorely lacked in 2025.
New York’s defense hit historic lows last year. The Jets became the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without recording a single interception while also losing five straight games by 23 or more points.
That’s not just a bad stretch-it’s a full-blown defensive collapse. Injecting a talent like Reese into the front seven would be a massive step toward restoring some bite to a unit that finished 31st in points allowed per game.
The Jets are also undergoing a shakeup on the sidelines. They’re bringing in former Dolphins assistant Brian Duker as their new defensive coordinator.
While Duker hasn’t called plays at the NFL level, the expectation is that Glenn will retain those duties. The two have a history together from their time in Detroit between 2021 and 2023, and Glenn made it clear he believes in Duker’s football IQ and aggressive mindset.
“During our time in Detroit, Brian consistently demonstrated a high-football acumen and an aggressive approach to defense,” Glenn said. “I'm confident that his energy and knowledge of the game will help elevate our players and push this team forward.”
That’s the kind of optimism the Jets need right now. This past season, New York ranked 29th in scoring offense and 31st in scoring defense.
Their only wins came against the Bengals, Browns, and Falcons-none of which were playoff teams. The roster is thin, the quarterback situation is unresolved, and the team is still licking its wounds from a historically bad season.
But Glenn isn’t backing down. Despite the brutal debut, he’s not going anywhere.
The Jets signed him to a five-year deal last offseason, and the front office appears committed to giving him time to build. Glenn, for his part, isn’t shying away from the heat.
“I understand what everybody on the outside is saying,” he said. “I'm going to take all those arrows, and that's OK, because I do know this: It's going to turn.
And I'm confident in that. ... Just trust me.
I know it's hard to say, but trust me and have faith in what we're doing.”
Trust is a big ask after a season like this, but the Jets have a chance to reset the tone of the franchise this April. If they can’t land a quarterback early, going best player available is the smart play-and right now, that might be Arvell Reese.
If he lives up to the hype, the Jets could finally have the kind of defensive cornerstone they’ve been missing for years. And after a season filled with lowlights, that’s exactly the kind of spark New York needs.