Arvell Reese Is the Wild Card at the Top of the 2026 NFL Draft - And That’s What Makes Him So Intriguing
Quarterbacks usually dominate the conversation this time of year. They’re the headliners, the franchise-changers, the ones who make GMs lose sleep and fanbases dream big. But in 2026, the script is flipping - and it’s being flipped by a linebacker.
Ohio State’s Arvell Reese has become one of the most fascinating prospects in the draft class, and not just because of what he has done - but because of what he might become. He’s a defensive weapon with the kind of upside that evaluators rarely see at his position. And now, he’s being projected as high as No. 2 overall to the New York Jets in some mock drafts, including the latest from CBS Sports’ Mike Renner, who called Reese the “NFL version of a lottery pick.”
That’s not hyperbole. At 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, Reese is built like a modern-day defensive prototype.
He posted 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in his junior season - numbers that earned him Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors and consensus All-American status. But the box score only tells part of the story.
What really has scouts buzzing is Reese’s versatility. He logged 286 snaps at linebacker and 327 off the edge last season, giving defensive coordinators a chess piece they can move all over the board.
That hybrid ability has drawn comparisons to Micah Parsons, who made a similar transition from linebacker to edge rusher and became one of the most disruptive forces in the NFL. Reese may not be there yet, but the blueprint is familiar - and tantalizing.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Reese as a “perfect storm of chaos” for opposing offenses. His closing speed is elite - the kind of burst that makes quarterbacks rush throws and offensive tackles panic.
But like any high-upside prospect, there are still areas under construction. Zierlein pointed to Reese’s hand usage, which remains a work in progress.
That’s a crucial detail for someone who might be asked to win one-on-one battles against NFL linemen on the edge.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic had Reese at the top of his midseason prospect rankings, citing his explosive movement as the X-factor. And that’s really the theme here: movement.
Reese can move in ways most guys his size simply can’t. That’s what separates him.
That’s what makes him a potential top-five pick.
But with that potential comes risk.
Pro Football Focus’s Max Chadwick listed Reese as a classic boom-or-bust candidate, and the advanced numbers back that up. Despite all the hype, Reese recorded just 27 quarterback pressures last season and posted a 13 percent pass-rush win rate.
For context, Abdul Carter - another top linebacker prospect - posted a 22.6 percent win rate. Micah Parsons?
20.7 percent in his final college season.
So the question becomes: is Reese an edge rusher with linebacker traits, or a linebacker who can occasionally rush the passer? That distinction matters - especially when you’re talking about a potential top-three pick.
An anonymous AFC executive put it bluntly: Reese needs to pick a lane. If he can’t consistently win off the edge, teams are essentially spending premium draft capital on a linebacker.
And in today’s NFL, where elite pass rushers are king, that’s a high-stakes gamble.
Still, the upside is hard to ignore. Reese is the kind of prospect who could anchor a defense for the next decade - or leave teams wondering what went wrong.
He’s raw in some areas, refined in others, and undeniably gifted. He’s not a finished product, but that’s part of the appeal.
With the right coaching and the right scheme, he could become the centerpiece of a dominant defense.
And that’s why, in a draft class that lacks a clear-cut No. 1 quarterback, Arvell Reese is pushing his way to the top of the board. He’s not just a linebacker. He’s a bet on potential - and one that could pay off in a big way.