Arvell Reese
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Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese.
The Washington Commanders need immediate defensive help in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL draft — something they can get at almost every position but edge rusher.
While cornerbacks, safeties and off-ball linebackers have all shown they can be high-level starters from the moment they step on the field, it’s much more rare to get an edge rusher who dominates right off the bat. Of the NFL’s Top 5 sacks leaders in 2025, none had double-digit sacks as rookies.
That logic means Commanders head coach Dan Quinn might want to stay away from an edge rusher with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft —mainly because if he misses the playoffs for a 2nd consecutive season he might be out of a job.
If that logic doesn’t prevail, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski singled the Commanders out as the “Perfect Landing Spot” 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker Arvell Reese.
“Once upon a time, Dan Quinn unleashed Micah Parsons onto the NFL and the hybrid defender wreaked havoc,” Ballentine wrote. “Quinn has since become the head coach of the Washington Commanders thanks to his tenure as Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator, but he hasn’t had anyone in Washington who can be used in a similar manner to Parsons. To be fair, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese isn’t the same caliber of prospect compared to Parsons. A correlation still exists, because the pair of Big Ten products have skill sets to be used all over the defensive front seven as either off-ball linebackers or pass-rushers.”
Rare Praise for Reese as NFL Prospect
Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey have gone back and forth as the top edge rusher prospect in the 2026 NFL draft, although Bailey can’t play multiple positions like Reese can.
If the Commanders are truly set on getting an edge rusher, there might be the chance neither player is available when they get to pick.
“(Reese) is fast in pursuit and his tackle finishing could become elite,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “His rush is kinetic and tough for tackles to mirror. It’s under construction, but Reese has already sprouted go-to moves and rush plans that need more refinement. He might need some runway to hit his stride, but his rare blend of traits, explosiveness and versatility could become a perfect storm of chaos once a defense decides how to deploy him.”
Commanders Absolutely Don’t Need Off-Ball LBs
If the Commanders come to their senses on defense this season, they’ll let linebacker Frankie Luvu go back to the dual-threat role he was in 2024, when he got to play a mix of off-ball linebacker and edge rusher on the way to earning NFL All-Pro honors,
Veteran Bobby Wagner might be keen to stay with the Commanders for a 3rd season as he tries to break the NFL tackles record, so that would make off-ball linebacker the only position on defense where they’re actually OK at headed into 2026.
The better play for the Commanders would be to try and sign an elite edge rusher in free agency — specifically NFL All-Pro Trey Hendrickson.