The Arizona Cardinals met with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese during the first day of the NFL Draft Combine, he told reporters Wednesday.
“It went good. It went well,” Reese said.
Reese added he also met with the New York Jets at the combine.
The 2025 All-American is among the top prospects this draft cycle being linked to the Cardinals’ No. 3 overall pick. The Arizona Sports Mock Draft Tracker, which is up to 100 entries this week, has him as the third-most-mocked prospect to the Cardinals (14 times). He trails only offensive tackle prospects Francis Mauigoa (40) and Spencer Fano (17).
Reese is coming off a productive final season at Ohio State behind 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
The big question now centers on what NFL teams think of him from a positional standpoint. Is he more of an inside linebacker or edge rusher?
Ask him, and it’s the latter.
“Teams have been asking me what I wanted to do and just seeing where my mind was at,” Reese said. “I just be telling them I think I’m an outside linebacker, edge potentially.
“I think I got a lot to get better at outside linebacker and edge as far as pass-rushing and coverage, but I think I can adapt to it quick,” he added.
Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese on what position he wants to play and what teams are asking him to play. pic.twitter.com/OXfVnTimPp
— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) February 25, 2026
Reese is expected to do both linebacker and edge drills at the combine.
Naturally, thoughts of Haason Reddick, Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons come to mind when talking about a tweener at linebacker.
All three were moved between inside and outside linebacker at one point or another during their Cardinals tenure. Simmons even had a new position created for him as a star backer. Despite the athleticism, the production did not follow.
Only one of those players still resides on Arizona’s roster, with Collins serving as an outside linebacker with the versatility to play inside if need be after beginning his NFL career as a MIKE backer.
His best season since the switch came in 2024 when he registered five sacks, seven tackles for loss and seven QB hits in 17 starts.
If the Cardinals feel that strongly about Reese, knowing where he’s going to fit the best within the defense is critical.