With the Raiders likely to pick a quarterback, the New York Jets will get to pick the best all-round player from the No. 2 slot - and Arvell Reese welcomed the franchise's interest
16:14 ET, 25 Feb 2026Updated 16:15 ET, 25 Feb 2026
Arvell Reese won the national championship with Ohio State in 2024
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Arvell Reese won the national championship with Ohio State in 2024(Image: Getty Images)
Arvell Reese labeled the New York Jets a “serious organization” as he clarified the position he wants to play in the NFL.
Reese is one of the names the Jets could select with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Given that the Las Vegas Raiders are set to pick Fernando Mendoza, the Jets will have the ability to choose the cream of the crop when looking to address their many glaring needs.
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Defensively, the franchise has been linked with several names, including Rueben Bain Jr., but Reese could be the most sought-after name following a tremendous collegiate career at Ohio State. Last year, Reese was a finalist for the national Butkus Award and a consensus All-American while recording 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss.
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His body of work has secured a top-10 pick in April’s draft, but he could go as high as No. 2 to the Jets. The versatile Reese has met with several teams ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, including the AFC East franchise, which left an impression on him.
“That meeting was a lot of... they installed something and wanted to see where my head was at,” Reese told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that's a serious organization. I respect the guys I met with, I respect that room, for sure.”
On the chance to play for the Jets, Reese added: “That'd be amazing. Just getting a chance in the NFL would be amazing.”
The Jets make sense as a landing spot. Former All-Pro linebacker Quincy Williams is expected to hit free agency, and New York — whose head coach Aaron Glenn will call plays on defense — also needs to bolster its pass-rush.
It’s a good thing Reese, who saw time as both an off-ball linebacker and an edge rusher, sees potential in the two positions. As a result, the 20-year-old plans to do drills at both linebacker and edge rusher at the Combine.
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Arvell Reese sees more of a pass-rushing role for himself in the NFL, either at outside linebacker or at the edge
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Arvell Reese sees more of a pass-rushing role for himself in the NFL, either at outside linebacker or at the edge(Image: Getty Images)
“Teams just pretty much have been asking me what I wanted to do,” Reese continued. “Just seeing where my mind is at. I’ve just been telling them I think I’m an outside linebacker, edge.”
Reese insisted he hasn’t “scratched the surface” of his potential when it comes to rushing the quarterback, but acknowledged he might not be as polished as some of his peers. “There are a lot of things I have to get better at. I think I can adapt to it quickly. … It’s what I did last year.
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“I was down on the line at five-down, and when we went four-down, I was off the ball. I’m used to that.”
Reese has attracted comparisons to another off-ball linebacker who became a furious pass-rusher in Micah Parsons. The Green Bay Packers star switched to edge rusher in the NFL, having thrived as a linebacker at Penn State, but his speed and power proved too dominant to ignore.
Reese may be the same. When asked why he should be selected in the top three picks, Reese claimed: “I think I’m different than a lot of guys. I think it’s my mindset and the violence I play with. I’m comfortable with myself, I know myself. I know who I am. I know I'm a violent player and I'm a dog.”