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A NY Jets Conundrum Could Turn the Cardinals’ Draft Plans Upside Down

Arvell Reese

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Arvell Reese cold be a great fit for the Arizona Cardinals.

In recent days, the Arizona Cardinals have been linked to everything from running back Jeremiyah Love, to a trade out of the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft, but a new theory may toss aside all of those plans.

Up until now, it’s been widely reported that the New York Jets are looking at selecting Ohio State’s Arvell Reese with the No. 2 pick. He’s one of the draft’s more versatile and exciting prospects, but at just 20 years old, may need some time to develop. Now boasting the continent’slongest playoff drought, the Jets may opt for a player that would help them to win now instead.

On ESPN’s The Schrager Hour, NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah and host Peter Schrager hinted that New York may be targeting Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey instead.

“That’s why I was kind of leaning in that direction,”stated Jeremiah. “We’re kind of hearing the same thing. And as we’re coming down the home stretch here, this feels more like Bailey bird-in-the-hand pick versus the upside pick with Reese.”

“You see it on the tape, and there’s substantial empirical evidence that David Bailey might be more pro ready now,” Schrager added.

The New York Jets Passing on Arvell Reese Would Be a Huge Opportunity for the Cardinals

It would be quite the turn of events, as Reese has been penciled into the No. 2 spot for weeks now. For the Cardinals, it may completely change their draft plans if the most dynamic player in the draft falls into their laps.

Up to this point, it seemed that the Cardinals would do one of three things: select David Bailey, select Jeremiyah Love, or trade back. While any one of those would be heralded as a good decision, Reese has one of the highest ceilings in the draft if a team is willing to work with him. This development would almost certainly guarantee that Arizona takes Reese above all those other options, as the Cardinals may be willing to be more patient than the Jets after hiring a brand new coach.

How Would Arvell Reese Fit in with the Arizona Cardinals?

While Reese has all the tools to be a great player in the league, he needs to land with a team that has a clear role in mind. Because he is such an incredible talent, Ohio State played him off-ball and off the edge, where he racked up 6.5 sacks in a part-time role. But in the NFL, Reese may need to find a home. With a big need at edge, the Cardinals would likely look to make him a full-time rusher, but at just 240 pounds, he would need a year to benefit from an NFL weight training program.

With edge taken care of, Arizona may look to findtheir quarterback of the future. Alabama’s Ty Simpson has been linked to the Cardinals, but they may need to trade back up in order to get him. Either way, getting Reese at No. 3 would be a huge win for a team in desperate need of some bigtime playmakers.

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