COLUMBUS, OH — The race for the top defensive prospect in the Arvell Reese 2026 NFL Draft cycle just hit overdrive. Ohio State’s wrecking ball defender, Arvell Reese, spent his week hosted by a trio of teams holding top-10 real estate. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Reese had private dinners with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, followed by an extensive sit-down with the New York Giants immediately after his Pro Day workout.
Reese didn’t just show up in Columbus; he dominated. The 6-foot-4, 243-pound All-American posted a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and displayed the kind of lateral agility that makes scouts drool. With the Las Vegas Raiders essentially locked into Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, the draft effectively starts at No. 2 with the Jets. New York needs a cornerstone after trading Jermaine Johnson to Tennessee, and Reese fits the bill as a hybrid threat who can erase tight ends or bury quarterbacks.
The New York Jets currently hold the No. 2 overall pick and sent a massive contingent to Ohio State, led by head coach Aaron Glenn. Glenn was seen shadowed by Reese throughout the afternoon, focusing on the linebacker’s ability to transition from a stand-up rusher to a traditional off-ball role. After a 2025 season where the Jets’ defense struggled to find a consistent pass-rush partner for Will McDonald, Reese looks like the missing piece. He racked up 8 sacks and 10 tackles for loss last year, proving he can play anywhere in the front seven.
Meanwhile, the New York Giants are looming at No. 5. Head coach John Harbaugh is reportedly obsessed with Reese’s “unlimited upside.” The Giants already boast a terrifying duo in 2025’s No. 3 pick Abdul Carter and veteran Kayvon Thibodeaux. Adding Reese would give New York a three-headed monster in the trenches. During his meeting with Giants brass, Reese reportedly broke down film for over an hour, showing the high-level football IQ Harbaugh demands from his starters.
“I’m not here to just be a draft pick. I’m here to be the guy that changes the scoreboard. Whether it’s the Jets, the Giants, or whoever—they’re getting a player who hunts every single snap. My tape speaks, but my work today shouted.”
— Arvell Reese, Ohio State LB/Edge
New Orleans sits at No. 8, which usually puts them out of the Reese sweepstakes. However, league sources suggest the Saints are “exploring all avenues,” including a trade into the top four. The Saints’ defense aged rapidly last season, and they lacked a spark player in the secondary and the box. Reese is a Cleveland Glenville product—the same school that produced Buckeyes legend Ted Ginn Jr.—and that “Ginn-tough” mentality is exactly what the Saints need to jumpstart a rebuild.
If the Jets pass on Reese at No. 2 to take a tackle like Francis Mauigoa, the draft board will descend into chaos. The Giants at No. 5 or even the Titans at No. 4 would sprint to the podium. For now, Reese has done his part. He finished his college career with 112 total tackles and a reputation for being the hardest hitter in the Big Ten. The chilly Columbus air didn’t stop dozens of scouts from shivering as they watched him toss 300-pound offensive linemen aside during bag drills. He’s the real deal, and the Atlantic-based teams know it.
