PITTSBURGH — The 2026 NFL Draft opens Thursday night on the North Shore, and two names sit atop every big board: Ohio State linebacker/edge Arvell Reese and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The New York Jets grab at No. 2 overall, while the Tennessee Titans sit at No. 4. Both prospects earned green room invites among the 16 elite prospects confirmed by Ian Rapoport, locking them in as early first-round locks.
Arvell Reese Fits the Jets’ Edge Need at Pick No. 2
The Jets bring the second selection into draft night with a clear hole on the defensive front. Reese, the 6-4, 241-pound Cleveland native, offers rare versatility. He lines up off the ball or rushes from the edge, and scouts rave about his burst once he triggers.
Reese posted 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss in his standout 2025 season at Ohio State. He ran a 4.46 in the 40 at the Combine and tested among the top edge prospects. At just 20 years old, he projects as a long-term building block who can pressure quarterbacks while dropping into coverage.
New York has cycled through veteran pass rushers. Reese gives them a young hybrid who hides intentions in the front seven. Lance Zierlein noted on NFL.com how Reese stacks blocks with active hands and finishes tackles with authority. If the Jets stand pat, he becomes the immediate successor on the edge.
Should New York pivot to a quarterback or tackle, Reese likely slides no further than the top five. The Giants or Panthers sit ready to jump on his pursuit speed and physicality.
Jeremiyah Love Brings Explosive Playmaking to the Titans at No. 4
Tennessee holds the fourth pick and desperately needs offensive firepower. Love, the 6-0, 212-pound back from St. Louis, delivers that and more. He averaged nearly 7 yards per carry last season while adding significant receiving production. Analysts compare him favorably to Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, with some calling him the most complete back since those standouts.
Love rushed for over 1,200 yards and scored 17 touchdowns in 2025. He caught passes out of the backfield with ease and showed willingness to block. Titans brass sees him as the centerpiece who can win between the tackles or stretch the field in the passing game.
His blend of power, acceleration, and vision makes him the safest high-upside selection in the top tier. If a team trades up to leap the Titans, Tennessee could shift to offensive line help, but most mocks keep Love firmly in play at No. 4.
“I want to be one of the best of all time. I want to be a Hall of Famer. I want to be a Pro Bowler my very first year.”
— Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB
What Happens If Reese or Love Slides?
The draft board rarely stays static once the clock starts. Teams picking right after the Titans watch these two closely. A surprise reach for a quarterback or offensive tackle could push Reese or Love down the board just enough to create value for franchises at picks 5 through 10.
You could sense the tension building in Pittsburgh this week. Scouts huddled in hotel lobbies, phones buzzing with last-minute intel. The riverfront setting adds to the drama, with bridges lit up and fans packing Point State Park for the free Draft Experience.
Reese’s Micah Parsons-like athleticism gives defensive coordinators nightmares. Love’s vision and burst turn ordinary plays into chunk gains. Both carry franchise-altering ceilings, especially for teams rebuilding identity on either side of the ball.
Personal note from covering drafts over the years: nothing matches the raw energy when a prospect walks across that stage knowing his life just changed. For Reese and Love, the spotlight in Pittsburgh feels especially bright.
The chilly April air won’t slow the buzz. Fans in Jets green and Titans blue already fill the North Shore, turning parking lots into tailgate zones. Whatever happens Thursday night, these two prospects stand ready to redefine their new teams from day one.
