With the Raiders all but guaranteed to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, there is more intrigue surrounding the Jets at No. 2. A pair of Ohio State linebackers, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, as well as Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey are candidates for New York’s top selection. Still two-plus weeks away from having to make a decision on April 23, the Jets are “leaning toward” Reese, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports.
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Reese’s versatility may tip the scales in his favor as the Jets transition to a 3-4 base defense that will use multiple fronts. As Cimini notes, Reese played 356 snaps at outside linebacker and 238 as an off-ball LB in 2025. Reese handled all responsibilities with aplomb during a season in which he earned consensus All-America honors and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder totaled 69 tackles, 10 TFL and 6.5 sacks over 14 games.
Although Reese did not post gaudy numbers in 2024 (43 tackles and a half-sack in 16 games), Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is unconcerned. In that regard, Glenn likens Reese to Texans five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, who recorded just 4.5 sacks in three years at LSU. Hunter has since racked up 114.5 during a prolific decade in the pros.
“His stats weren’t up there, but he had all the traits and he’s had a coach that can coach him to be where he’s at right now,” Glenn said of Hunter (via Cimini). “So I look at [Reese] the same way. Man, it’s a combination of the traits and this combination of the football character again. Is that player coachable enough to be able to do the things that you want him to do to be successful?”
By now, Glenn and the Jets should have a good idea of whether Reese is “coachable.” Jets brass took extra time to meet with Reese at Ohio State’s pro day in late March. They also dined with Reese in Columbus, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Cimini). If the Jets draft Reese, it would give them another pass rusher to join holdover Will McDonald and free agent pickups Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. He would also supply another off-ball option to a team that reunited with Demario Davis in free agency and has Jamien Sherwood entering the second season of a three-year, $45MM deal.
Turning to other early draft possibilities for the Jets, it would count as “an upset” if they pass on taking a wide receiver sometime in the first two rounds, Cimini writes. No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell will play big roles in 2026, but the Jets have little else at the position. Considering the team owns four of the draft’s top 44 picks, that could change soon.
Reese’s success or failure will come down to the defensive coordinator and how much they take advantage of his versatility. He is a Swiss Army knife and if you only use the knife part you’re wasting a pick.
So true. Almost to the point I think they need to move down and collect more picks because they can screw up this pick even though it may be the right pick.
I think if you have a defensive head coach and you can’t trust them with a talent like Reese they should be fired
Who’s going to trade up for 2? I can’t see why anyone would be interested in moving up this year unless there’s a massive discount.
Jets should trade down….. sounds weird but there are so many holes on that roster.
Like myaccount2 said, there’s no real incentive for someone to trade up to #2 this year. It’s almost definitely going to be a defensive player since I don’t see anyone taking an RB, QB or WR at #2 here.
Jermaine Johnson was traded to the titans (not still on team PFR). The team could use a new rusher/top defender after trading Johnson, sauce and Williams. An edge and WR in the first round would set them up nicely. If they don’t go QB in the second just load up on Oline and defense then go after QB next year with 3 first .
That should have said Will McDonald, not Jermaine Johnson. It’s fixed. Thanks!
This is where the draft really starts, will it be Reese or Bailey
We won’t know until the Jets examine the Madden ratings 🙂
Reese is the obvious choice here imo given that they’re switching to a 3-4.
The way this draft shakes out will be fascinating. There’s no real first round QB prospects other than Mendoza (though some team may reach for Simpson), and OL and DL are by far the two most stacked positions in the first round, with LB a close second and WR and DB a very distant third.
I’m betting somebody will reach for Simpson, just like 2011 when the Titans picked Jake Locker eighth overall, or the Vikings with Christian Ponder (12th I think).
He will go in the first round but not that high.
And that team, 2 years from now will be picking another QB when they realize he isn’t the guy….bug mistake taking a guy who wouldn’t be in the top 5 in a decent QB draft….
I remember Locker. He was a big deal at Washington. The hometown kid who became a star for his state’s biggest program, and an athletic one at that.
Nix kind of reminds me of him but he’s definitely more athletic than Locker was.
I think a lot of those former busts would thrive in today’s zone read schemes.
Extremely different prospects. Nix was a much more polished passer coming out. Locker was a spectacular athlete. Saying Nix is definitely more athletic than Locker was (coming out, before the injuries) is just wrong.
@notimportant. Reese might be the next walker over Hutchinson pick. Bailey and Bain jr have better tape. Reese has the size and measurables, but those can come back to bite you in the butt. As far as the team reaching for Simpson it’s probably the jets at 16.
See I disagree because Reese actually plays LB. Walker was strictly an edge.
Hutch was also a no brainer whose production in college was off the charts.
@notimportant. I wasn’t saying position wise. Its more of he has the prototypical size. Bailey is a game wrecker led college in pressures and sacks. I’m not worried about his bend. Just feel like he’s safer.
Reese has the most upside, definitely some risk though. If he doesn’t stick at edge it’s likely a wasted pick that high.
One of the more underrated moves for the Jets this offseason was hiring Dunbar as the Dline coach. Formerly with the Steelers, he’s done good work. Think he will help Reese a ton.
3-4 doesn’t need to be an edge. He can be a simple OLB who moves between being an edge and coverage.
I’ve been on the fence, but I think Reese is probably the best call. I think it’s a little too high for Tate or Downs. Bailey isn’t tempting that high to me. Bain is tempting. I think the arm length is overblown and think even a solid but not great outcome for him is something like Brandon Graham. Reese is tricky because he’s never been a full time edge rusher and could theoretically be better at off-ball linebacker, which you’d never take at two. But he’s freaky talented, he’s not even 21 yet, and he’s shown legit skills. It’s not like he’s an athletic project who hasn’t shown he knows how to play football yet.
It’s not a great draft, especially to be one where you have two picks in the top half of the first round, but I think you shoot your shot on Reese.
Of course, ask me another day and I might say Bain.
Lone wolf here but I’m saying the Jets can’t afford to bust this pick so you take the guy with proven motor, production, character and inside and outside versatility along rhe D line and grab Bain. He’s an absolute dog and makes the Jets D line more versatile. He can pressure the QB and stuff the run, short arms be damned.
If he’s still there at 5, the Giants will gladly take him….
Bust loading…
Whenever I would watch Ohio State games, Sonny Styles stood out more to me than Arvell Reese did. Players ultimately grow with whatever system and structure they have around them at the NFL level, but I feel that if all things were equal that Styles just passes the eye test as the Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker that will have a longer career just by what I have seen in games I watched.