The 2026 NFL Draft is just hours away, and while the New York Jets own the No. 2 overall pick, everybody is expecting the draft to truly start once they are on the clock. With the Las Vegas Raiders almost certainly selecting Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, that means all eyes are going to be on the Jets.
New York is widely expected to select one of the top defensive prospects available with this pick. Part of that group is Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese, who has been billed as a top-five pick throughout the pre-draft process. Reese knows there’s a decent shot he winds up in New York, and he recently opened up on how he would feel if he were selected by the Jets.
Arvell Reese Dishes on Jets as 2026 NFL Draft Draws Near
Reese appears to be one of the finalists to get selected with the No. 2 overall pick, as all signs seem to point to the Jets’ pick coming down to either him or Texas Tech Red Raiders pass rusher David Bailey. In recent days, more and more rumors have linked Bailey to New York, but it’s clear that Reese remains a part of the team’s discussions for the No. 2 pick.
Over the past two seasons with Ohio State, Reese has turned himself into one of the most well-rounded defenders in the nation. After helping the Buckeyes win a National Championship last year, Reese earned All-American honors in 2025, as he racked up 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two pass breakups in 14 games of action.
After trading away guys like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, New York is very clearly rebuilding, which is why they need to find a new franchise cornerstone on the defensive side of the ball. Reese revealed that, while he’s going to be happy no matter where he lands, he enjoyed his conversations with head coach Aaron Glenn and the rest of the Jets personnel that he met with ahead of the draft.
“If I go number two, that would be amazing. That would be a blessing. But it’ll be a blessing to be picked at number two, three, top five, anything. It’ll be a blessing to go anywhere,” Reese said in an interview with Covers. “My meeting with the Jets, it went well. I like the coaches I met there. I had a long, long talk with Coach Glenn. I liked his mindset and his goals, and it’s the stuff you want to achieve for the organization … That conversation went well. I respect Coach Glenn.”
Jets Have Big Arvell Reese Decision to Make in 2026 NFL Draft
MADISON, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 18: Arvell Reese #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Both Reese and Bailey were studs in college, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be as productive in the pros. One of these guys is going to be better than the other, and it’s up to the front office to determine who that will be. It may seem somewhat insignificant, but for a team that needs as much help as the Jets do, every little thing matters.
Right now, it seems like Bailey is expected to be New York’s pick at No. 2, but all options are still on the table. And even if Reese doesn’t find his way to the Jets, there’s a very good chance he will be coming off the board within the next few picks. The Jets have some big decisions to make on Thursday night, but none are bigger than the one they face with the second overall pick in the draft.
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