The New York Jets’ decision at No. 2 overall in April’s NFL draft is becoming easier and easier.
Even with the “bend-gate” chatter, Ohio State edge defender Arvell Reese remains the clear-cut favorite to be selected second overall by the Jets, and a Big Ten coach sees it the same way.
In Bruce Feldman’s latest mock draft for The Athletic, he predicted Gang Green to select Reese at No. 2 while including a quote from an anonymous Big Ten coach raving about the Ohio State product.
“This guy is an alien,” the coach told Feldman regarding Reese. “And he’s clearly very smart because he’s doing so much for them.
“He’s playing that ‘adjustor’ spot, which is what they call that position in the (Bill) Belichick tree. You’ve got to be really smart to play that spot. I think he’s incredible. I hope he goes somewhere that is going to be aggressive in how they use him. The same way as Mike Macdonald with (Nick) Emmanwori and Dallas was with Micah Parsons.”
Even in a small pass-rush workload at Ohio State in 2025, Reese made a significant impact. In 119 pass-rush reps, he logged 27 pressures and 6.5 sacks, which is elite output for that level of usage.
That efficiency is why many expect Reese to primarily line up as an edge defender at the next level. Still, teams running hybrid defensive schemes, as the Jets will under Aaron Glenn, can find ways to weaponize Reese’s versatility.
Beyond the elite production, Reese’s physical makeup is what intrigues talent evaluators, analysts, and fans.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, he plays with an eye-catching amount of strength for a man of his size and with his speed. Might I add that he is also 20 years old, giving him immense room for growth and an immesurable ceiling at the NFL level.
Everything is pointing to the Jets going in one particular direction at No. 2, and it seems like it would be the right call.
