Potential or production?
This was the debate raging at One Jets Drive in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL draft. In the end, general manager Darren Mougey and the New York Jets went with production over potential by selecting defensive end David Bailey instead of linebacker Arvell Reese.
The decision shocked and upset plenty of Jets fans. One person who praised the decision, though? None other than the player most frequently compared to Reese: All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Appearing on Bleacher Report’s 2026 NFL draft show, Parsons had plenty to say about Bailey, Reese, and head coach Aaron Glenn.
”I think this is the better pick,” Parsons said. ”You gotta understand, Aaron Glenn is calling the defense this year. When Aaron Glenn had the number one defense, he had Aidan Hutchinson. Aidan Hutchinson is more of this [Bailey] than Reuben Bain or Arvell Reese.”
“Arvell Reese is mysterious. He’s an off-ball linebacker, like myself, that guys want to say he can be a rusher, stand-up, but he’s off-ball. You’re not taking an off-ball linebacker at No. 2. So I think this is the best pick you’re gonna get. It’s more resemblance of a Hutchinson that [Glenn] is used to playing with.
“This is more of a better pick for the New York Jets and for what Aaron Glenn wants to run. I think this is an A grade for coaching and understanding your system.”
Parsons highly valued Bailey’s elite production over the last two years. Bailey’s get-off, arsenal of pass-rush moves, and ability to finish plays made him Parsons’ second-ranked player in the draft.
“Bailey, for me, it’s about production. He’s had the production, he’s the one that I see make moves, like legit moves, in this league. He has the speed, the get-off, everything that you’re kind of looking for.
“And he finishes. That’s the thing in this league. Everyone gets close. But can you finish at the quarterback? That’s the separator.”
He also emphasized that strength and power can be developed in the NFL, addressing Bailey’s biggest concern: run defense.
“Power is something that you kind of develop more as a pro. In college, you’re not getting fully developed. It’s kind of like best-on-best; that’s what college is. Now, when you get around a coach, a system, they’re going to teach you those kinds of things. I think those are the types of things you develop as a pro.
“No one is coming to the NFL complete. I’ve been coached to this day and learned great things from coaches. He will develop. He’s going to have to use it, and he’s going to learn that early.”
Parsons firmly called Reese an off-ball linebacker and couldn’t justify him with the second overall pick. This feels especially notable given the frequent comparisons between himself and Reese, which, despite their popularity, do not hold up after crunching the numbers.
When one of the best pass rushers the NFL has ever seen speaks, you listen. Maybe Reese will follow in Parsons’ footsteps and prove the doubters wrong. But Parsons is confident the Jets made the right choice with the second overall pick.
