FOX Sports' Joel Klatt believes former Ohio State Buckeyes OLB/EDGE Arvell Reese could be the New York Jets' answer with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. While Klatt also mentioned Alabama Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson, he believes Reese could be more transformational for the downtrodden Jets under defensive-minded second-year head coach Aaron Glenn.
Klatt labeled Reese "quite possibly the best player in the draft," while later projecting Simpson to go No. 21 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Overall, his assessment was glowing on the Buckeyes' former block-shedding tracking nightmare for opposing offenses.
"The draft suddenly gets interesting at No. 2. The Jets have a big quarterback need, and they could use Ty Simpson. But this roster needs a lot of help after trading away all its stars," Klatt said.
"So, the Jets take quite possibly the best player in the draft. Reese is a versatile defender. I think he's best when he's on the ball — he's explosive, flexible, and can bend. All of those things are going to pay off in a big way for Reese at the next level. He reminds me so much of Micah Parsons, who flashed some of his pass-rushing ability in college before majoring as a pass rusher in the NFL. Reese can blitz up the middle and can tackle, too."
Arvell Reese's late-season struggles not being held against him
Truth be told, Reese's tangible impact on games waned as the season went on, especially during the program's Big Ten Championship Game loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in early December. Statistically, he didn't have the sort of stats that jump off the stat sheet and make GMs and scouts feel he is a can't-miss prospect.
Reese's abilities are clearly trusted, and his gravity in what was a historically great defense this past fall is respected enough for his scouting report to speak of a dominance not reflected in tackle numbers. Hearing Klatt compare him to Parsons is an unfathomable feather in Reese's cap.
He can come in and reshape your culture. Before Reese played big minutes, Jim Knowles was an also-ran, not known for defensive greatness. After Knowles left for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and Reese rose to prominence as a leader in the locker room, the defense got even better.
Gang Green would do well not to hold those relatively quiet last few games OSU had down the stretch. There were plenty of internal politics at play, and Reese's athletic gifts are worth considering. Reese is a future great, and the Jets, if nothing else, tend to produce strong defenses, even if the QB position has been unsettled for over a decade now.
This would be a good marriage. We'll see if NYJ is competent enough to make a pick like this come April.