Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
M-E-S-S: MESS! MESS! MESS!
That cheer would accurately describe the product displayed on the wretched and treacherous Meadowlands carpet since forever.
Nov 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) reacts and gets up from the turf after being hit during the second half on Thanksgiving against the New England Patriots at Metlife Stadium. Patriots defeated the Jets 49-19. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
It is by God’s grace that we are not fans of the New Jersey Jets. This team somehow outdoes their own ineptitude every year.
Here are just a few fun facts about the Green Goblins’ “House of Horrors” 2025 run (shoutout to Joe Beningo):
The Jets went the entire 2025 season without an interception. They are the only team since the NFL started tracking interceptions in 1933 to not have a pick. Please take a moment to allow this information to sink in. Not even a random deflection off an O-lineman’s helmet gifted into the hands of a waiting D-lineman. Zero INTs.The 2025 Jets defense also set the NFL record for fewest takeaways in a season with four in 17 games. The 2025 Jets became the first team in NFL history to finish last in point differential, turnover differential, and total yardage in the same season. If the 2025 Jets offense were to face the 1991 Eagles defense (#1 against the run, #1 against the pass, #1 defense overall), an actual black hole/event horizon wouldbe created.
And here are some more Jets truths. Since their 1968 Super Bowl win:
The Jets are 133 games under .500 (418-541-8).It’s been a coaching, GM, and QB carousel: 17 Head Coaches (including Angelo Cataldi’s fave, Rich Kotite), 10 General Managers, and 34 different starting quarterbacks. Not quite Browns’ territory with respect to signal callers, but check out the depressing partial list of Jets QB legends with the most starts since “Broadway Joe” retired in 1976:Ken O’Brien (106 starts)Richard Todd (94 starts)Mark Sanchez (62 starts)Chad Pennington (55 starts)Geno Smith (29 starts). He’s baaaaackAnd who can forget those 4 starts by Bubby Brister in 1995!Bonus nugget: Did you know that an over-the-hill Michael Vick started 3 games for the Jets in 2014? (I had no recollection of that).They have had TWO winning seasons in the last 15 years.
Of course, the primary reason for this unrivaled run of gridiron glory is the Jets’ laughable performance in the NFL draft. They have chosen countless first-round players who either busted in New Jersey (Sanchez, Zach Wilson, Dee Milner, Vernon “Zero Career Sacks” Gholston) or went on to play well for someone else (Darnold).
Lately, they’ve been liquidating their roster by trading away actual good, foundational players like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for picks. Who knows with this organization?
The Jets do have abundant picks this year. Two firsts (#2 and #16) along with two seconds (#33 and #44). At number 2 overall, we know the Jets won’t be drafting a quarterback given their blockbuster trade to re-acquire gunslinger Geno Smith.
Looking at the 2026 season, the Jets’ top 3 needs include:
Which brings us to pick # 2 overall…
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State. 6’ 4” , 240 pounds
During his breakout junior season in 2025, Reese led Ohio State with a total of 69 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Notably, he had a career game against Penn State with 12 tackles. Reese is getting serious draft hype.
As I watched Reese’s film, I kept trying to figure out what he is—an Edge or a LB? There are snaps when he’s playing weak-side backer, some where’s he’s MIKE linebacker, and other snaps when he’s standing up on the edge. He does not put his hand on the ground and had zero snaps from a three-point stance in 2025. At the NFL Combine, Reese clarified to teams that he is a standing outside linebacker and edge rusher rather than a traditional defensive end playing from a three-point stance.
Reese has very good speed, tackles well, and can beat offensive tackles with quickness around the corner. As an edge on running plays, he can deliver awesome backside pursuit and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He will drop back in coverage frequently but does not excel there and is not a guy who is going to pick off balls over the middle.
He looks more like a linebacker to me. He has great read-and-react ability from the LB spot. About half of his sacks come late in the down from the off-ball LB position and about half come from rushes off the edge. I’m not sure if he’s quite big and strong enough to bully NFL offensive tackles on the edge.
Reese is a potential hybrid defender, which is pitching tents throughout NFL Draft war rooms, but I see a linebacker. And this is a premium pick for an off-ball player. I view Reese as a starving man’s Micah Parsons, given his physical traits and his ability to play all over the formation. But unlike Parsons, who is a hybrid defender most at home on the edge, Reese is a hybrid defender most at home as an off-ball linebacker.
A linebacker at #2 overall=More pain for the Jets. But no hard feelings against our northern neighbors. After all, they did take Kotite off our hands.
-Thanks to Brady Fedora for the assist in the write-up.
2026 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Raiders (Mailata_in_a_Miata): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2) Jets (Dr.MidnightGreen): Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
3) Cardinals (grantspectations)
4) Titans (DrBubbles)
5) Giants (ablesser88)
6) Browns (kjb304)
7) Commanders (Jerry Robinson 56)
8) Saints (VetStadiumSection358)
9) Chiefs (Hoosinole)
10) Bengals (chuckelberryfinn)
11) Dolphins (phillyfan)
12) Cowboys (Green Grampa)
13) Rams (All_Hail_Howie)
14) Ravens (215T1LL1D1e)
15) Buccaneers (pascofljoe)
16) Jets (Euegene11)
17) Lions (BCHaas)
18) Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop)
19) Panthers (LancGuy)
20) Cowboys (Cravin’ LeBlanc)
21) Steelers (iam4theBirdz)
22) Chargers (Aint1stULast)
23) Eagles (Philly21)
24) Browns (FierceDisc65)
25) Bears (jazztafari)
26) Bills (PhillyTexan)
27) 49ers (granthill7)
28) Texans (CrackTheEaglesNut)
29) Chiefs (z)
30) Dolphins (Booth12)
31) Patriots (Niels Rosenquist)
32) Seahawks (J. Wil)
2026 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft
Now it’s YOUR TURN to vote for who you think should be selected with this pick.
1) Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza
2) Jets: