Arvell Reese 2026 NFL mock draft: latest prediction for Ohio State Linebacker
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The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching fast and league scouts are solidifying their big boards. Linebacker Arvell Reese could be among the players who hear their name called early in Pittsburgh this week when the NFL welcomes its newest class of rookies.
USA TODAY Sports has all the latest on where the prospect out of Ohio State may land.
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Here's how USA TODAY's latest mock draft currently projects draft day will play out for the former college star.
Arvell Reese 2026 NFL Draft prediction: Pick No. 3 overall, Arizona Cardinals
Nate Davis' Fit Analysis:
The Cards would probably love to deal out of this spot. The question is, who'd come up this high given Mendoza is the only perceived franchise quarterback available this year? Even a swap with the Giants, who select fifth overall, feels rich given their numerous needs and lack of draft ammo beyond the second round. So in what feels like a probable stick-and-pick scenario, the Cards should probably take arguably the player with the most upside in this draft in Reese. He split time playing off the ball and rushing the passer for the Buckeyes, hence the inevitable Micah Parsons comparisons. Reese, who turns 21 in August, has plenty of time to develop into a full-time pass rusher and maybe justify the comp one day. And getting to the quarterback is especially important in the NFC West, where the Cards, who surrendered the fourth-most points in the league in 2025, are looking way up at their competition right now.
Ayrton Ostly's Big Board Rank: No. 1
Reese is the top linebacker prospect of the past five years. He combines ideal size (6-foot-4, 243 pounds) with outlier athleticism. But it's his football IQ that's set him apart this season. The game's slowing down for him and he can take on varied roles in a defense as a pass rusher, quarterback spy, run defender or coverage linebacker. Teams may want to deploy him more off the edge but even if they dont, hes a force multiplier across the second level.
Campus Intel:
Reese became an overnight sensation for the Buckeyes, going from a second-string linebacker to an All-American last year. Beginning with a breakout performance in Ohio State's season-opening win over Texas, he added a versatile dimension to the top-ranked defense, splitting snaps between the edge and off the ball as new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia introduced a mix of odd fronts. After a hot start that saw him rack up 6.5 sacks in the first eight games, Reeses production took a dip in November when the Buckeyes began using him to spy quarterbacks on a seemingly more frequent basis. -- Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
See USA TODAY's full mock draft here
Arvell Reese player profile
All stats from 2025 NCAA Season
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 241
- Tackles: 69
- Tackles For Loss: 10
- Sacks: 6.5
- Passes Defensed: 2
- Forced Fumbles: 0
- Interceptions: 0
When is the 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place between April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
- Thursday, April 23: Round 1
- Friday, April 24: Rounds 2-3
- Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7
How to watch the 2026 NFL Draft
- Dates: April 23-25
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (Round 1); 7 p.m. ET (Rounds 2-3); Noon ET (Rounds 4-7)
- Channels: NFL Network; ESPN; ESPN2; ESPN Deportes
- Streaming: NFL+; ESPN Unlimited & Select; Fubo
Fans have several options to choose from to watch the 2026 NFL Draft. NFL Network and ESPN will have separate broadcasts, each providing a different analysis of each pick as it happens on draft night.
Cord-cutters can stream the different broadcasts on NFL+, the NFL's proprietary streaming service; ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited, ESPN's streaming services; or cable alternative Fubo , which offers a free trial.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arvell Reese 2026 NFL mock draft: latest prediction for Ohio State Linebacker