Arvell Reese Signals Position Flexibility at Combine as Jets Weigh Edge Options
Arvell Reese told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine he will run the 40-yard dash and perform positional work as both a linebacker and an edge rusher. The decision matters because teams, including the Jets who hold the No. 2 pick with the draft two months away, are closely evaluating versatile defensive prospects for a spot likely to come off the board early.
Arvell Reese: measurements, workouts and positional outlook
The Ohio State linebacker/edge prospect measured in at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds and has openly discussed the dual nature of his game. Reese split time between linebacker and edge at Ohio State and said he believes he can play both spots at the next level; his plan at the combine is to run the 40-yard dash and complete both linebacker and edge drills to show teams what he can do.
Reese acknowledged there is room to grow physically — he wants to add a bit more size — and that pass-rush technique remains a developing area after relying largely on raw speed and power in college. He declined to predict a 40 time but committed to testing on the field, a concrete action that will supply measurable data for evaluators when on-field workouts begin following the combine press sessions at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Conversations with NFL personnel have already included comparisons and film study. Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia showed him cutups of former Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins, and some teams have presented Reese with highlights of both Sam linebackers and edge rushers to help frame where he might best fit. That blend of tape work and live testing will shape whether clubs project him as an off-the-ball linebacker, a stand-up edge, or a hybrid role.
Jets deliberation over the No. 2 pick and the edge rush market
With the draft roughly two months away, the Jets are confronting a draft board with few quarterback prospects deemed worthy of the No. 2 selection, pushing defensive players — particularly edge rushers — into the spotlight. Reese is one of three edge prospects identified among the class’s top tier, alongside David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr., all of whom met with reporters Wednesday and are scheduled for drills on the combine field.
The likely vacancy of franchise-caliber quarterbacks at the top of the board has a direct effect: it increases the premium on elite pass rushers and versatile defenders. Teams holding early picks are prioritizing players who can impact opposing quarterbacks, and Reese’s choice to test at both positions is tailored to that market dynamic. His measurable workout results and positional drills will provide the Jets and other clubs with quantifiable evidence to weigh against film and medical profiles.
What makes this notable is that Reese’s flexibility could allow a team taking him at the very top to adapt their defensive scheme without forcing an immediate commitment to one role. For a franchise facing a high-stakes selection, a player who can credibly line up on the edge and step into off-ball linebacker duties offers roster-building options on Day 1.
Beyond measurements and workout participation, Reese enters the combine with a high draft stock—evaluators project him as a potential top-five pick—and with clear, testable objectives over the coming days. How he performs in the 40-yard dash and in positional drills will materially influence where he lands on boards that increasingly prize pass-rush production.
Teams will now watch the tape and the timing of his workouts closely: a strong athletic showing could solidify his standing among early selections, while mixed results would raise tougher questions about his pro role. For Reese, the combine is both a stage for physical proof points and a platform to narrow the positional debate that has followed him from college into the NFL draft process.
