Tag: Reese

Apr 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers sits court-side during the second half of the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Giants, John Harbaugh not concerned about WR Malik Nabers’ draft feedback

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers traded his helmet for a draft analyst cap and shared a less than flattering assessment of the team’s investment in Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 draft.

Among other thoughts shared by Nabers, he said he would have preferred Ohio State teammate Caleb Downs, a safety he “would rather play with than against.” Nabers was at LSU when Downs played for Alabama as a freshman in 2023. Downs was the No. 11 pick to the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys.

“I love (Reese) the player but just like (podcast co-host Micah Parsons) said, where does he play? You want to be on the outside and rush but we just drafted someone last year to that same position,” Nabers said.

Head coach John Harbaugh said he reached out to Nabers to explain how Reese could be used in combination with the fully loaded pass-rush group already on hand in New York, including 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter and edge Brian Burns.

“One thing that you’ll kind of probably see as we go here, we don’t get too worried about stuff,” Harbaugh said. “As long as the person’s heart is in the right place, as long as the person really cares … and you really want what’s best for everybody and he’s got a good heart and it’s coming from a good place, say what you think. Put it out there.

“We talk all the time about confronting everything that has to do with our football team. And so Malik wants to know how we’re going to use our first-round pick. I want to show him. I want to explain it to him. The fact that he says it publicly, who cares? I know fans are probably thinking the same thing.”

New York passed on Downs again with the 10th pick, selecting Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

Harbaugh said Nabers was at team headquarters on Friday, before the second day of the draft began, and they discussed how Reese would be used. According to the first-year Giants’ coach, Nabers came out of the conversation “fired up” about Reese.

“We had a great conversation with that,” Harbaugh said. “Like came in the next morning, sat up there and we were talking about it. He made himself clear. It’s like you even said, if you go back and you watch it, I appreciate kind of where he’s coming from. I mean, you’re in a podcast, you’re talking ball and he’s just like, well, how do they got to use the guy? How’s he going to play? … It’s like he said, ‘I was curious about how you’re going to use him.’”

Nabers said the public reaction was more of an overreaction.

“First off, we have to stop overreacting,” Nabers said in a social media post. “I would never intentionally take away from the biggest moment/night of Arvell’s life. Very excited to see him play on the team and happy that we have another dawg on the squad!!”

–Field Level Media

Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech defensive lineman David Bailey (DL31) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Who’s No. 2? Books shifting from Arvell Reese to David Bailey for Jets

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New York Jets continue to hold their cards close to the vest when it comes to the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

But the most popular online sportsbooks think they see a tell: Texas A&M pass rusher David Bailey has passed Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese as the favorite to be selected immediately after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza hears his name called first by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Twenty-four hours ago, BetMGM listed Reese at -400 as the favorite to go No. 2 while Bailey could be secured at +200. At that time, Bailey had been backed by the most total bets at 21.2% and Reese by the most money at 37.2%. But by Wednesday night, Bailey moved into the favorite’s role at -145 while Reese has plummeted to +110.

DraftKings, meanwhile, listed Bailey as -150 to go No. 2 with Reese at +115 and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love a distant third at +8000.

This seismic surge occurred despite Bailey having his “top 30” visit to Jets headquarters canceled by the team. Jets coach Aaron Glenn downplayed not bringing Bailey in for a pre-draft visit, then Bailey supported that view Wednesday by saying he has spent plenty of time with the team’s brass and recently caught up with them on FaceTime.

Yet another question: Will the Jets hold on to that second overall pick?

New York owns five of the top 103 selections in the draft and could opt to move down or stay put at No. 2 and/or No. 16 on Thursday night. The Jets also have a pair of second-round picks on Friday night.

If the team stays put at No. 2, the question between Bailey and Reese has been one of the more interesting pre-draft debates.

The 6-foot-4, 243-pound Reese ranks the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2026 draft by Field Level Media, followed immediately by the 6-3, 247-pound Bailey.

Bailey tied for the NCAA lead with 14.5 sacks last season and is a weight-room warrior who explodes off the ball. He has been compared to Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto, who faced similar questions about his potential as a run defender coming out of Oklahoma prior to the 2022 draft.

Reese could be a reliable edge setter in a 3-4 or a thumping presence in the middle of a 4-3. He also can stick with tight ends in coverage, and provides a tantalizing combination of tools and versatility. A comp to retired pass rusher Barkevious Mingo, who by all accounts failed to live up to pre-draft expectations, might have many NFL personnel in the Jets’ shoes favoring Bailey.

–Field Level Media

Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (LB25) runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ohio State LBs Reese, Styles sizzle in workouts at NFL Scouting Combine

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ohio State linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese left a vapor trail during on-field tests at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday in Indianapolis.

Styles, primarily a middle linebacker for the Buckeyes, and Reese, who said this week he’s training to be a pass-rushing linebacker at the NFL level, turned in matching 40-yard dash times of 4.46 seconds.

Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey ran a 4.50, the best among all defensive ends timed on Thursday. Bailey is projected as a top-10 pick. Bailey measured at 6-4, 251 pounds and had a 35-inch vertical.

Styles posted a 43.5-inch vertical — Reese did not do vertical or broad-jump testing — which is better than what safety Nick Emmanwori (Seahawks) recorded as a 2025 combine-best 43-inch vertical. Styles measured 6-5 and weighed 244 pounds. His broad jump was also the best recorded Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium at just over 11 feet and he had a 7.09-second three-cone drill and 4.26-second short shuttle.

Most draft projections put Reese and Styles in the top 15 overall picks in April.

A projected second-rounder, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had the top three-cone time — 6.90 seconds — and went 4.19 in the short shuttle among prospects at the position who participated Thursday.

–Field Level Media