Micah Parsons thinks Arvell Reese is a 'risk in the top 10.' Is he right?
TL;DR
Micah Parsons believes the New York Jets made the right choice by selecting David Bailey over Arvell Reese with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He expressed concerns about Reese's positional value during a live draft analysis.
Key points
- Micah Parsons supports the Jets' choice of David Bailey.
- Parsons sees Bailey as a fit for Aaron Glenn's defense.
- He expressed concerns about Arvell Reese's positional value.
- Reese was considered a risk for a top 10 pick.
The New York Jets selected David Bailey over Arvell Reese with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons believes the Jets made the correct pick.
Parsons provided analysis of the Bailey selection during Bleacher Report's live draft show on April 23. The three-time All-Pro opined Bailey would be a strong fit in Aaron Glenn's defense and acknowledged he envisioned the 22-year-old being more of an Aidan Hutchinson-type player than Reese would be.
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Then, Parsons made some eyebrown-raising comments about his perception of Reese's positional value.
"Arvell Reese is mysterious," Parsons said. "He's an off-ball linebacker, like myself, that guys wanna say, 'He can be a rusher. Stand up.' But he's off-ball. You're not taking an off-ball linebacker at No. 2."
Naturally, Parsons' take was met with some resistance from NFL fans. After all, wasn't Parsons himself an off-ball linebacker who converted himself into one of the league's top edge rushers? And didn't Reese receive Parsons comparisons in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft?
Parson addressed all of that as he continued his analysis.
- Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
- New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
- Arizona Cardinals − RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- Tennessee Titans − WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
- New York Giants − LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
- Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns) − CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
- Washington Commanders − LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
- New Orleans Saints − WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
- Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs) − OL Spencer Fano, Utah
- Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals) − OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
- Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins) − S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys) − OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
- Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) − QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
- Baltimore Ravens − G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers − DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
- Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) − TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
- Detroit Lions − OT Blake Miller, Clemson
- Minnesota Vikings − DL Caleb Banks, Florida
- Carolina Panthers − OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
- Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay Packers via Cowboys) − WR Makai Lemon, USC
- Pittsburgh Steelers − OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
- Los Angeles Chargers − DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
- Cowboys (from Eagles) − DE Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
- Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) − WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
- Chicago Bears − S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
- Houston Texans (from Bills) − G Keylan Rutledge
- Dolphins (from 49ers) − CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
- New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills) − OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
- Chiefs (from Rams) − DT Peter Woods, Clemson
- Jets (from Denver Broncos via Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers) − WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
- Titans (from Patriots via Buffalo Bills) − DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
- Seattle Seahawks − RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
1 / 32
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- Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
1 / 32
See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
- Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
2 / 32
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- New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
3 / 32
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- Arizona Cardinals − RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
4 / 32
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- Tennessee Titans − WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
5 / 32
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- New York Giants − LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
6 / 32
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- Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns) − CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
7 / 32
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- Washington Commanders − LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
8 / 32
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- New Orleans Saints − WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
9 / 32
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- Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs) − OL Spencer Fano, Utah
10 / 32
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- Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals) − OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
11 / 32
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- Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins) − S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
12 / 32
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- Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys) − OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
13 / 32
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- Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) − QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
14 / 32
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- Baltimore Ravens − G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
15 / 32
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- Tampa Bay Buccaneers − DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
16 / 32
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- Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) − TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
17 / 32
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- Detroit Lions − OT Blake Miller, Clemson
18 / 32
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- Minnesota Vikings − DL Caleb Banks, Florida
19 / 32
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- Carolina Panthers − OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
20 / 32
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- Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay Packers via Cowboys) − WR Makai Lemon, USC
21 / 32
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- Pittsburgh Steelers − OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
22 / 32
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- Los Angeles Chargers − DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
23 / 32
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- Cowboys (from Eagles) − DE Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
24 / 32
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- Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) − WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
25 / 32
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- Chicago Bears − S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
26 / 32
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- Houston Texans (from Bills) − G Keylan Rutledge
27 / 32
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- Dolphins (from 49ers) − CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
28 / 32
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- New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills) − OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
29 / 32
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- Chiefs (from Rams) − DT Peter Woods, Clemson
30 / 32
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- Jets (from Denver Broncos via Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers) − WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
31 / 32
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- Titans (from Patriots via Buffalo Bills) − DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
32 / 32
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- Seattle Seahawks − RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Micah Parsons offers thoughts on Arvell Reese
As Parsons outlined, he believes the comparisons between himself and Reese are imperfect because he thinks the New York Giants are drafting the Ohio State product to be an edge rusher.
"I got drafted at 12 as a linebacker and then I transitioned to defensive end," Parsons said shortly after the Giants selected Reese with the No. 5 overall pick. "I never got drafted as a defensive end. So, that's like a bad comp."
Beyond that, the comparison between Parsons and Reese also ignores the fact that Parsons entered Penn State as a five-star recruit who played defensive end, as well as running back, during his high school days. He moved to off-ball linebacker in college before converting back to his natural, edge rusher spot during his time with the Dallas Cowboys.
Meanwhile, Reese was recruited to Ohio State as an off-ball linebacker. He played a hybrid role on the edge in high school – just like he did during his lone season as a starter for the Buckeyes – but most projections considered Reese to be a long-term linebacker.
As such, Parsons believes a key part of the conversation is missing when discussing Reese's potential as an NFL pass rusher.
"You're not taking that risk in the top 10 to say, 'We're making you an edge off of linebacker tape,'" Parsons explained. "Especially when a majority of his sacks were from off-the-ball."
Despite his critique of Reese, Parsons made it clear he was a believer in the Ohio State product's talent. He had Reese graded as the No. 9 overall player on his big board and said he understood why the Giants selected Parsons when they did.
He just isn't sure whether Reese will develop into the type of edge rusher some have been projecting him to be.
"I just think it's not proven," Parsons said. "It doesn't mean this can't happen."
Breaking down Arvell Reese's pro potential
Parsons has a point about Reese as a prospect. Among the top selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, Reese was widely viewed as someone who would be drafted based on his potential instead of his pro-readiness.
Remember, Reese was just a one-year starter at Ohio State. He posted strong numbers in his hybrid role – 69 tackles, 10 TFL and 6.5 sacks – and earned All-American honors because of his performance.
Still, Reese is considered a big-time work-in progress off the edge. And NFL fans saw firsthand how raw he is for that role in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Case in point, the hullabaloo that surrounded Reese's performance in the bag drills at Ohio State's pro day. The 20-year-old drew attention for struggling to bend around the bags, showing off some stiffness and less fluid athleticism compared to other top edge rusher prospects, like Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr., who thrived during the drill.
But again, that wasn't a major surprise. What Reese lacks in experience he makes up for in size and athleticism. He is a developmental prospect who has all the tools needed to become a fearsome pass rusher and hybrid playmaker.
And even if those skills never quite develop as expected, Reese can become an excellent starter off-the-ball.
In a normal draft class, such a result might be disappointing for a top-five overall selection. However, positional value was largely thrown out the window during a 2026 NFL Draft class that was considered to be weak overall.
All that's to say it's understandable why Parsons, like the Jets, might prefer Bailey to Reese. It's also fair for him to express concern about whether Reese will become the pass rusher many are hoping.
But at the end of the day, NFL teams typically bank on talent in the top 10 selections. There's little doubt that Reese is among the most talented players in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of what position he ends up playing.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Micah Parsons explains why Arvell Reese was a 'risk in the top 10'
Q&A
Why did the New York Jets choose David Bailey over Arvell Reese?
The Jets selected David Bailey because Micah Parsons believes he fits better in Aaron Glenn's defense and has a higher positional value.
What did Micah Parsons say about Arvell Reese?
Micah Parsons described Arvell Reese as a 'risk in the top 10,' suggesting concerns about his value compared to other players.
How does Micah Parsons compare David Bailey to Aidan Hutchinson?
Parsons envisions David Bailey as being more similar to Aidan Hutchinson than Arvell Reese, indicating a belief in Bailey's potential impact.
What are the implications of the Jets' draft pick for Arvell Reese's career?
The Jets' decision to pass on Reese could affect his draft stock and future opportunities in the NFL, as he was not selected in the top two.
