The world of sports is gathering in mass to head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Starting Thursday, 32 teams will forge their team’s futures in the Steel Capital of the World during the 2026 NFL Draft. With the first round beginning, six teams will have the chance to make waves with two first-round picks each. Among them are the New York Jets, who own both the second overall and 16th overall picks. However, the fanbase (and national media) are split on who they should select.
While they determine their choice, one thing is for certain: New York will select an edge rusher via the second overall pick. But, will it be the co-NCAA sack leader, David Bailey from Texas Tech? Or, will New York opt for the versatile All-American linebacker turned edge rusher Arvell Reese from Ohio State? Each player offers a unique skillset that should help the defense this fall. But which one should they pick?
Arvell Reese or David Bailey? The Jets Must Decide Soon
With the Las Vegas Raiders locked in on Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza to be the first overall pick, NFL media has been dissecting the New York Jets options at second overall. For weeks, it has been a back-and-forth between two names. Whether it’s Arvell Reese or David Bailey, Jets general manager Darren Mougey will provide head coach Aaron Glenn with an edge rusher. Each player offers a unique skillset. David Bailey is a well-polished pass rusher who should have little trouble getting after the quarterback immediately. As for Arvell Reeese, his experience both on the edge and as an off-ball linebacker made him a force against the run. However, let’s dive further into each player’s profile to see who’d be a better fit long term.
The Case for David Bailey
Commited to Stanford in 2021, Orange, California native edge rusher David Bailey made an immediate impact on the Cardinal defense. Bailey finished his freshman season with 8.5 TFLs, two sacks, and two forced fumbles on his way to becoming a Freshman All-American. He built off that in 2023 with six TFLs, five of which were sacks. However, it was his junior season where Bailey shone, finishing in the top five in the NCAA with five forced fumbles, along with eight TFLs and seven sacks. However, Bailey took a massive gamble on himself and opted to transfer to Texas Tech in April of 2025.
The gamble more than paid off for the 23-year-old edge rusher. Under the guidance of a defensive specialist in head coach Joey McGuire, Bailey became a force for the Red Raiders. During his lone season in Lubbock, Bailey finished with 14.5 sacks, 32 solo tackles, and three passes defended. All of which are career highs. Thanks to his efforts, the Red Raiders finished 12-1 and earned their first bid in the College Football Playoff before losing to Oregon in the Orange Bowl. Along with his 19.5 TFLs, Bailey finished as a First-Team All-American.
The Case for Arvell Reeese
Cleveland, Ohio native, Arvell Reese committed to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2022. During his freshman season in Columbus, the linebacker saw limited action, primarily playing on special teams. Despite limited playing time his freshman year, Reese became a valuable rotation piece in 2024. While he only made two starts, Reese finished his sophomore season with 43 tackles, three & a half of which were TFLs and credited with half a sack. Working with former second-round draft pick turned linebackers coach James Laurenitis, Reese saw major progress. His efforts helped contribute to the Buckeyes winning the National Championship after defeating Notre Dame.
However, this season, Reese made his presence felt. Working with former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia as his new defensive coordinator, Reese saw time both on the edge and at off-ball linebacker. The result was an impressive junior season with 69 total tackles, with ten TFLs and six and a half sacks. As a result, the 20-year-old was named both First-Team All-American and Big10 conference linebacker of the year. However, a loss in the Cotton Bowl to Miami ended the Buckeyes hopes of repeating as National Champions to end the season.
Who fits the New York Jets best long-term?
On Thursday, the Jets will face a crucial decision between these two players of who will be their next franchise edge rusher. Either man would be a great fit to help bolster the team’s defense. However, to quote the 1987 film Highlander, “there can be only one.” While David Bailey should thrive immediately as a pass rusher, he draws concerns due to his difficulty against the run, along with durability concerns at just over 6’3 and weighing 251 lbs. As for Arvell Reese, teams are also concerned with his upper-body strength, and his limited experience on the edge will be a weakness against offensive tackles. After finishing second-to-last in sacks last season, New York will need either guy to succeed in pass protection.
David Bailey is more likely to offer the most immediate impact as soon as the season starts. Realistically, no one should be shocked if he has more than seven and a half sacks or more this fall. However, with the second overall pick, you have to think about both the present and the future. Along with struggling against the pass, the Jets finished fourth in most rushing yards allowed per game. They have addressed this area thus far in the offseason, but still, more help is always welcome. David Bailey is the better pass rusher today. Picking Arvell Reese could be massive for this franchise.
At only 20 years old, Reese has room to grow as a player. He’s still filling out his frame. Allowing Arvell Reese to work with renowned defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and a veteran linebacker like Demario Davis can be a masterstroke for his development. If Arvell Reese develops the way most scouts believe, he could realistically be the best edge rusher the Jets have had since Shaun Ellis.
