With the 2026 NFL draft less than three weeks away, Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese has emerged as the heavy favorite to be selected second overall, with betting markets and a flurry of pre-draft meetings suggesting the New York Jets will use their pick on the pass rusher. Reese has held the status of favorite for much of the pre-draft cycle, but his odds have firmed to an overwhelming -250 to be the No. 2 selection, according to current wagering lines.
Reese, whose only season as a full-time starter came in 2025, made an immediate national impact for the Buckeyes. He earned first-team All-American honors and was voted the Big Ten’s linebacker of the year after a breakout campaign that showcased his speed and power as a pass rusher. NFL teams have taken notice: Reese has already met with six franchises that hold top-12 picks, underscoring broad interest in a player many evaluators project as a potential elite edge weapon at the next level.
The betting markets underscore how strongly the consensus has shifted toward Reese. After months on the board as the likeliest No. 2, he is now the clear favorite, with the next-shortest odds held by Texas Tech’s David Bailey at +350. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Miami defensive end Rueben Bain trail well behind at +1100 and +1200, respectively, making scenarios in which Reese slips past the Jets increasingly unlikely in bettors’ eyes.
New York’s presumed desire for a high-impact pass rusher aligns with Reese’s profile. The Jets own the No. 2 pick and have been linked to defensive upgrades in the months leading to April’s draft; landing a player of Reese’s pedigree would address a premium need for teams seeking to pressure opposing quarterbacks. The fact that multiple teams with high picks still sought meetings with Reese suggests he could be a draft-day target for clubs with designs on moving up, but current odds and league chatter point to New York as the primary suitor.
At the top of the draft order, Fernando Mendoza remains the near-certain choice for the first overall pick, with many mock drafts and league observers expecting the Raiders to take him No. 1. That presumed outcome has helped crystallize plans for subsequent selections, and Reese’s ascendance in the betting markets reflects a growing alignment among scouts, front offices and oddsmakers about how the top of the board will fall.
With the draft approaching, the picture could still change—teams will continue private visits, workouts and last-minute evaluations—but for now Reese is widely expected not to wait long to hear his name called on draft night. The next two weeks of pro day performances and final team meetings will determine whether those bookmakers’ odds hold, or whether another pass rusher breaks through to challenge Reese for the Jets’ likely second overall pick.