Arvell Reese or David Bailey? Analyst breaks down options for Jets

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The New York Jets find themselves in a pickle to choose between Arvell Reese and David Bailey for their potential second overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Both elite NFL defensive prospects have their own pros and cons, leaving the Jets to weigh them properly before making the decision.

NFL insider Brian Baldinger made it easy for the Jets as he broke down both options by going through the scouting notes. Baldinger finds Bailey's "takeoff" the best in football as he added to the repertoire of the Texas Tech star.

"If you want to be a great pass rusher, it always starts with a great first step. But he also has an array of moves, and you’re going to see it right here, he’s got speed to power. He’s 251 pounds, and he gets to the quarterback very, very easily. He’s polished. He had 50 quarterback pressures. He’s beaten some of the best tackles in this entire draft right now. So he’s got a great résumé on record."

Moving on to Reese, Baldinger believes Ohio State's defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia, really used him well this past season.

"He was an off-the-ball inside linebacker in their base defense, but then when they went to a five-man front, he came off the edge and gave you six and a half sacks," Baldinger said. "He was also used as a spy in certain looks against certain quarterbacks because he runs in the 4.4s at 243 pounds. But you watch him right here, just spying the quarterback—a little delayed rush. There are a variety of ways to use him."

Baldinger also notes that anyone who wants to take the bet on Reese must show the flexibility as Ohio State.

In the end, Baldinger gave the Jets his opinion between the two:

"I would take David Bailey."

Will the @nyjets take Arvell Reese or David Bailey? @BaldyNFL breaks down both options ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XP0ZKLC9BG

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 23, 2026

More: Jets best options with No. 2 pick: Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain lead top prospects after Fernando Mendoza

There's no wrong pick between Arvell Reese and David Bailey for Jets

Under head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets' system values versatility on defense. This, in turn, would favor Arvell Reese more as he can take on multiple roles. On the other end, with Bailey, the Jets get immediate impact at the pass-rush position. In a league dominated by quarterbacks, his skills could come in handy.

Reese recorded 6.5 sacks for Ohio State last season, while Bailey registered 14.5 sacks for Texas State. The choice is really skewed here and the Jets could not go wrong by picking either one of the two.