Chiefs draft profile: Arvell Reese is pass-rushing chess piece with fit concerns

An exercise worth doing every year is asking yourself: What if the Kansas City Chiefs had the No. 1 overall pick and couldn’t trade down? Most years, it feels easy to answer who you’d like them to take. Travis Hunter as an elite cover corner and offensive weapon? Joe Alt continuing his father’s legacy in Kansas City? Marvin Harrison Jr. finally becoming the alpha wide receiver the Chiefs have been needing? Next year, you can pencil in Jeremiah Smith for that answer. Yet for the 2026 draft, there feels like no sure thing, even with the No. 1 overall pick. This speaks to the weakness at the top of the class.

For some teams, Arvell Reese might be the first overall pick. His traits are enticing, and there’s a skill set there that has recently translated into some elite pass rushers in the NFL. For the Chiefs, that seems like a long shot. Drafting Arvell Reese requires a plan for him to be successful. We’ve seen hybrid defenders be a huge success or a huge bust.

Given what the Chiefs have at risk in this draft, the question remains: is it worth trying to take a true superstar? Who was the last star the Chiefs drafted? Creed Humphrey is the best center in the league, and that’s probably the closest thing to a star—but he’s a center. Trent McDuffie is an All-Pro slot defender as well, another star at a slightly suppressed position. Maybe it’s time to take that big swing and get a Micah Parsons–level player.

To keep close tabs on the 2026 NFL Draft and the top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs, make sure to bookmark our Arrowhead Addict Big Board. Our custom big board is tailored toward the Chiefs’ needs and thresholds.

NFL Draft Profile: Arvell Reese, Linebacker, Ohio State

Age: 20 (on draft day)

Height: 6-4 (listed)

Weight: 245 LBS. (listed)

Tape Exposure: Texas (2025), Wisconsin (2025), Michigan (2025)

Shades of Jalon Walker

Arvell Reese's background

An Ohio native, Reese played his high school football at Glenville High School in Cleveland. Ranked as a four-star recruit by 247Sports, he was the 18th-ranked linebacker and the eighth-ranked prospect in Ohio. Reese committed to Ohio State in 2022 and played sparingly his freshman year, appearing in six games.

In 2024, he was a key contributor for the national championship team, totaling 43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. His junior year under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia saw Reese flourish as an apex defender. He tallied 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2025. Reese declared for the NFL Draft in January of 2026.

Why Arvell Reese could have the highest ceiling in the draft

Freakish Athlete

Arvell Reese in the open field chasing a quarterback or ball carrier is like watching a cheetah and a gazelle on Animal Planet. His closing speed is insane, and his frame is so long and lean that he’s just an athletic ball of clay. He won’t be able to buy a beer until August 2026, also making him one of the younger players in the class. There is still plenty left to develop in a very talented skill set.

Versatility

Reese played 327 snaps on the defensive line as a junior, lining up in many different ways — from wide nine-tech alignments to mugging the A-gap as a stand-up rusher. He also took 286 snaps at linebacker this year. He triggers well downhill, can drop into zone coverage, or carry running backs and tight ends in coverage.

Level of Competition and Scheme

With Matt Patricia’s scheme, there’s no question about how Reese will translate to an NFL defense, given how he looked in an NFL-style system this year. Reese played against some of the toughest competition you can face over his last two years as a starter, and that shows in his game. He had some of his best performances on big stages, including against Texas to open the season.

Is Arvell Reese a project or a high-end prospect?

Limited Pass Rush Profile

Reese’s 6.5 sacks look nice, but a large majority came as a quarterback spy or blitzer. While he does have tremendous speed and power, there isn’t a large body of work showing he’s an impact pass rusher on the line of scrimmage. There’s not much of a pass-rush plan either; speed-to-power is his primary tool. It’s a great tool, but further development is needed.

Role

As a pure linebacker, Reese might be a Day 2 pick. The linebacker tape is solid but nothing special compared to his teammate Sonny Styles. To fully maximize where Reese is projected to go in the draft, he either needs to be an impact apex defender who is truly very good at all his roles (think Kyle Hamilton) or a high-level pass rusher. Right now, he’s neither.

Rush Lane Discipline

Reese's eyes can get him in trouble with misdirection and play action. He’s a very powerful edge setter but can get washed out in more power situations, especially against a fullback or pulling guard.

Should the Chiefs show interest in Arvell Reese?

Reese is a special talent and an elite athlete, with so many things to like on his tape. There’s a very good chance that in five years we look back and say he was the best player in the class. With that being said, there is an element of risk in his profile. He needs growth and development, and that’s just not really what the Chiefs need at pick No. 9.

This can’t be a project pick. It needs to be a Day 1 starter and a potential All-Pro. Between the Chiefs’ thresholds at edge rusher and their immediate needs, it might be best to let someone else take the risk on Arvell Reese.

Reese is an elite athlete with emerging traits who could become an impact pass rusher. A lack of a pass-rush plan and limited reps as a pure edge rusher might delay his development. He’s a sure tackler and very flexible, making him an interesting chess piece for a defense looking to deploy him.

Round Grade: Green Chip (2nd round pick)