Arvell Reese's awkward pro day drill raises eyebrows but won't hurt NFL Draft stock

Longtime draft analyst Ryan Fowler posted photos of Reese and Miami Hurricanes defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., another potential first-rounder, doing the same drill to illustrate bend better. Bain (6-foot-2, 263 pounds) clearly gets much lower than Reese (6-foot-4, 241 pounds). 

What should NFL teams make of Arvell Reese's bend?

After watching Reese at his pro day, NFL teams interested in the LB should know his bend needs improvement, which isn't entirely surprising. He started his career as a full-time off-ball LB, a position where they typically don't have to twist as edge-rushers do.

The Ohio State star is expected to convert to edge-rusher when he enters the NFL, but the team that takes him should remember the transition will take time. So, it would be wise to heed the advice of Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, who indicated he would primarily use Reese as a blitzer as he improved his pass-rushing skills. (Washington owns pick No. 7, likely outside of Reese's range.)  

"The versatility of him being an on-the-ball and off-the-ball player, that's a big deal," Quinn said at Ohio State pro day, per ESPN's John Keim. "I could see a team blitzing him until he develops a real pass-rush arsenal. I know first-hand what that looks like with a player." 

The player Quinn is referring to is Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons, whom he coached for three seasons as Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator (2021-23).

Speaking of Parsons, he chimed in on Reese's drill on X. He clearly believes it doesn't matter and noted scouts should watch "actual game footage." 

Those who do will know Reese remains a potential top-10 pick. In 2025, he ranked first in sack rate (7.5%) and pressure rate (27%) among the 42 edge-rushers in Sports Info Solutions' Draft Matrix. NFL Mock Draft Database projects that the New York Jets will grab him with selection No. 2.