Cardinals Showing Interest in Polarizing Draft Prospect

The Arizona Cardinals continue their 2026 NFL Draft prep with an interesting meeting on the radar.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals were one of many teams to visit with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.

Ohio State LB Arvell Reese has had Top 30 visits with the #Jets, #AZCardinals, #Titans, #Giants, #Chiefs, and #Cowboys, per me and @MikeGarafolo. @MoveTheSticks has Reese as the No. 2 pick by NYJ in his latest mock draft. pic.twitter.com/x62biYcw30
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2026

In total, Reese has known visits with six teams in the top 12 of the draft order. He's only 20-years-old.

Reese is one of the draft's more polarizing prospects thanks to his versatility as an inside linebacker and edge rusher. With that potential, he's highly expected to be a top five pick but is currently being penciled in to No. 2 at New York.

The Cardinals, under general manager Monti Ossenfort, has shown a strong affinity for Ohio State players in the past. Arizona's drafted picks such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Paris Johnson Jr. in the first round. The Cardinals have drafted more Buckeyes than any other school under Ossenfort.

Arizona previously has swung and missed on former "versatile" prospects such as Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons, which does give Cardinals fans plenty of pause.

However, Reese is his own prospect/profile and should be treated as such.

Arizona has also showed interest in other top pass rushers such as David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. this draft cycle. After not making any additions to the room, many believe the Cardinals will utilize their third overall pick at the position.

That will be needed, as Josh Sweat is far and away the only consistent pass rush presence at outside linebacker. With defensive coordinator Nick Rallis returning with a base 3-4 defense, they'll need a more suitable presence to get after the quarterback.

Rallis indeed likes his versatile guys, which has been highlighted by Garrett Williams and Mack Wilson Sr. in their respective position groups.

In a best case scenario, Reese can be a player who changes the dynamic of defenses with his ability to cause chaos on both the edge and interior. There's been some comparisons to Micah Parsons due to the versatility, but that feels unfair.

The hesitation with Reese is the classic "jack of all trades, master of none" argument. While Reese can be a good inside linebacker or edge rusher, drafting a prospect that high in the draft demands more than just good. Fears on Reese's inability to do one position at an elite level in the NFL is perhaps the biggest cloud over his profile.

That could be a gamble the Cardinals are willing to take.