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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Oliver Connolly, Melissa Jacobs, Andrew Lawrence and Graham Searles

NFL 2026 draft predictions: the stars, the needs and the lower-round gems

Ty Simpson NFL Jeremiyah Love Jets Arvell Reese Giants Colston Loveland Fernando Mendoza Mickey Loomis Bears
Carnell Tate of the Ohio State Buckeyes (left), Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (second left), Jeremiyah Love of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (second right) and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese.
Carnell Tate, Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love and Arvell Reese are all waiting for their name to be called in the coming days. Composite: Guardian Pictures; Getty Images; AP

Fernando Mendoza will go No 1. But the most talented player in this draft is ...

Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State. He is one of the best pure linebacker prospects in a generation, and he has the athletic traits to become a full-time edge defender. Some teams view him as a linebacker; those at the top of the board prefer him as an edge rusher. In an ideal world, Reese will do a bit of everything. Think Philly’s Zack Baun on Super Soldier Serum. Reese has a rare combination of smarts, speed and power. Whichever role he plays, he will be a force multiplier for a defense. OC

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