2026 Draft: Linebacker

[manxman2601]

The hype he's getting on twitter right now you might have to say goodbye to your dream. Sorry.

 

[mayoclinic]

Sigh. Aaron Donald all over again.

 

[manxman2601]

I didn't realise that Arvell Reese has 6 sacks this year. Yep, he's in the same tier as Bain and Downs.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

There are a lot of LBs and Safeties. Too many for a casual observer like me to keep up. But a great situation because the Pats need to replace Elliss and Hawkins.

 

[mayoclinic]

I didn't realise that Arvell Reese has 6 sacks this year. Yep, he's in the same tier as Bain and Downs.

I can't recall a player being so impactful in so many ways. Bain impacts every play, but usually in a similar way. Reese can rush from the outside or through the gaps, spy the QB, set the edge, drop into coverage. He disrupts plays in so many ways, and is so freakish in the way he does so.

 

[mayoclinic]

Daily Reese's pieces:

 

[manxman2601]

Two later round linebackers to consider.

Justin Jefferson, Alabama, 6-1, 227

There were two scouts at the Missouri/Alabama game at the weekend and while there were plenty of prospects on show for them to evaluate, part of me wondered whether Jefferson was one they might be particularly interested in. My reason for this is his physical and athletic to similarites to Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood - a well I keep being interested in because of Vrabel's reported interest.

He has very good sideline to sideline range and is currently grading very well in coverage, less well in run support, probably owing to his 8 missed tackles, although 4 of those came in the disastrous Florida State game.

He's not a MIKE, but could be a possible day 3 compliment to Spillane.

 

[mayoclinic]

Who is the second one?

 

[manxman2601]

Eric Gentry, USC, 6-6, 225

I only mention Gentry because of his outstanding length. He's 6'6", has very long arms and an 83-85" wingspan and clearly at 6-6, he has the frame to add more weight. I'm always interested in prospects who have something very few others have and think Gentry is someone who could develop into a potentially formidable edge rusher in time given more weight with that height, wingspan and arm length.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[mayoclinic]

Gentry very interesting, don't know what to make of him yet.

 

[mayoclinic]

Reese is even more physically freakish than Parsons. Maybe not quite as twitchy, but so powerful. He just picks up linemen luke randomly, but he's also so fluid in space. Sort of like Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White and Brian Urlacher rolled into one. I can't remember seeing anyone quite like him.

 

[manxman2601]

OK, a third.

Mac Harris, USF, 6-0, 235

He currently leads the FBS in pass coverage grade with a 91.1 grade and only gives up completions on 50% of his targets this year. For comparisons sake, Jacob Rodriguez is at 76%, Golday at 65% and Sonny Styles 88%.

Harris also has 4 sacks on the year, a sub 10% missed tackled rate, 3 forced fumbles and only a 21% QB rating against.

 

[manxman2601]

For anyone who doubts the relevance of PFF grades and why I attach importance to them, Shaun Dolac was comfortably the highest graded linebacker in last years draft.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[manxman2601]

CJ Allen in coverage

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[manxman2601]

You just know that if they continue to struggle, Arvell Reese will be a Raven next year.

 

[mayoclinic]

I live in dread of that thought.

 

[mayoclinic]

Linebacker Ledger: How Reese, Styles, the young core are powering Ohio State

Ohio State’s linebackers have become the heart of Matt Patricia’s defense, blending speed, versatility, and leadership to anchor one of the nation’s stingiest units in 2025.

www.landgrantholyland.com