Draft Shocker in the Big Easy: Saints Snag Arvell Reese at No. 8—Here Are the 3 Major Reasons Why
NEW ORLEANS, La. – In a turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the league offices and the French Quarter alike, the New Orleans Saints have landed arguably the most versatile defender in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the eighth overall pick, the Saints selected Ohio State linebacker/edge hybrid Arvell Reese, a player many experts had projected to be selected within the first three picks .
As Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the name from the podium in Green Bay, the analytics community erupted. For weeks, the narrative surrounding the Saints was one of “best available athlete” or “wide receiver help.” But for General Manager Mickey Loomis and second-year head coach Kellen Moore, the opportunity to draft a player of Reese’s caliber—who ran a blistering 4.46-second 40-yard dash at 241 pounds—was simply too great to pass up .
“We are ecstatic. Arvell is a culture-changer,” Coach Moore said during the post-pick press conference. “You don’t pass on game-wreckers. You just don’t.”
Here are the three major reasons why the Saints pulled the trigger on the former Buckeye, ignoring the “expert” mock drafts that had him landing in Arizona or New York.
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Reason No. 1: The “Chess Piece” Philosophy of DC Brandon Staley
The most immediate reason for this selection is the defensive alchemy being performed by Saints Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley.
Historically, New Orleans favored heavy, prototypical 4-3 defensive ends. However, entering the 2025 season, Staley successfully transitioned the defense to a 3-4 hybrid look. The result was a career resurgence for veterans like Chase Young and Cam Jordan. But Young is a free agent, and Jordan is nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career .
In Arvell Reese, Staley isn’t just getting a replacement; he’s getting a “create-a-player.” During his final season at Ohio State, Reese lined up as an edge rusher on exactly 50% of his snaps and as an interior linebacker on 44% . He is not just a pass-rush specialist; he is a true off-ball linebacker who can cover, blitz, and stop the run.
“His third-down versatility adds alignment variety and helps camouflage defensive intent,” reads the official scouting report from NFL analyst Lance Zierlein . For Staley, a coach known for his exotic pressure packages, having a player who can line up over the tight end on one play and drop into a deep zone on the next is a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks like Bryce Young or Kirk Cousins.
Reese confirmed this fit in a phone call with local media moments after the pick. “Coach Staley was drawing stuff up on the board… he sees me as a weapon,” Reese said. “I can cover the flats, I can rush the ‘A’ gap. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get to the quarterback.”
Reason No. 2: The Raw, Unicorn-Level Athleticism
There is a term scouts use for players like Reese: “The Upside Swing.”
While some analysts point to his relative inexperience—he logged just 138 pass-rush reps in college compared to over 900 for other prospects—the Saints are betting on the trajectory . At just 20 years old, Reese is still growing into his 6-foot-4, 241-pound frame . Yet, he already possesses the explosive power that transcends college tape.
The “cons” column of his draft profile states he is “raw” and needs to develop a full arsenal of pass-rush moves . The “pros” column, however, is a checklist of physical dominance. He was named the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and a First-Team AP All-American in 2025 after racking up 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks .
For a Saints team that finished middle-of-the-pack in sacks last year, adding a player who offensive linemen describe as having “violent” hands and a “kinetic” rush is a game-changer .
“Reese is a very active playmaker who has proved he can stand out in the pass-rush capacity as well as disrupt well laterally all over the field,” noted a recent ranking of edge prospects . His 1.58-second 10-yard split at the Combine is elite territory, suggesting that once he learns the technical nuances of the position, the sack numbers will skyrocket.
Reason No. 3: The Changing of the Guard in the Locker Room
Perhaps the most pragmatic reason for this selection is the seismic shift happening in the Saints’ locker room. For the first time in nearly a decade, New Orleans is entering a season without the legendary Demario Davis , who signed with the New York Jets in free agency .
Davis was the heart, soul, and quarterback of the defense. Replacing that leadership is impossible, but replacing his production with a younger, faster model is the goal.
The Saints signed Kaden Elliss in free agency to provide veteran stability, but Elliss is a role player and former special-teamer turned captain . New Orleans needed a dynamic, alpha presence to pair with him. They needed a tone-setter.
Reese fits the Micah Parsons mold—a player who is technically a linebacker but functionally a pass-rushing terrorist. While the Dallas Cowboys star is the ceiling, the floor for Reese is still a three-down difference-maker.
“I don’t really see nobody but me… I’m just worried about getting better,” Reese said at the combine, showcasing the quiet confidence that endeared him to the Saints’ front office .
Moore emphasized that the team wasn’t “just chasing one particular position” after addressing running back and guard in free agency . When the Jets passed on Reese at No. 2 (selecting David Bailey instead) and the Cardinals snagged Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Saints sprinted to the podium .
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The Immediate Impact
For the New Orleans Saints, the 2026 season is about evolution. With Derek Carr retired and a youth movement underway, the defense needed a poster boy. Arvell Reese is that player.
He joins a defensive line that will feature Chase Young (assuming a re-signing or franchise tag) and Carl Granderson. While the “experts” worried about Reese being a tweener—too small for a full-time end, too big for a full-time safety—the Saints view him as the perfect storm.
“We haven’t even scratched the surface of what I can do,” Reese said .
If the Saints are right, the rest of the NFC South just entered a long period of turbulence. The Arvell Reese era in New Orleans has begun with a bang, not a whimper.
