Part 9, LB: How should an NFL team unleash Arvell Reese?

And Sonny Styles for that matter? NFL scouts break down the two premier prospects, and the entire class of linebackers as Bob McGinn's series marches on.

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This is the 42^nd year, and the fifth at Go Long, in which Bob McGinn has written a position-by-position series previewing the NFL draft. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-’91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-2017), BobMcGinnFootball.com (2018-’19) and The Athletic (2020-’21). Until 2014, many personnel people were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of many scouts. Listed times in the 40-yard dash reflect the average of hand-held clockings from the combine and pro days. Electronic times from the combine aren’t compatible with most pro days and therefore weren’t utilized.

Ninth of 12 parts: linebackers.

By Bob McGinn

Sonny Styles was a safety. Arvell Reese might be an edge rusher. For the sake of this NFL draft preview, they’re projected as off-the-ball linebackers.

Many factors combine to make a great linebacker that can play in the middle or on the weak side. None is more important than having a nose for the football.

Decision-makers for the 32 teams are moving into the final stages of setting their draft boards. The burning question at the top of the linebacker list has nothing to do with size or speed. For the Ohio State standouts, it’s all about making judgments regarding their instincts and production.

“I think both of those guys are overrated, and I’m not the only one that thinks that,” one personnel man said. “They have great measurables but they both have holes. It’s not the measurables. It’s what they do on the field. You’re waiting for them to do something great and they just don’t do enough. Especially Styles.

“Linebackers are all about instincts. Reese has all the physical stuff but he lacks a little bit of instincts. Styles might have a little better (instincts) than Reese but misdirection stuff, that bothers him. I’ve made mistakes on those guys. You know what? Those guys don’t change. When instincts are lacking a little bit I don’t think you ever get over that.”

Reese’s inability to trigger in rapid fashion led another evaluator to grade him as an edge rusher.

“As an inside linebacker I loved everything about Reese but his instincts give me a little bit of a concern,” said the scout. “I’m not taking a linebacker in the top 10 that I’m not sure about his instincts. Either you have that or you don’t. There’s not a whole lot you can do to minimize it.”

The Packers used the No. 22 pick in 2022 on Quay Walker, the linebacker from Georgia. He became an immediate starter and contributed 469 tackles in four seasons, but in the end the Packers let him walk in unrestricted free agency to the Raiders. Scouts had deep reservations about his instincts before the draft, and though his reactions did improve a notch it wasn’t enough to warrant a second contract from Green Bay.

“I don’t think they’re that poor,” an AFC executive said comparing the two Buckeyes’ instincts to those of Walker. “They’ve both done a lot of good stuff and been productive. They’re not Luke Kuechly or anything but I don’t think it’s a ‘can’t find the ball’ situation like I’ve seen before. But they’re not great, no.”

Links:

• Part 1, WR: Who’s the next star wideout?

• Part 2, TE: Kenyon Sadiq and the hunt for matchup nightmares

• Part 3, T: Why Francis Mauigoa ‘n co. may define the 2026 NFL Draft

• Part 4, G/C: Why this is the year to draft a center

• Part 5, QB: The Fernando Mendoza Question

• Part 6, RB: Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love? ‘The best NFL prospect in this draft

• Part 7, DL: Secure your space-eater

• Part 8, Edge: Deep 2026 class promises to torment quarterbacks

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LINEBACKERS

1. ARVELL REESE, Ohio State (6-4, 244, 4.46, 1): Never made a tackle in 2023, played extensively in ’24 as a reserve and started 14 games in ’25. “Consider him like Jalon Walker last year,” one scout said. “They’re very similar in terms of positional fit. He is a very, very good athlete.”