Arizona Cardinals NEED to Find Right Spot for Arvell Reese If They Draft Him at #3 Overall

In this episode of Locked On Cardinals, Alex Clancy is joined by Jay Stephens of Locked On Buckeyes to break down the Arizona Cardinals’ potential interest in another wave of Ohio State Buckeyes in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, focusing on top defensive prospects Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. The conversation opens with a discussion of the Cardinals’ pipeline of Buckeye talent and whether Arvell Reese is a “no-brainer” pick at #3 overall, even with the team’s other positional needs. Jay Stephens and Alex Clancy debate the value and risks of drafting versatile college defenders who have played multiple roles, questioning how well their skills translate when NFL teams typically lock players into one position. The guests scrutinize whether Reese can truly be an elite edge rusher, given his lack of pure edge experience in college. They consider if Reese’s high draft ranking is justified, or if it’s driven mainly by his raw athletic traits rather than proven production. The conversation also touches on the broader topic of how dominant college defenses—especially ones that play weak competition—can inflate a prospect's stock. Alex Clancy draws parallels to the Isaiah Simmons situation at Clemson, fearing a repeat where a highly touted, versatile defender fails to find an NFL fit. Both hosts openly wrestle with how much playoff experience and “winner’s mentality” factors into a player’s projection, noting that all three Ohio State prospects (Reese, Styles, and Caleb Downs) have extensive postseason pedigrees. Jay Stephens makes the case that both Reese and Styles bring NFL-ready football IQ and attitude, but leans toward Sonny Styles as the safer, “can’t miss” prospect due to his experience and reliability at a single position. The show ends with Alex Clancy reflecting on the risks of making a “project pick” at third overall, questioning if the Cardinals should play it safer or shoot for defensive ceiling by betting on Buckeye versatility. Throughout, the hosts emphasize the importance of coaching, fit, and organizational flexibility in turning raw college talent into NFL stars and provide fans with a nuanced perspective on the Cardinals’ draft decision-making process when it comes to yet another crop of Ohio State defenders. Let's discuss.   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! TurboTax This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment → https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join athttp://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDON   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)     Find and follow Locked On Cardinals on your favorite podcast platforms:     Apple https://apple.co/3gzT6Pg Spotify https://spoti.fi/3wsOL7a Audacy https://bit.ly/3xdaqjU Stitcher https://bit.ly/3cFWffn Google https://buff.ly/2yH7WOl Megaphone https://bit.ly/2RUBlC5x Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.