Dane Brugler's 'The Beast' Unveiled, Which NFL Draft Prospect Ranks No. 1 on 2026 Big Board?

The Athletic's Dane Brugler sees former Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese as the top prospect in the 2026 NFL draft.

Brugler ranked Reese at No. 1 in The Beast, his NFL draft guide published annually by The Athletic.

He wrote that the time Reese spent with the Buckeyes as both an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher makes him a versatile prospect for NFL scouts.

"Reese has the dynamic talent to play a variety of different linebacker or edge roles at a high level, although his ceiling as a pass rusher is his most valuable asset," Brugler wrote. "It is hard to find versatile defenders with his caliber of explosive tools."

Reese was ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect on the latest Bleacher Report big board, which listed former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs as the top overall player in the draft.

B/R NFL scout Matt Holder named Demario Davis as a comparable player to Reese, who he described as a player with "physical and elite strength at the point of attack to stand up offensive linemen when taking on blocks on the second level."

Holder also noted that Reese already has experience playing under a former NFL coach in Matt Patricia, who led Ohio State's defense during Reese's final season with the team.

Brugler's top five featured Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles followed by Downs at No. 5.

LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr. and Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate rounded out Brugler's top 10.

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, ranked as the No. 28 prospect on the B/R big board, was listed at No. 42 on Brugler's list. Brugler described him as "a Daniel Jones with fewer physical traits" whose floor is a future as an NFL backup.

NFL scouts looking for some extra insight have just over two weeks to look through Brugler's draft rankings before the 2026 NFL draft kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh.