Arvell Reese mocked to the Jets again, but for reasons we haven't heard yet

We can’t say that we were exactly surprised to see CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco mock Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese to the New York Jets, especially given recent trends.

Prisco’s reasoning, though, was certainly different than the typical “he’s the best non-quarterback,” or the “Jets need impactful playmakers” take we’ve become used to reading.

“Ok, so maybe his pro day workout wasn’t great,” Prisco wrote in his April 6 mock draft. “But his tape is impressive. You don’t draft off pro days.”

Prisco is technically correct, which some might argue is the best kind of correct.

Pete Prisco is correct: NFL teams should never draft off the Combine or Pro Days

As someone who enjoys watching the NFL Draft each year, I’ve become immensely frustrated by the lack of context we often use when grading drafts retrospectively.

The Bengals selecting Washington Huskies receiver John Ross No. 9 in 2017 wasn’t an awful pick solely because Patrick Mahomes went to the Chiefs one spot later. Instead, the pick should be looked at with a massive, crimson-colored “F” because Ross’ 4.22 40-yard dash at the combine shot him up draft boards.

In other words, the Bengals seemingly allowed a workout to force them into drafting a one-year starting receiver with an injury history. Suffice to say, it didn’t work out well.

That’s not to say that the NFL Combine, Pro Days, and top-30 visits don’t matter. Teams want to hear what a player thinks or see how they break down plays. That’s why the Raiders' drafting JaMarcus Russell in 2007, despite his infamously lying about watching a blank DVD, was so egregious.

In theory, a team’s decision to draft or sign a player should come down to various factors blended into one final evaluation. What does his tape look like? How did players and coaches perceive him? What did opposing coaches do to game-plan against him? When you met with him, what was the vibe you got?

We know what Reese can do, and we’ve heard the All-American linebacker’s statistics for weeks. How many more times can we hear about his ceiling before going into draft night believing he’s going to turn the Jets into a perennial contender?

So, if and when Reese goes to the Jets at No. 2, it’ll ideally be because the Jets feel that his tape justified him going that high. The last thing that Aaron Glenn and the Jets need is their own John Ross situation.