Lead
INDIANAPOLIS — Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine delivered a mix of color, coaching tips and defensive prospects staking claims for early draft attention. Reporters crossed paths with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel in adjacent media rooms, while a group of top defensive prospects — including Rueben Bain Jr., Arvell (Vell) Reese and Sonny Styles — took podiums to discuss versatility and role fit. Reese is widely viewed as a high-end pass-rush prospect, Bain confirmed formal interviews with multiple teams, and Vrabel offered practical interview guidance for evaluating draft prospects. The day blended on-field measurables with off-field narratives that could influence April’s draft order.
Key Takeaways
- Mike Borgonzi, the Tennessee Titans general manager, held multiple on-site media sessions and confirmed a formal interview with edge prospect Rueben Bain Jr.; Bain said he spoke with teams including the Chiefs and Cowboys.
- Arvell “Vell” Reese (Ohio State) is positioned as a hybrid edge/OLB with top-five upside in some evaluations and was coached by Matt Patricia at Ohio State.
- Sonny Styles (Ohio State) emphasized his background as a converted safety and the value of positionless versatility when deployed in varied defensive packages.
- Justin Jefferson (Alabama), a former multi-position high school player, highlighted combat-sport training and signaled eagerness to showcase his 40-yard dash speed at the combine.
- Mike Vrabel recommended letting interviews breathe — add a few minutes when possible and follow players’ answers rather than relying solely on prewritten questions.
- Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald, now head coaches, appeared back-to-back at podiums, underscoring the staff-shuffle ripple effects across the league.
- Ohio State’s Matt Patricia is credited by multiple prospects for increasing the defense’s package variety and producing several potential first-round picks.
Background
The NFL Combine remains the pivotal midwinter evaluation event where measurables, medicals and interviews converge to refine draft boards. Teams use the combine to validate tape, compare timed results and extract character information during the allotted interview windows; the event’s visibility also creates running media narratives that can affect public perceptions of prospects. This year the combine again overlapped with other events in the Indiana Convention Center, producing crowded hallways and unexpected mingling between team officials, coaches and reporters.
Recent seasons have emphasized hybrid defensive players who can match up across boxes and rush the passer from multiple alignments. Successful modern defenders such as Micah Parsons and Kyle Hamilton are often cited as archetypes for positional fluidity, a trend that college coordinators like Matt Patricia used to showcase scheme versatility. That shift has affected how scouts value prospects: pass-rush production remains premium, but the ability to execute varied packages and cover downsides in coverage can raise a player’s floor.
Main Event
Multiple defensive prospects addressed reporters on Day 2. Arvell Reese of Ohio State described a variety of roles under Matt Patricia, noting how the coaching staff moved him around to exploit mismatches and create pass-rush opportunities. Reese also signaled a preference to be evaluated as an outside rusher, aligning his public messaging with how teams prioritize sack-producing skill sets in early rounds.
Sonny Styles, another Ohio State product who converted from safety to linebacker, emphasized adaptability and the strategic benefit of having former safety instincts in the box. Styles referenced how NFL clubs can mirror the Seahawks’ use of positionally flexible players, citing examples from recent rookie deployments to illustrate how versatility translates to schematic options at the pro level.
Rueben Bain Jr., one of the top edge prospects from Miami, confirmed he had formal interaction with the Tennessee Titans and said quarterback Cam Ward had advocated for his selection. Bain also mentioned discussions with other high-profile clubs, and he addressed a commonly raised concern about arm length by stating teams had not flagged it as an issue during interviews.
Alabama’s Justin Jefferson described an eclectic athletic background — including jiu-jitsu and kickboxing — and framed those experiences as factors that improved his body positioning and balance. Jefferson made clear he plans to lean on speed as a core trait and looked forward to the 40-yard dash as an opportunity to validate that attribute for scouts.
Analysis & Implications
Vrabel’s public comments about interviews reflect a broader evaluative approach teams are increasingly adopting: blend instinctual follow-up with structured evaluation. Allowing conversations to extend beyond the strict 18-minute window can reveal decision-making and situational thinking that scripted questions miss. For general managers and personnel directors, nuanced behavioral reads may tilt borderline prospects when medicals and measurables are similar.
The prominence of hybrid linebackers such as Reese and Styles highlights a strategic tension for clubs: do you draft a true edge rusher with sack upside or a position-flex player who reduces schematic risk? Teams facing immediate pressure to generate turnovers and sacks may prioritize pure pass-rush traits, while franchises that value coverage versatility and special-teams flexibility could favor the latter profile. That trade-off is central to why Reese’s public emphasis on outside rushing is pragmatically wise.
Bain’s reported engagement with the Titans and other clubs has clear roster implications. If Tennessee — led by GM Mike Borgonzi and coach Robert Saleh — adds elite edge talent, it would complement Jeffery Simmons inside and materially improve the unit’s ability to collapse pockets. Conversely, teams that miss on high-end pass rushers may pivot to speed and scheme-related solutions in free agency, affecting cap planning and draft board construction.
Ohio State’s defensive staff receiving credit for preparing multiple first-round–caliber prospects could elevate the program’s draft stock and coaching market value. For NFL teams, graduates from such systems often present cleaner transitional profiles, which can reduce rookie-year learning curves and increase immediate defensive returns.
Comparison & Data
| Prospect | School | Primary Trait | Combine Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arvell “Vell” Reese | Ohio State | Edge rushing / hybrid OLB | Pass-rush testing, positional flexibility |
| Sonny Styles | Ohio State | Converted safety / versatile LB | Coverage drills, agility |
| Rueben Bain Jr. | Miami | Edge rusher | Interviews; length/strength checks |
| Justin Jefferson | Alabama | Speed / athleticism | 40-yard dash, positional testing |
The table above summarizes public messaging from Day 2 podium sessions and the aspects prospects are highlighting to NFL decision-makers. While full measurable results (times, wingspan, bench reps) will appear in official combine releases, the qualitative signals — interview answers, role preferences and coach endorsements — are already shaping draft discourse.
Reactions & Quotes
Coaches and front-office figures offered brief but pointed takes during adjacent podium sessions, and a few remarks stood out for how they frame evaluation approaches.
I go with the flow. I listen to the responses … you guys come in with questions written down.
Mike Vrabel, Patriots head coach
Vrabel’s comment was followed by an explanation of how he sometimes extends the formal window or interjects to keep interviews conversational. That approach underscores a belief that unscripted answers often reveal temperament and football IQ.
He gave everybody an opportunity. I feel like the defense he came in with was great.
Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Reese credited Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia with expanding players’ roles and increasing defensive complexity, a line that ties into why multiple Buckeyes are on first-round radars.
Every time [Ward] came back to campus, he always told me he’s going to make sure he gets me there.
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami EDGE prospect
Bain’s remark about Cam Ward and the Titans was reported during his formal interview disclosures and is already part of mock-draft conversations around the top of Round 1.
Unconfirmed
- Tennessee selecting Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 4 pick is a possibility discussed by reporters, but no official commitment or draft-position guarantee has been made.
- Specific measurable outcomes for prospects (exact 40-yard dash times, bench-rep counts, wingspan numbers) were not finalized in these podium reports and await official combine release data.
Bottom Line
Day 2 of the combine combined the theater of media day with substantive hints about how clubs will value defensive versatility versus pure pass-rush production. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles presented two complementary models of how Ohio State players can translate to the NFL, while Rueben Bain Jr. reinforced his edge-rusher narrative and reported substantive team interest.
Mike Vrabel’s interview advice — let conversations breathe and follow players’ answers — is a practical reminder of the combine’s dual purpose: not just to time and measure, but to learn about mental process and situational thinking. As official combine numbers and medicals become available, teams will fold these qualitative reads into final draft evaluations over the next six weeks.