🏈 Jets NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & More
Loaded with draft capital after last year's fire sale, the New York Jets hold the No. 2 and No. 16 picks and have a chance to redefine their franchise under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn - starting with the most consequential selection in the draft after Fernando Mendoza goes No. 1.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Jets' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player New York will draft in the first round, which begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Jets draft picks 2026
See where the Jets rank by the latest Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 2, 16 (via IND) |
| 2 | No. 33, 44 (via DAL) |
| 3 | No pick |
| 4 | No. 103, 140 |
| 5 | No. 179 |
| 6 | No pick |
| 7 | No. 228, 242 |
🆘 Jets team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: QB, EDGE, CB, WR, OL
- Key additions: Geno Smith (QB, via trade), Demario Davis (LB), Joseph Ossai (EDGE), Minkah Fitzpatrick (S, via trade), Kingsley Enagbare (EDGE)
- Key departures: Quinnen Williams (DT, traded), Sauce Gardner (CB, traded to Colts), Jermaine Johnson II (EDGE, Titans via trade), T'Vondre Sweat (DT, Titans via trade), Justin Fields (QB, Chiefs via trade)
New York finished with just four takeaways last season - the fewest by any team since at least 1940 - and became the first team in NFL history to go an entire season without an interception. The defensive overhaul has already begun with the additions of Davis, Ossai, and Fitzpatrick, but the Jets need more playmakers at every level after trading away Williams and Gardner. Long-term, quarterback remains the biggest question even after acquiring Geno Smith as a bridge option, and Garrett Wilson still doesn't have a reliable running mate at receiver.
🏈 Jets draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Jets' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick for Thursday:
| Pick type | No. 2 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State | 7.40 | Reese has the highest upside of any player in the draft class with his rare mix of athleticism and power that make him a potential star as a pass rusher, while also possessing the movement skills to spy QBs or drop in coverage |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State | 7.40 | Taking an off-ball linebacker No. 2 is bad process, but you cannot deny that Styles would elevate Aaron Glenn's team, and give New York a potential All-Pro linebacker and culture setter in the locker room |
| 🚀 Upside pick | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech | 7.30 | If the Jets want to add a player who can pay off with sack production sooner rather than later, Bailey would make sense as a short-term upside pick over Reese, who takes more projection as he transitions to edge full-time |
📝 Jets mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Jets' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect New York to draft at No. 2:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State |
| Nate Tice (Yahoo) | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State |
The No. 2 pick comes down to two players: Ohio State's Arvell Reese or Texas Tech's David Bailey. The split is dead even among the six mocks we reviewed with three mocks projecting either star pass-rusher for the Jets' first pick. Paul sides with Reese's upside, projecting him as the best player in this year's draft class.
🔮 Jets draft predictions 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 2: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State
- Pro comparison: More raw Micah Parsons / smaller Willie McGinest
- Measurables: 6'4" | 241 lbs | 20 years old | RAS: N/A
This has less to do with Aaron Glenn being a defensive-minded head coach and more to do with Arvell Reese having the highest upside of any player in the class. A joker (hybrid edge-linebacker) in Matt Patricia's defense at Ohio State, Reese has the athletic tools and power to develop into a double-digit sack artist in the NFL. He's a ready-made run defender who sets a mean edge, too, and he's lethal as a QB spy thanks to his range and change-of-direction skills.
Paul's pick at No. 12 (traded up from No. 16): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
- Pro comparison: Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Measurables: 5'11" | 192 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: N/A
With the Los Angeles Rams potentially eyeing a wide receiver, and Makai Lemon being an obvious fit, the Jets trade up from No. 16 with the Dallas Cowboys to jump Les Snead and Sean McVay. Lemon gives New York a perfect Robin to Garrett Wilson's Batman in Gotham with the USC product being a plug-and-play slot. The Biletnikoff winner lacks the physical tools of the other top options at receiver, but he has some of the most trustworthy hands in the class, and his shiftiness helps him create after the catch.
Trade specifics: Jets trade picks No. 16 (Round 1) and No. 103 (Round 4) to Cowboys for pick No. 12 (Round 1).
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