🏈 Jets NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Expert Mock Draft Picks, Team Needs, Best Fits & 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 tonight 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 tonight:
| 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 |
NFL draft prospect profiles
➡️ Arvell Reese draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ David Bailey draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Rueben Bain Jr. draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Sonny Styles draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jeremiyah Love draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Carnell Tate draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Jordyn Tyson draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
➡️ Makai Lemon draft profile: Scouting report, team prediction & draft odds
📝 Jets mock draft consensus picks
I went through the final mock drafts from 10 top experts across the industry and gathered their NFL mock draft consensus picks for the New York Jets' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's who they expect New to draft:
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (No. 2) |
| Peter Schrager (ESPN) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (No. 2) |
| Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (No. 2) |
| Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (No. 2) |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (No. 2) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State (No. 2) |
| Mike Renner (CBS Sports) | Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State (No. 2) |
| Tice & McDonald (Yahoo) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (No. 2) |
| Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (No. 2) |
| Rob Paul (Sportsbook Review) | Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State (No. 2) |
🎯 Jets first position drafted
Prediction market via Kalshi. You can use our Kalshi promo code for a $10 bonus by signing up today. Market subject to change.
New York was 31st in sacks last season and desperately needs a pass-rusher, making the No. 2 pick one of the most straightforward in the draft. The only question is whether the Jets go with David Bailey's proven production or Arvell Reese's freakish upside. Either way, Kalshi traders have pushed this to a 97% chance of being a defensive lineman.
I broke down the latest NFL draft position odds for all 32 teams ahead of the first round.
🔮 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
Will it be Arvell Reese or David Bailey? Reese has a higher ceiling as the more versatile and freakier athlete, and GM Darren Mougey comes from a Denver Broncos front office that won a Super Bowl ring thanks to the freakish Von Miller. Reese's ability to rush the passer with power (while bending better than Bailey), set a physical edge in the run game, spy QBs, and drop in coverage makes him a rare do-it-all player.
While Reese wasn't as productive as Bailey due to his role, he averaged 0.23 pressures per pass rush, slightly higher than Bailey (0.21).
Paul's pick at No. 16: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
- Pro comparison: Amon-Ra St. Brown light
- Measurables: 5'11" | 192 lbs | 21 years old | RAS: N/A
The best outcome for Mougey is having one of the top wide receivers still on the board when the Jets make their second pick of the first round. New York could be in a position to draft a QB early in 2027, and adding a weapon like Makai Lemon in the slot to complement Garrett Wilson outside would be ideal. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award in 2025 after ranking in the top five nationally in first down receptions (50) and registering just a 2.5% drop rate. He's a high-floor player.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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