Sam Connon previews and breaks down everything you need to know about the New York Jets heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.
Once again, the New York Jets will be one of the first teams to make a selection in the NFL draft.
Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey are heading into year two of leading the Jets as head coach and general manager, respectively. They will have a handful of top picks at their disposal this April, which is nothing new for the franchise; this marks the seventh time in 12 years that New York owns a top-seven pick. Still, New York doesn’t have much to show for all of that draft capital, especially since it needed to bring in Geno Smith as its starting quarterback for 2026. But with a treasure trove of high picks both this year and in the near future, the Jets could finally start to cash in and make a serious push in the seasons ahead.
How do the Jets plan to kickstart their seemingly never-ending rebuild? Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know before New York is on the clock at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh:
Considering the Jets haven’t had a winning season since 2015, it’s safe to say they have needs pretty much everywhere. They dealt away defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner at last season’s deadline, so even their few standouts have started to dwindle.
All signs currently point towards New York selecting an edge rusher at No. 2 overall. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese (-145) and Texas Tech’s David Bailey (+110) are the unchallenged top-two players at the position, making them both top targets for the Jets. And since Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is a near-lock to go No. 1 to Las Vegas, the Jets will have their pick of the litter when it comes to Reese and Bailey. Reese finished 2025 with 10.0 TFL and 6.5 sacks in his second season with the Buckeyes, while Bailey posted 19.5 TFL, 14.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles for the Red Raiders following three seasons at Stanford. Both were first-time All-Americans this past season.
If the Jets are going to zag at No. 2, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (+8000) is a name to keep an eye on. New York hit Breece Hall with the franchise tag this March, meaning he is due to hit free agency again next spring. While paying both Hall and Love the big bucks in 2026 would be an odd decision, these are the Jets we’re talking about.
The No. 16 pick gives the Jets more flexibility to go for a splashy addition. Even after extending wide receiver Garrett Wilson, New York could bring in another elite pass-catcher. USC’s Makai Lemon (+600), Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. (+750) and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq (+1200) could all bring a lot more dimension to a borderline inept offense. Of course, it’s hard to run a successful offense without a viable quarterback. Alabama’s Ty Simpson (+1500) should still be on the board in the middle of the first round, seemingly filling the Jets’ biggest hole. And yet, Simpson’s size, durability, and lack of experience are his biggest drawbacks, so tossing him straight into the fire might not be the best move. Just look at how Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson turned out. Glenn and Mougey might not have enough job security to bench Simpson for a full year, either.
If Glenn wants to replace Gardner and finally start forcing turnovers through the air — New York had a historic zero interceptions in 2025 — then Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy (+850) could be their guy. He picked off four passes and deflected nine more with the Volunteers in 2025. Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman (+1300) should be on the board, as well. Less flashy options, like Penn State interior lineman Olaivavega Ioane (+850) or an offensive tackle like Georgia’s Monroe Freeling (+1000) or Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor (+1500), could help build a steadier foundation for whichever quarterback is hand-picked as the Jets’ savior in a future draft. That is, again, assuming they don’t draft and stash Simpson.
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