Now that Dante Moore has officially announced his intention to return to Oregon for another year, the New York Jets’ hopes of securing their franchise quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft appear slim to none.

Assuming Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza goes first overall to the Raiders, the Jets will have their pick of any non-quarterback in the entire draft class. And with the 16th overall pick in their back pocket as well, thanks to the Sauce Gardner trade, there’s still plenty of reason to be excited about this draft season as a Jets fan. 

In a year without a consensus top overall non-QB prospect, the Jets could really go in any direction at this point. And with glaring holes all over the roster, it’s about to be a wide-open conversation, and the fanbase is bound to be split.

So, it’s time to introduce the guys we’re all about to be fighting about. Here are some of the players that figure to be in play for the Jets with each of their first-round picks.

No. 2 overall pick

Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

Arvell Reese is who many experts have pegged as the top overall player in this year’s draft class at the moment. While Reese is technically an off-ball linebacker, the belief is that his absurd combination of size, length, play strength, athleticism, and explosiveness will be best suited to rushing the passer off the edge at the next level.

Reese exploded onto the scene this year in his first season as a starter. As he continued wrecking games left and right, it became apparent pretty quickly that he was going to hear his name called very early in the draft. Regardless of how Aaron Glenn would want to use him, this is a guy who’d make the Jets defense a better unit immediately.

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Funny enough, Caleb Downs might just be the best safety prospect coming out of college since the Jets took Jamal Adams out of LSU in 2017.

The younger brother of Colts receiver Josh Downs, Caleb is not only supremely athletic, but he’s also super intelligent, highly instinctual, a hard-hitting tackler, and he’s got the versatility to play all over the defense. Arguments about the positional value of taking a safety at second overall are valid, but this is the rare type of player that makes you even consider it.

David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

David Bailey transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford last spring and ascended into one of the best overall players in the country, leading all of college football this season with 14.5 sacks.

Bailey was already considered a top-15 lock following the regular season, but his performance against Oregon in the College Football Playoff boosted his stock into potential top-five-pick-caliber territory. He had Dante Moore under pressure all game long and showed some surprising ability in run defense as well.

Bailey’s superpower is his explosive get-off, but he also has a legit pass-rush arsenal and natural feel for the position that could warrant a top selection in the draft. Whether Bailey is in play for the Jets will, of course, depend largely on how they feel about Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald.

Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

There was a point early on in this college football season where Rueben Bain Jr. was considered to maybe have a shot at being the top overall player in the draft, regardless of position.

Bain’s production cooled down the stretch, but the hype got reignited a few weeks ago when Miami upset Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Bain was an absolute menace that game and reminded people why he still warrants a top selection in the draft.

There will be a ton of conversation about Bain’s short arm length throughout the draft process, but since virtually every other aspect of his game is in blue-chip territory, there’s still a very good chance he’s in play for the Jets.

Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Coming into this college football season, Peter Woods was the consensus top overall prospect on a lot of big boards, and was described as potentially being the next Quinnen Williams/Jalen Carter-level prospect on the D-line.

Woods, along with the entire Clemson program, had a very underwhelming year, which has ultimately pushed his draft stock down a bit. However, all of the things that made him a top guy in the first place are still very much there, and that’s why he may ultimately still wind up going in the top five.

At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Woods is crazy-powerful and already a tremendous run defender, but what makes him so intriguing is the upside he has as a pass rusher. He’s got some of the most explosive movement skills you’ll find in a defensive tackle, and offensive lines constantly have to account for him with double teams. After trading away Quinnen Williams, the Jets are certainly in need of a player like that.

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Adonai Mitchell and John Metchie are nice additions, but the Jets’ receiving room is still lacking that true difference maker across from Garrett Wilson, which has become so necessary in today’s NFL.

Jordyn Tyson is the WR1 on many big boards, and if you turn on his tape, it’s not hard to see why. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he’s got the size to play on the outside at the next level, and if you combine that with his elite-level route running, explosive movements before and after the catch, and top-notch contested catch ability, there’s little reason on tape to believe this guy won’t be an NFL star.

The only real question with Tyson, and what may ultimately keep him out of the top five, is his ability to stay healthy. He’s dealt with injuries every year of college, and he even missed ASU’s 2024 playoff game with a broken collarbone. There are definitely examples of players shaking the “injury prone” label once making it to the pros, but Tyson’s medicals will be something to watch throughout this draft season.

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

This year’s edition of Ohio State’s first-round wideout is Carnell Tate, who has ascended into one of the best pass catchers in the nation this season.

While his teammate Jeremiah Smith understandably gets the majority of the hype in that receiver room, Tate has become a monster in his own right. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, this is a true perimeter target with that trademark attention to detail Buckeye receivers have become known for, but also some seriously surprising juice for his size to get vertical.

It’s also worth noting that Tate won 85 percent of his contested catch targets this year. Tate is neck-and-neck with Tyson right now for WR1 in the class.

No. 16 overall pick

Makai Lemon, WR, USC

It’s really hard to say where Makai Lemon will end up hearing his name called on draft night. Make no mistake, it will be in the first round; it’s just a matter of how high.

Not only is he an extremely polished route runner with natural separation skills, but Lemon is also absurdly tough, a contested-catch beast, and picks up major yards after the catch. Oh, and he just won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver in college football each year.

The only holes to poke in Lemon’s game, and what ultimately may get him drafted behind guys like Tyson and Tate, is the fact that he’s listed just under six feet tall. At 195 pounds, though, he’s got a dense build and makes up for that lack of height with nearly every other aspect of his game.

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

If you’re in favor of the Jets drafting a big-bodied perimeter target, but they miss out on Carnell Tate, Denzel Boston would be an excellent consolation prize.

At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, this dude is a mismatch and plays with all the toughness you’d expect, but he’s also a surprisingly good route-runner with impressive body control for his size. He’s also an outstanding blocker in the run game, which NFL coaches will undoubtedly love about him, and he brings value after the catch as well.

Beyond the top trio of Tyson, Tate and Lemon, this guy feels like the next-best option, and in a strong WR class, that’s no indictment.

KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

KC Concepcion burst onto the scene as a true freshman two years ago at NC State, but he took a step back last year as a sophomore. Transferring to Texas A&M this past offseason turned out to be a great move for him, as he completely returned to form and then some as a junior in the Aggies’ system.

Concepcion’s superpower is how dynamic he is with the ball in his hands – he transitions instantly from receiver to runner, and he constantly finds extra yards after the catch, making defenders miss at a high rate. He’s also come a long way as a route runner, consistently gaining separation vs. single coverage, and winning with his releases off the line.

The one big question with Concepcion is his proneness to drops. It’s popped up as an issue for him in each year of college, so he’ll need to hit the Jugs machine if he wants to reach his full potential.

Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

If Aaron Glenn wants to add a big, run-stuffing, space-eating DT to the room of Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs, Kayden McDonald is the belle of the ball in this year’s draft class.

Taking over as a starter for Lions first-rounder Tyleik Williams, McDonald was arguably an upgrade for the Buckeyes this year, crushing pockets all season long and opening up plays all over the place for his teammates.

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

One of those teammates McDonald opened up plays for was Sonny Styles, who this year became arguably the best true off-ball linebacker in the entire country.

If there’s anything the Jets defense is absolutely starving for, it’s physicality and leadership – Styles would help tremendously in both of those areas immediately. All regular season long, the Buckeyes were the best defense in the country, and Styles was their captain. He wore the coveted “green dot” on his helmet, signifying him as the player who relays playcalls to the rest of the defense.

Aside from the intangibles, he’s got the size (listed 6-foot-4), movement skills (he’s a former safety), and physicality (he missed one tackle all season) the Jets defense sorely needs.

CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Drafting first-round-caliber defenders out of Georgia has worked out pretty well for other teams in recent years, so here’s a chance for the Jets to get a bite at the apple.

Listed at 6-foot-1, CJ Allen is a hair undersized for the position, but he makes up for it with meticulous preparation and tone-setting physicality in everything he does. Whether it’s taking on blocks or laying out a ball carrier, this guy brings the boom and rarely misses tackles.

Maybe the most impressive thing on Allen’s resume is the fact that he’s been starting on Kirby Smart’s defense since he was a true freshman. Georgia always has elite talent in its linebacker room, so for one of the top coaches in college football to trust a true freshman over them all speaks volumes.

For a Jets defense that is severely lacking in leadership and discipline, this is the type of guy who would help immensely.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Yes, the Jets have plenty of needs on their roster to address before running back, but when looking at this draft class in a vacuum, regardless of position, Jeremiyah Love is one of the five best overall players.

While Love isn’t someone the Jets are expected to have interest in, Breece Hall has been sending mixed signals for a long time now, and there’s no reason to rule out an eventual split. There’s also the fact that Aaron Glenn’s former team, the Lions, drafted a running back in the top 15 in the second year of Dan Campbell’s regime when they took Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Jets echoed the Lions’ Penei Sewell pick in Campbell’s first year by taking Armand Membou in Glenn’s first year – could they echo the Gibbs pick next?

Day 2 options at quarterback

Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss

Trinidad Chambliss wasn’t even the Ole Miss starter to begin this season – it took an injury to their QB1 for him to finally get his chance, but once he did, he never gave the job back.

Prior to this season, Chambliss played at Ferris State, which is a Division II school, so to say his ascension this year has been meteoric would be an understatement. He improved steadily as the season went on, culminating in a super impressive – albeit losing – effort against Miami in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.

While Chambliss is a bit undersized for the position (6-foot-1), he’s got a live arm, nice mobility, and above all, he seems to clearly be made of the right stuff.

Carson Beck, QB, Miami

Carson Beck has been on a wild journey in his college football career. He won two championships at Georgia as the backup to Stetson Bennett before taking over as the starter in 2023. While his first season as QB1 in Athens showed a lot of promise, he took a big step back in 2024, which ultimately drove him to the transfer portal.

Beck transferred to Miami last spring, and now the Hurricanes are set to compete in the national championship. While that sounds on paper like Beck had a bounce-back for the ages, his stock currently sits around the day two range, as things stand. If he comes out with a huge performance against Indiana in the National Championship Game, though, who knows where his stock could end up.

As of now, Beck is a big, experienced passer with adequate arm strength and solid accuracy when protected. It could make a lot of sense for the Jets to throw a dart at a guy like this on day two of the draft.

Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

Garrett Nussmeier is one of three quarterbacks who could’ve entered last year’s draft and been nearly guaranteed to be taken in the top-50 picks. He made the mistake of returning to school, where his stock plummeted, and he ended up getting benched by season’s end.

The talent we saw last year could still be worth betting on, though. It’s worth noting that this was a rough season all around for LSU.

The son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, Garrett is a true pocket passer with sound fundamentals and adequate mobility.

Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Drew Allar is the second of the three aforementioned quarterbacks who hurt his draft stock by returning to school. His season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL in October, but even before then, he wasn’t showing the significant improvement that was expected of him, and his accuracy to all three levels of the field can be erratic.

Still, Allar is 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, and has a cannon for an arm, so if you’re looking for a prospect with rare traits, this is your guy.

Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson

Cade Klubnik is another quarterback who made the mistake of returning to school. Coming off a surgical performance against an elite Texas defense in a gallant playoff loss, Klubnik was actually the consensus QB1 prospect on many draft boards heading into the 2025 season. He, along with the entire Clemson program, did not have the season anyone was expecting, though.

Even so, he’s got good enough size, mobility, and accuracy to potentially stick in the league. A fair description of Klubnik would be this: decent across the board, but not particularly great at any one thing right now.