No. 2: Edge Rueben Bain Jr. – Miami (FL)
“With no quarterback worth the No. 2 pick, the Jets are likely to draft the best defensive player available. It could be Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey or Miami edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. In this case, New York’s front office gives head coach Aaron Glenn arguably the best defensive player in the class, measurables be damned.”
No. 16: G Olaivavega loane – Penn State
“The Jets will likely have a cluster of wide receivers to choose from at pick No. 33, so they take a big guard here to help build a stout offensive line for the quarterback they are presumably going to draft in 2027. Ioane played both right and left guard at Penn State. At left guard in 2025, he didn’t allow a sack or a quarterback hit across 311 pass-blocking snaps, powering an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade.”
No. 2: LB Arvell Reese – Ohio State
“The Jets’ goal in free agency was to raise their floor by bringing in capable, veteran players — and they accomplished that. They filled a lot of needs, and their roster is undoubtedly better. The goal for the NFL Draft, especially for the first round, should be to raise their ceiling — to find prospects with star potential. Reese feels like a no-brainer. He’s arguably the highest-ceiling prospect of any in this entire class. Maybe it’s partially a projection because he didn’t have many sacks in college — but if there’s a chance Reese becomes the next Micah Parsons, the Jets obviously will take that. They need blue-chip players on defense in the worst way.”
No. 16: WR Jordyn Tyson – Arizona State
“The only position the Jets didn’t address in free agency was a glaring weakness heading into the offseason and remains so now — and, just their luck, one of the draft’s best prospects at that position made it here. Tyson has some durability concerns, but his talent is undeniable, and he’d slot in perfectly opposite Garrett Wilson. His presence would also give Adonai Mitchell, who showed promise after coming over in the Sauce Gardner trade, more room to develop as the No. 3 receiver. A room with Wilson, Tyson and Mitchell is a lot more promising than how the group looked at the start of last season.”