The New York Jets are on the precipice of free agency, and they’ve at least answered one question: Who will be their running back in 2026?

The Jets franchise-tagged Breece Hall, making it clear they have no intention of letting him walk. They could still trade him, but that’s unlikely at least as of now.

The biggest remaining question when it comes to their own free agents is what the Jets will do at left guard with both Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson set to hit free agency. Other key impending free agents, like linebacker Quincy Williams and safety Tony Adams, are less likely to return.

Ahead of a wave of new additions (or players returning on new contracts), here’s our second Jets mock draft of 2026, reserving trade projections for future mocks as we get a better idea of what the Jets roster will look like post-free agency.

(Note: PFF’s mock draft simulator was used to help figure out who might be available at each slot, with a lot of help from Dane Brugler’s rankings. The draft order for the first two rounds is set; selections beyond that are subject to change after the distribution of compensatory picks.)

1st round, 2nd overall: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

No change here. Reese was, as expected, highly impressive in drills at the NFL Combine and tested well, too. He has given no reason to think the Jets shouldn’t draft him at No. 2. The only reason they wouldn’t would be if they view Texas Tech’s David Bailey as the surer thing at edge rusher, which they very well could, considering Bailey’s college production (14.5 sacks) compared to Reese, who only had 6.5 sacks last year. Bailey tested well, too, but Reese’s ceiling is viewed as higher — Micah Parsons territory if everything works out. His ability to play both linebacker and edge rusher in what should be predominantly a 3-4 defense doesn’t hurt either.

1st round, 16th overall: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

This ties to the Simpson/Vera-Tucker question. It seems the Jets will let them hit free agency, though that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t try to re-sign one of them. Vera-Tucker is the better player who has dealt with a lot of injuries; it will be interesting to see what his market looks like. If the Jets opt to let both veterans leave, then it makes sense to consider targeting this class’ best interior offensive-line prospect if the Jets don’t opt to sign someone else ahead of time.

Ioane, of course, would be much cheaper than any notable free agent signing, with the added bonus that he appears ready to be a starter right away with room to grow. This is the kind of prospect the Jets need in the first round. Brugler compared him to Rams offensive lineman Steve Avila. Per PFF, Ioane didn’t allow a sack across 808 pass blocking snaps the last two seasons and only permitted one QB hit (in 2024). Even more impressive: He only allowed four pressures all season in 2025. As an added bonus, he played next to Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu at Penn State in 2023.

2nd round, 33rd overall: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Jets will be drafting a wide receiver early — maybe even earlier than this. Makai Lemon and Carnell Tate were not available at No. 16 in this simulation, but they could be come draft time — and I have a hard time imagining the Jets would pass up drafting either of them. Denzel Boston was an option at No. 16, but adding a surefire Day 1 starter (Ioane) was hard to pass up without knowing what the Jets will do at guard in free agency.

The Jets should still be able to bring in a talented wide receiver at this spot. This pick came down to a choice between Concepcion, Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., Louisville’s Chris Bell and Alabama’s Germie Bernard. I went with Concepcion, who Brugler has as the fourth-best wide receiver prospect in this class and the 22nd-best prospect overall. He averaged 15.9 yards per catch in 2025 and scored 25 touchdowns in three years at Texas A&M and NC State. Brugler wrote that he still requires some development but that he “has come a long way with his route running and routinely creates separation.” NFL.com compared him to longtime Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin.

2nd round, 44th overall: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU

I expect the Jets to fully reload at safety — Malachi Moore might be the only returning player at the position to stick this year, at least in any sort of notable role, and he might be best suited as a third safety anyway. Expect the Jets to sign at least one notable veteran in free agency and add in the draft, too.

The Jets’ goal for the defense this offseason is simple: find playmakers. The Jets had zero interceptions and four takeaways in 2025, which is unacceptable. Haulcy might be the perfect antidote to that problem. They didn’t call him “Mr. Give Me That” in high school, per Brugler, for nothing. He had eight interceptions the last two years at LSU, along with 12 pass deflections and a forced fumble.

Brugler wrote that he “covers a ton of ground and looks just as comfortable in the deep half as he does near the box.”

4th round, 103rd overall: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona

The Jets might feel good about the potential in their cornerback room with Brandon Stephens, Azareye’h Thomas and Jarvis Brownlee, but none have shown enough to be no-doubt starters and still have to find their place in the NFL. Stukes had a stellar combine and brings added value with his ability to play both nickel corner and safety, and Aaron Glenn will always value versatility in his defense. Stukes ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine, fourth-fastest among defensive backs.

Stukes is a fun story, as someone who fought his way onto Arizona’s roster as a walk-on and developed into one of the Big 12’s best corners, getting four interceptions last season. Brugler wrote that Stukes “got better each season in college” and that he “has outstanding instincts and toughness — and put some ‘wow’ interceptions on film.”

4th round, 139th overall: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

I would ultimately be surprised if the Jets don’t come out of this draft with at least one quarterback. It’s entirely possible they’re smitten enough with Alabama’s Ty Simpson to draft him early (Round 1 or 2) — I would be more into that idea in the second round because of Simpson’s inexperience and his shoddy play late in the season. If not Simpson, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier would be an option in the second round.

If the Jets want to wait, the best options in this range would probably be Allar or Miami’s Carson Beck. Beck put out better tape in 2025, though Allar did miss much of the season with an injury. Still, the sense I get is that most teams view Allar as someone with a higher ceiling, even if you’d be in trouble if you had to play him as a rookie.

If we’re going based on Frank Reich’s history, the Jets’ new offensive coordinator prefers quarterbacks with Allar’s sort of frame: 6 feet 5 inches, 228 pounds. He can make all the NFL throws, though his tape is littered with inconsistency. He wasn’t surrounded by a stellar receiving corps in 2025, though, and he has tools worth developing — especially if, as I suspect they will, the Jets add two veterans to the QB room this offseason.

5th round, 179th overall: Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss

The Jets need to get beefier up front. They already added a 366-pound nose tackle in T’Vondre Sweat. Why stop there?

Harris is 6-8 — yes, you read that right — and weighs 330 pounds. He’s a versatile defensive lineman, too, who can work in any scheme, and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described him as someone who “often overwhelms single blocks and disrupts run schemes from a gap away.” He projects as a nose tackle long-term and would be worth developing behind what is shaping to be an intriguing interior defensive line group for the Jets. Harris had three sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2025. PFF graded him as the 23rd-best defensive tackle against the run among 89 to play at least 500 snaps. Harris also tied for the most run-play tackles (39) among all defensive tackles.

6th round, 194th overall: Kage Casey, OT, Boise State

Both of the Jets’ swing tackles — Max Mitchell and Chukwuma Okorafor — are set to hit free agency. They’ll probably sign a veteran of that ilk for the same role, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to invest in an offensive lineman on Day 3 to develop in that role (if not to be a future starter). Casey played mostly left tackle in college, though he did get some snaps on the right side and projects as someone who should have the flexibility to play inside as well.

About Casey, Brugler wrote that he’s a “tough, veteran blocker who relies on technical savvy and play recognition to keep defenders occupied. Despite some drifting and stiffness in his lower half, he is athletic enough to stay square in pass protection and has strong hands to combat whatever rushers throw at him.”

6th round, 208th overall: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU

I’d expect the Jets to invest at linebacker in free agency (keep an eye on Alex Anzalone and Demario Davis as two options, though it’s a deep LB class beyond them). Reese can play some linebacker, too, though he probably projects more as an edge rusher long term. Regardless, the Jets need to add depth at the position, as well as players who can contribute on special teams. Kiko Mauigoa had his moments last year, but they could stand to add another linebacker in this draft.

Elarms-Orr was highly productive last year (130 tackles, 11 for loss, four sacks) and he has sideline-to-sideline speed and athleticism with some potential as a blitzer — a good fit for Glenn’s new aggressive defensive scheme.

7th round, 217th overall: Logan Fano, edge, Utah

The Jets lack bodies at edge rusher after trading away Jermaine Johnson, and with Micheal Clemons hitting free agency. They will add players (multiple) at this position in free agency and the NFL Draft, surely — and Fano is a worthy developmental target later in the draft. Fano had 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss last year and NFL.com says he “is capable of playing standing up or with a hand down,” and that he could be a special teams star in the NFL.

7th round, 241st overall: J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida

The Jets have too many picks, man. But Sturdivant, along with having a cool name, is viewed as a prospect with tools worth developing. He’s 6-3, 207 and ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the combine.