The New York Jets are basically the NFL's version of a recurring nightmare right now. You wake up, check the standings, and realize they’re sitting at 3-14 again, holding the No. 2 overall pick and searching for a soul. Honestly, it's exhausting. But here we are in January 2026, and the "fire sale" at the trade deadline—sending Sauce Gardner to the Colts and Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys—has left GM Darren Mougey with a mountain of draft capital and a roster that looks like a pre-season depth chart for a XFL team.
Having two picks in the top 16 is a dream for most franchises. For the Jets, it feels like a high-stakes game of "how can we mess this up?" With Dante Moore officially heading back to Oregon and Fernando Mendoza likely locked in at No. 1 to the Raiders, the Jets are in a weird spot.
The No. 2 Pick Dilemma: Why Arvell Reese is the Only Choice
The loudest voices in the room want a quarterback. I get it. The Justin Fields experiment was a disaster—he completed three passes against the Bills in the season finale. Three. You’ve got to try harder to be that bad. But forcing a quarterback at No. 2 when the board doesn't justify it is how you end up with Zach Wilson 2.0.
Most scouts I talk to are obsessed with Arvell Reese, the hybrid linebacker/edge from Ohio State. He’s 6-foot-4, 243 pounds of pure "get to the quarterback." Last season, he put up 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, and that was while being used in a hybrid role where he spent half the time spying on mobile QBs. If Aaron Glenn lets him loose as a pure pass rusher, he’s a 12-sack-a-year guy immediately.
The Jets defense didn't record a single interception all of 2025. Not one. That is statistically impossible in a modern league, yet they managed it. By taking Reese, you aren't just getting a pass rusher; you're getting a guy who forces the ball out before the secondary has a chance to blow a coverage. If the Jets take Ty Simpson here just because they’re scared of Justin Fields’ contract, they’ve already lost the draft.
Fixing the Secondary at No. 16
The pick they got from Indianapolis for Sauce Gardner—the 16th overall—has to be a playmaker in the defensive backfield. You can’t trade a generational talent like Sauce and then draft a rotational defensive tackle. That’s a fireable offense.
Mansoor Delane out of LSU is the name popping up in every mock draft New York Jets fans are actually paying attention to. He’s a ballhawk. While at LSU and Virginia Tech, he racked up eight interceptions and nearly 30 pass breakups. He has that "gritty" mentality that Aaron Glenn loves. If Delane is gone, you look at someone like Malachi Moore, who actually played for the Jets as a rookie but could use a high-pedigree partner.
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Honestly, the mid-first round is where the value is this year. Guys like Caleb Downs (the safety from Ohio State) might slide because of "positional value," but if he’s there at 16, you sprint the card to the podium. He’s the best safety prospect since Jamal Adams, without the trade-me-every-two-years drama.
The Quarterback "Second Bite" Strategy
So, if you pass on a QB at No. 2, what do you do? You use the $111 million in cap space—the third-most in the NFL—to bring in a bridge or a trade target. There’s a lot of chatter about the Jets making an in-division move for Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins are reportedly ready to move on from his $56 million cap hit, and the Jets have the room to absorb it.
If they don’t go the veteran route, the second round is the sweet spot. The Jets hold No. 33 (their own) and No. 44 (from Dallas).
Ty Simpson from Alabama is a fascinating Day 2 option. He threw 28 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions last year. He’s steady. He doesn't have the "wow" factor of Mendoza, but he’s a processor. In a system with Garrett Wilson—who is still the only real threat on this offense—a processor is exactly what you need.
Beyond the First Round: Building the Foundation
We can't ignore the offensive line. Armand Membou was a bright spot on the All-Rookie team, but the rest of the unit is a sieve. Stone Forsythe and DJ Glaze were ranked near the bottom of the league in pass-blocking efficiency.
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If a guy like Francis Mauigoa or Spencer Fano is available at the start of the second round, that’s your pick. You have to protect whoever is under center. Whether it’s Tua, Fields, or a rookie, they’ll get killed behind the current line.
Mock Draft New York Jets: A Realistic 3-Round Path
- Round 1, Pick 2: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State. (The "best player available" move).
- Round 1, Pick 16: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU. (Replacing the Sauce Gardner production).
- Round 2, Pick 33: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama. (The franchise reset).
- Round 2, Pick 44: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M. (A dynamic slot weapon to help Garrett Wilson).
What This Means for the 2026 Season
The Jets are clearly in a "tear it down to the studs" rebuild. By trading Quinnen and Sauce, they signaled that no one is safe. But with five first-round picks over the next two years, the turnaround can be fast if they don't reach for a quarterback who isn't there.
Wait for the 2027 class for a true blue-chip passer if Simpson doesn't work out. For now, use that massive cap space to fix the holes that aren't sexy—the interior offensive line and the run defense. This team gave up 35 points to a Mitch Trubisky-led Bills team to end the season. That’s the floor. There is nowhere to go but up.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason:
- Focus on the trenches: Use pick 33 or 44 on an offensive tackle; the current starters are not NFL-caliber.
- Don't overpay for Tua: If the Dolphins want a first-round pick in return, walk away. The cap space is more valuable for building a complete roster.
- Identify a No. 2 Wideout: Adonai Mitchell has potential, but the Jets need a veteran presence to take the double-teams off Garrett Wilson.
- Draft Arvell Reese: Do not overthink the No. 2 pick. He is the safest, highest-ceiling player in the class.