NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, In his third mock draft posted March 17, had the Jets selecting Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese with their No. 2 overall selection. But Jeremiah on April 1 also ranked edge David Bailey of Texas Tech as his No. 4 top prospect, one slot ahead of Reese. And while many pundits for weeks had pegged Reese as a favorite to the Jets, Jeremiah is a fan of Bailey's pass-rushing prowess.

"I wouldn't say clear-cut," Jeremiah said of a Jets selection of Reese. "I've been leaning in that direction for them just based off of more of the philosophy of the arrow's pointing toward '27."

But, he said, there's a lot to like about Bailey at 2, too.

"I'm a David Bailey guy. I have him one spot over Reese, personally,," he said. "I think Bailey's more ready to come in and have an impact as a full-time edge. It's what he's done, I think he's more polished as a pass rusher. So that's how I have them stacked."

The two are so good that while everyone in Jets Nation has an opinion, it takes experienced draft experts to tease them apart.

Reese has been No. 2 behind QB Fernando Mendoza on many analysts' value boards and in their mock drafts for a while. In the last two of his three Buckeyes seasons, he played in all 30 games, won a national championship with them after the '24 season, then totaled 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss and was named a consensus All-American in '25. He's been described as "a physical freak" — at the NFL Combine, he checked in at 6-4, 241 and ran the 40 in a blistering 4.46 seconds, fastest among all of this year's edge rushers.

But Bailey has his own bulging portfolio as he's coming up fast on the outside as a contender for the Jets' top pick. The 6-4, 251-pounder emerged in his first three college seasons at Stanford with career Cardinal totals of 14.5 sacks, 22.5 TFLs and 7 forced fumbles. Then he went through the player portal and finished with a big bang for Texas Tech — 14.5 sacks, tied for most in FBS, 19.5 TFLs, 3 more FFs, and recognition as a first=team AP All-American and Big 12 DL of the Year. At the Combine, Bailey's 4,50 was the second-fastest 40 among D-ends/edge rushers, an eyelash of four-hundredths of a second behind Reese's time.

"I do think Reese has the higher upside, the higher ceiling," Jeremiah said. "And I know the Jets have made a lot of moves on the defensive side of the ball, a lot of one-year contracts, some short-term stuff there. ... I do feel this is more toward the long-term build with all those picks next year."

So Jeremiah feels strongly both ways. Or make that three ways, since the NFL analyst could even make a case for GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn reaching slightly for the best linebacker in the draft, Sonny Styles, also out of Ohio State.

"I'm a Sonny Styles guy," Jeremiah said, "to the point where, if that were the selection, I'd be fired up if I was a Jets fan. Just knowing how impactful he can be and someone who, if you're looking for guys that can be at the top-five at their position in the NFL, he's got the ability to do that. He's got the chance to become one of the elite, All-Pro linebackers that can anchor this defense."

DJ even made an argument for the Jets taking fast-rising Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love at that second spot.

"He's the second-best player in the draft for me, so he'd be the best player on my board when the Jets pick," Jeremiah said. But he acknowledged the team's crowded RBs room with Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. "I don't know if that's the right time to make that move," he said of Love to the Jets, "but you can make a case for great players anytime."

One position Jeremiah didn't mention for the Jets at either 2 or 16 in Round 1 was quarterback. QB, edge and wideout seem to make up the big three positions that fans would like to see filled in this draft, but he doesn't think that will happen until next year's draft, when the Jets will have three first-round picks.

A choice of Love at No. 2, Jeremiah said, would be "someone who could help your young quarterback of the future, who we assume will arive in '27."