The Jets currently have the No. 2 & No. 16 picks in the 2026 draft. Below is a compilation of mock drafts. The views expressed are not representative of any Jets personnel.
No. 2: Edge Arvell Reese – Ohio State
"Reese had one of the most impressive workouts at this year's combine — full stop. His athletic testing was outstanding, as expected, but his on-field performance was even more remarkable. His blend of speed, explosion and violence separates him in this class. 'Dude stole the freaking show,' an NFL scout said."
No. 16: WR Makai Lemon – USC
"Maybe the Jets will opt for more size at receiver to complement Garrett Wilson, but Lemon has the competitive DNA that should speak to head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. Glenn had a front-row seat for Amon-Ra St. Brown with the Detroit Lions — it's a good bet he would want to add a stylistically similar player."
No. 33: LB C.J. Allen – Georgia
No. 44: CB Chris Johnson – San Diego State
"I love what the Jets were able to do in this mock: a high-level pass rush threat in Reese; a dynamic pass catcher in Lemon; a green-dot linebacker in the middle in Allen. And now at cornerback, Johnson, one of the more underrated prospects in the draft."
No. 2: Edge Arvell Reese – Ohio State
"With five first-round picks over the next two years, it's essential for the Jets to find a bunch of building blocks. Reese's explosiveness makes him an option at edge rusher or off-ball linebacker. A high-upside prospect, few blockers are able to match his levels of explosion, and he also has the block deconstruction ability to wreak havoc at the first level of the defense. With New York trading edge rusher Jermaine Johnson last week, Reese would kick-start the Jets' rebuild as a key foundational player to their defense."
*Mock Trade with Dallas Cowboys for No. 12 selection*
No. 12: WR Makai Lemon – USC
"The Jets have four selections in the top 44, which gives them the ability to move up to add to a wide receiver room that consists of Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell and not much else. Lemon is a versatile player who can win from the outside or in the slot. His physical traits won't wow many, but he's capable of winning against all types of coverage. His 96.3 receiving yards per game was the third most of any player in the FBS last season. Lemon is also competitive after the catch; his 21 forced missed tackles ranked 14th among FBS receivers in 2025."
No. 33: CB Brandon Cisse – South Carolina
"The Jets would continue to retool their defense with Cisse, a hyperathletic corner who is just scratching the surface of his potential. He'd be a fun pairing with Azareye'h Thomas, New York's third-rounder from the 2025 draft."
No. 44: S A.J. Haulcy – LSU
"The Jets haven't drafted a safety in the first two days of the draft since 2020 (Ashtyn Davis). New York didn't record an interception last season and could use a ball hawk such as Haulcy, who recorded 10 interceptions in his college career."
No. 2: Edge Arvell Reese – Ohio State
"Reese announced that he wanted to be viewed as an edge rusher at the combine, which, in my opinion, clouds his projection, given his lower pass-rush win rate in college. But he tested like an elite athlete, notching a 4.46-second 40-yard dash. After the Jets traded Jermaine Johnson Jr. for T'Vondre Sweat, they now have a much bigger need at stand-up pass rusher."
No. 16: WR Makai Lemon – USC
"Lemon didn't go through any athletic testing, but he looked good during the on-field portion of the combine. He's in the conversation to be the top receiver in this draft, with some of the best hands and route running to be found. That could still mean anything in terms of his draft range. He would be an excellent complement to Garrett Wilson."
No. 2: Edge David Bailey – Texas Tech
"The Jets are in no position to be rolling the dice on a high-end prospect like Arvell Reese, mostly because they're in we absolutely have to win right now mode -- and those words are in all caps and bold when talking about second-year coach Aaron Glenn. Reese has a chance to be really special. David Bailey has a chance to be really special … next season."
No. 16: WR Makai Lemon – USC
"This would be an outstanding start to the draft for the Jets, who land edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 and then find Lemon staring them in the face here. Lemon reminds me (and a lot of folks, it turns out) of Amon-Ra St. Brown, which is music to Garrett Wilson's ears."
No. 2: Edge Arvell Reese – Ohio State
"Some players who split time between two positions are "tweeners" who don't really excel at either spot. A very small number of players who play two spots put up elite performances at both. Reese fits into the latter. He's a true front-seven weapon who should excel wherever his future team puts him. He can cover, play the run and rush the passer, making him a rare and versatile linebacker prospect at the top of the draft. The Jets' defense was so bad that someone who can plug multiple spots depending on the situation is exactly what they need."
No. 16: CB Avieon Terrell – Clemson
"Another player for the broken Jets' defense. Like his older brother A.J., a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Falcons, Avieon didn't have the most explosive day at the combine (his 34-inch vertical ranked among the bottom third of CBs and his 10-feet, 3-inch broad jump was also in the lower tier in this group) but he still has the profile of a starting outside cornerback in the NFL, which is still an incredibly valuable thing to find. That works here for the Jets."
