Picking second overall literally gives the New York Jets too many options. This is the best case scenario for the team in the NFL Draft 2026.
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The New York Jets have the second pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They will likely have their selection of any player not named Fernando Mendoza. There are any number of directions the team could go. We know they have a lot of holes to fill and should be simply looking to take the best player available. But positional value always comes into play.
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With too many great choices to make, which direction will the Jets go and who would you want them to take second overall? Simply put, what is the best case scenario for the New York Jets? Let’s first discuss the options.
Arvell Reese, DE/LB – Best player at 2nd or 3rd most valuable position in the sport; high upside player
David Bailey, DE – The 2nd best player at edge but perhaps more polished and less risky than Reese
Jeremiyah Love, RB – Perhaps the best player overall but at a low-value position
Francis Mauigoa, OT – Best player at the 2nd or 3rd most valuable position in the sport
Caleb Downs, S – Perhaps the best player overall but at a low-value position
Sonny Styles, LB – Perhaps the most gifted player overall, combine standout
Ty Simpson, QB – Perhaps they fell in love
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Todd Salem: This is an interesting draft at the very top for a number of reasons. First, there is only one unanimous top quarterback, and he will be gone by the time the Jets pick at two. People have begun to talk themselves into Simpson as a first-round pick. Maybe the Jets fall in love with him. If they think he’s a franchise guy, they have to take him at second or cross their fingers that he’s still on the board at 16.
The other reason this is a fascinating draft class is because the best players play the least valuable positions. Love and Downs are something close to first and second overall, but running back and safety are not worth using high capital to acquire. Those positions are easily filled with replacement-level parts who can succeed thanks to more talented players around them. Those positions are not paid highly either, which makes allotting them high-pick salary a fool’s errand.
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The Jets are slightly off the hook in that regard. They brought back Breece Hall at RB and already have a number of safeties in the building, including new acquisition Minkah Fitzpatrick. Every team needs more, good offensive tackles, but the Jets are oddly okay there as well considering the dearth of talent on the roster. They already spent first-round picks on tackles each of the past two seasons.
That leaves the likeliest picks as either Reese, Bailey, or Styles. All three have their pros and cons. This is a rebuilding team that doesn’t even have its quarterback of the future yet. To me, that means they go for higher upside at the most premium position.
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Is this just a slam dunk? Arvell Reese is going second overall? Most mock drafts have that as the pick. It makes the most sense to me. Do you agree? Is there any piece of analysis I’m missing?
After picking at second, as we mentioned, the Jets also select 16th. If Simpson isn’t the home-run swing, they have to go wide receiver. This is a good draft for non-elite, first-day receiving talent, and the Jets have so little WR talent on-roster. There are likely three WRs who will be taken in the first half of the first round. There are another half dozen who should go within the first 60 picks. I would love to see the Jets come away with one of those top three: Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, or Jordyn Tyson.
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There are other directions they could go here as well, obviously: interior defensive line, cornerback, offensive line, etc. My best outcome for the Jets’ first round, though, is Reese plus one of Tate, Lemon, or Tyson.
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Swing For the Fences Or Go Home Crying
Dan Salem: The Jets already traded with Las Vegas this offseason and both teams now have veterans in place at QB, so I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of the Jets and Raiders swapping picks so New York can select Mendoza. Assuming that does not happen, which is a pretty fair assumption to make, I lean toward one of two outcomes for the Jets with pick number two.
The obvious answer is defense because that’s their biggest weakness and the area Coach Glenn is most familiar with and fond of. On a weekly basis it was the defense which held New York back last season. It’s also the defense on which the Jets have spent most of their money during free agency. So its fair to assume they will continue to fix their biggest weakness in the draft, while also selecting the best player available. His name is Arvell Reese.
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Just because it’s obvious doesn’t make it wrong. Reese can make an immediate positive impact for New York. He’s a building block player and the Jets want their strength to be defense, even if it wasn’t last year. Reese is a slamdunk pick, so if New York keeps pick number two, he’s the likely selection.
The less obvious but equally potent answer is Love, because he is the best player in the draft who doesn’t play quarterback. Breece Hall is not long for the team and we all saw what Saquon Barkley has done for the Giants and Eagles. New York wanted to trade Hall, but couldn’t. They kept him because he’s great and they could afford to, but as we all know, running back careers are short, Hall has often been injured, and he is not the long-term answer for the Jets offense.
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Love appears to be a Barkley-like player, one who is franchise altering. Those types of players don’t come around often and passing on them can end careers. Furthermore, the NFL is a two-back league for the majority of teams. Hall and Love would be unstoppable.
Meet our Sports Writers:
Dan Salem is Lead Editor and Co-owner of BuzzChomp. He’s an award winning Actor, Director and Producer. Visit M Square Productions for his film work, or get lost in his old-school comedy on Pillow Talk TV. You can follow him on X, TikTok and Instagram. His latest film ‘Alone’ is now on Amazon.
Todd Salem is a Staff Writer and Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp. He’s also a champion of fantasy football and fantasy baseball, dominating leagues for over two decades. Comment below on his unfiltered opinions.
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