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.
NFL.com – Daniel Jeremiah
No. 2: Edge David Bailey – Texas Tech
"The Jets have their pick of the draft's finest edge rushers here. Bailey's combination of explosiveness and production is the best of the bunch."
No. 16: OL Olaivavega Loane – Penn State
"I know quarterback is a huge need for the Jets, but I don't see a QB worthy of the 16th overall pick this year. So, they can take the best player available here. I view Ioane as the best offensive lineman in the draft. He can fill the void with the injury-plagued Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson headed for free agency."
CBS Sports – Josh Edwards
No. 2: Edge David Bailey – Texas Tech
"Beyond Fernando Mendoza, I would understand players coming off the board in almost any order. It sounds like a copout, but that is the reality of a draft class lacking any obvious blue-chip talents. Safety Caleb Downs may be the safest prospect, but he plays a position most teams do not consider premium. Teams will also have varying opinions of Ohio State's Arvell Reese. Is he a pass rusher? Is he a linebacker? New York takes a finished product who was unblockable this fall. Bailey (81) finished second to Rueben Bain Jr. (83) in pressures this season, according to TruMedia, in two fewer games. His 14.5 sacks led Division I."
No. 16: DL Peter Woods – Clemson
"After taking Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 overall, the Jets address a position weakened by the Quinnen Williams trade. Peter Woods has "slipped," but he never profiled as a locked-in top-five selection. Aaron Glenn gets a few pillars on defense heading into an important year."
PFF – Gordon McGuinness
No. 2: S Caleb Downs – Ohio State
"Downs notched an 85.0-plus PFF overall grade in each of the past three seasons and is firmly in the conversation as the best overall player in this draft. Positional value will determine when he ultimately comes off the board but look back at the 2022 NFL Draft and consider how much earlier Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton would go in a redo."
No. 16: DL Peter Woods – Clemson
"The Jets continue to upgrade their defense with the second of their first-round draft picks, adding some talent to the interior defensive line. Woods is coming off his lowest-graded season in three years, but with PFF overall grades above 83.0 in both 2023 and 2024, the talent is clearly there."