For the past few months, the conversation around the New York Jets has been centered around the front-seven, and which standout would hear his name called second in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Arvell Reese is the favorite, and his excellent platform season provides plenty of justification for his ascension. Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. might be the best player in college football, and Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey blossomed in 2025. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is the kind of athletic freak that could change teams' minds atop the draft, stress testing positional value.
There are multiple viable options, and with each profile having a handful of question marks, the final month of draft prep could be telling. However, it's not a lock that New York goes after a defensive difference-maker with its first pick.
Could the Jets go offense at No. 2?
One of the less-likely outcomes for the Jets' plans would be to pivot to offense. Rest assured, that won't mean quarterback. Despite the late-cycle hype, Alabama's Ty Simpson is still a long shot to be a top-10 pick and won't be a conversation for New York until it is thinking about its second pick.
But this is an offense in desperate need of reinforcements, particularly at wide receiver. Garrett Wilson is a star and should be celebrated for his commitment to this organization -- although a bad Geno Smith season might be the last straw -- and he needs a co-star.
The Jets cannot go into 2026 with Isaiah Williams as a starting receiver. Despite the flashes, Adonai Mitchell probably isn't suited to be the second-best option on a quality passing offense. It's Wilson and a room that is wanting.
New York should be taking one, if not two, receivers in April. That might start with Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Carnell Tate. As one of the consensus top three receivers in the class and the safest profile of the bunch, Tate is one of the best offensive prospects in this class. The shape of this class makes it harder to see him being a top-two pick, but without a true blue-chip prospect waiting for the Jets, there's room for them to get weird.
Daniel Jeremiah spoke to Mina Kimes about the possibility of Tate going as high as No. 2.
“I think Tate, I think he’s in play at two,” Jeremiah said. “I think that conversation is entertained at two.”
Jeremiah believes Carnell Tate is in play as high as 2nd overall pic.twitter.com/t2iIDOUagw
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 6, 2026
Tate posted 875 yards and nine scores this season, playing Robin to Jeremiah Smith. He flashes a preternatural ability to make plays at the catch point. That can be attributed to 94th-percentile hand size and enough size (6'2", 192 pounds) to check the box.
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Tate isn't a standout athlete, but there's enough juice to remain potent downfield and offer utility on traditional underneath routes where he can separate and make plays after the catch. He'd allow New York to move Wilson around the formation more often and make life easier in the red zone, too.
Even so, Tate shouldn't be viewed as the most likely option for the Jets.
“There’s a lot of Tate supporters out there,” he continued. “There’s a lot of people who need a receiver. I’ll say this, if Tate was 205 pounds instead of 192 pounds, and he ran a 4.42 instead of a 4.53, I think there’s a real chance he’s the second pick of the draft.”
In most classes, second overall would be too high for a prospect of Tate's pedigree. But in a class with one quarterback and no standout, the opportunity cost for rolling the dice on a receiver is lower. He'd be in a position to succeed with Smith (presumably operating a real offense) and Wilson's presence keeping the weight off his shoulders.
This isn't a massive signal that general manager Darren Mougey is going to shock the world. Still, it's something to keep an eye on, and given Tate's promise, something Jets fans should be open to.
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