With the 2026 NFL Draft less than three weeks away, the conversation around the New York Jets’ second overall pick is shifting. Two prominent NFL Network voices, draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah and Good Morning Football host Peter Schrager, both landed on Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey in their joint live mock draft for ESPN Radio’s “The Schrager Hour,” pushing back against the broader consensus that Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is the Jets’ pick on April 23 in Pittsburgh.
Jeremiah had Bailey going second while Schrager projected Reese to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3. The development was flagged by NFL writer Johnny Venerable on X, who noted both insiders had evidence suggesting the Jets lean Bailey.
Why Bailey’s Case at No. 2 Is Becoming Harder to Dismiss
The Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. That leaves the Jets with the pick of the top pass rushers in the class.
Reese, the Ohio State linebacker, earned consensus All-American honors last season along with the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year award. At 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, he ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash.
The core argument for Reese centers on scheme flexibility. In his final season at Ohio State, he split snaps between outside and off-ball linebacker, which fits what head coach Aaron Glenn wants from a multi-front 3-4 defense.
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Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Two prominent NFL insiders with evidence to suggest the Jets are leaning David Bailey, not Arvell Reese, second overall.
(Cc: @MoveTheSticks / @PSchrags) pic.twitter.com/o33u1jT86J
— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) April 7, 2026
ESPN’s analytics-based draft predictor gives Reese better than a 70% chance of going second. ESPN’s Rich Cimini also reported the Jets dined with him in Columbus and spent extra time with him at Ohio State’s pro day. That level of organizational access shows noting but real interest.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger made his case for Bailey at No. 2 consistently across multiple appearances on NFL Network:
“The best choice is David Bailey,” Baldinger said. “If you go by how I like to build a team, you get the quarterback first, then you go get the guy who could get after the quarterback, and the Jets need that guy.”
Bailey transferred to Texas Tech after three seasons at Stanford, where he graduated in three years. In his first season with the Red Raiders, he posted 14.5 sacks, tied for the FBS lead.
Texas Tech Red Raiders, Todd McShay
Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey (31) reacts as he walks off the field following the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Cimini’s own reporting acknowledged the production but noted Bailey is “essentially a one-position player with some questions about his run-stopping ability,” a genuine concern at this price.
With Jeremiah and Schrager now both publicly landing on Bailey, the Jets have considerably less runway to go in another direction without it registering as a genuine surprise.
Reese remains the betting market favorite. The Jets have visited both prospects. Whatever happens in Pittsburgh on April 23 is now much harder to predict.