While quarterback remains the most glaring need on the New York Jets’ roster, there is a high chance that they may not take one with their first-round selection at No. 2 overall. (The results of Friday night’s Peach Bowl only ramp up the potential NFL draft hysteria.)
If Gang Green bypasses a signal caller at No. 2, there are still studs to be had. Here are three non-QB prospects that the Jets can draft…
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Committing to Ohio State as a four-star recruit in 2023, hailing from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio, Arvell Reese only appeared in six games in his freshman campaign.
In 2024, the 6-foot-4 and 243-pound linebacker racked up 43 combo tackles throughout 16 games, while allowing nine of his ten targets in coverage to be completed for 64 yards.
In 2025, he really made his name known.
Across 16 games, Reese secured 69 combo tackles, while also logging eight sacks on 27 pressures, contributing to a stellar 76.4 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. He earned consensus All-American honors while winning the “Big 10 Linebacker of the Year” award.
Reese possesses elite athletic traits, including great closing speed and versatility as a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher.
For the Jets, after a disastrous season, Quincy Williams is expected to walk into free agency. Jamien Sherwood, who was extended to a three-year, $45 million deal last offseason, struggled mightily.
The team is in desperate need of help off the edge and at linebacker, making Reese a solid option for New York at the top of the draft.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Ruben Bain Jr. earned immediate playing time in 2023 as a true freshman at Miami, and he took advantage of it. Throughout 13 games, he posted 44 combo tackles (23 solo) alongside 7.5 sacks, while earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
This season, he really broke out and established his status as a blue-chip prospect in April’s draft class. His astonishing 80 pressures rank second among qualified FBS edge rushers, along with his stellar 93.1 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.
New York struggled to generate pressure throughout the season, and the numbers reveal just how severe the issue became. The Jets finished with only 26 sacks, the second-fewest total in the NFL, trailing only the San Francisco 49ers.
That lack of disruption has pushed defensive end to the forefront of the team’s offseason priorities. The Jets entered 2025 counting on internal growth from their recent first-round investments, but that leap never materialized.
Jermaine Johnson, returning from a torn Achilles, was unable to recapture his pre-injury form, while Will McDonald failed to deliver the impact expected in a larger role.
Given his dominance at the NCAA level and the Jets’ need for consistent pass-rush production, Bain Jr. should be an option for New York at No. 2.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Despite appearing in only 11 games, Carnell Tate produced at an elite level, finishing with 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. His impact went well beyond volume.
At 6-foot-3, Tate consistently won in traffic, securing 12 of his 14 contested targets this season, an 85.7% success rate that led all FBS wide receivers with double-digit contested-catch chances.
Tate’s ability to stretch the field further separates him from the rest of the class. On only 17 deep targets, he turned 11 receptions into 453 yards and six touchdowns, capitalizing on explosive plays downfield. That combination of size, ball skills, and vertical threat has firmly placed him among the top receiver prospects in the draft.
For the Jets, the need at wide receiver is glaring. Garrett Wilson led the team in receiving with 395 yards and did not record a catch after October, which exposed the limitations of the supporting cast.
Injecting Tate into the lineup would address one of New York’s most pressing roster holes and provide a much-needed jolt to an offense starving for playmakers, as a rookie quarterback is expected to take the reins.
