The days of Mel Kiper Jr. being among the premier NFL draft analysts are well behind us, but he deserves credit for his work as one of the pioneers in the NFL draft media landscape. To multiple generations of fans, he is the OG mock drafter, a practice that millions of analysts now partake in daily.

For that reason, it’s still fascinating to see what the 65-year-old thinks is going to happen in the upcoming draft.

Kiper dropped his 2026 mock draft 2.0 on Tuesday, and it’s sure to be a polarizing one among the Jets fanbase.

It’s a double-up on defense, and the second pick is not the status-quo prediction of Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese. In fact, it isn’t even an edge rusher.

Here are the first 16 picks of Kiper’s latest mock draft.

  1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
  2. New York Jets: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
  3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, OLB Texas Tech
  4. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
  5. New York Giants: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
  6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
  7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
  8. New Orleans Saints: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
  9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
  10. Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
  11. Miami Dolphins: Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami
  12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
  13. Los Angeles Rams: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
  14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
  16. New York Jets: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Kiper has the Jets taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the second overall choice, a prediction that most Jets fans will either love or hate.

Many contend that Downs is the best player in the draft relative to his position. For obvious reasons, that makes him an appealing target for a Jets team that won three games last season, especially since their safety unit was a major weakness.

The concern with Downs revolves not around his own play, but the positional value of safety compared to positions like edge rusher and wide receiver. The strategy behind taking a safety second overall is questionable, no matter how great the prospect is. This is especially true when the Jets will have the option to choose between three fantastic edge rusher prospects and an elite wide receiver prospect.

At No. 16, Kiper has the Jets going with Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods, a selection that has become more popular as of late.

Woods is only 20 years old and was the nation’s top defensive tackle recruit in the 2023 class, per ESPN. However, his stock is built more around potential than production, as he picked up just two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, 14 total pressures, and 30 tackles in 12 games for Clemson last season.