On Thursday, we identified the first-round wide receiver prospect who best fits the New York Jets’ projected offensive scheme.
Now, it’s time to turn our attention to Day 2 of the draft. Who are some of the best scheme fits available to New York in rounds 2-3?
Here are three perfect scheme fits for the Jets to target on Day 2, when they hold the 33rd and 44th overall picks.
Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich projects to rely heavily on short-to-intermediate passes over the middle of the field. So, the Jets should be targeting wideouts who can be trusted to excel on those particular targets.
Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell is currently ranked as the No. 50 overall prospect (WR7) on the consensus big board at NFL Mock Draft Database. It makes him an ideal target for the Jets with one of their second-round picks, whether they pass on a receiver in the first round or would be open to double-dipping.
Bell, who carries a large frame at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, is one of the draft’s most reliable targets on short-to-intermediate throws.
In 2025, Pro Football Focus scored Bell with a 94.4 grade on short-to-intermediate targets (0-19 air yards). Among the top eight wide receivers in the class (per the consensus big board), this was the fourth-best mark, trailing only three projected first-rounders: Denzel Boston (No. 31 overall prospect), Omar Cooper (No. 24), and Carnell Tate (No. 8).
Bell was especially dominant in the short range (0-9 air yards), both at the catch point and afterward. On 63 short targets, Bell secured 6-of-9 contested throws (66.7%) while forcing eight missed tackles after the catch. Overall, he caught 51 short passes for an FBS-high 535 yards, adding three touchdowns.
Reich loves calling drag routes and hitch routes in his offense. Thus, he will likely be intrigued by a prospect like Bell, whose large frame, strong hands, and toughness after the catch would all be maximized on those short throws.
Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
The Jets need competition and depth at center. There aren’t any prospects at the position worthy of being targeted with one of the Jets’ top-45 picks, but if they find a way to make it back into the third round (where they currently have no picks), there will be plenty of viable prospects available.
For the Jets’ needs, Sam Hecht (No. 74 overall on the consensus big board) might be the most appealing prospect.
A former walk-on at Kansas State, Hecht worked his way up to the Wildcats’ starting center role over the past two seasons. He broke out as one of the nation’s most dominant centers in 2025, earning an 80.3 overall grade at PFF, third-best among FBS centers.
Hecht was particularly excellent in pass protection, which is why he makes so much sense for the Jets. As we broke down on Thursday, pass protection should be the Jets’ priority when scouting offensive linemen, as they must focus on building the best supporting cast possible for their future franchise quarterback.
In 2025, Hecht allowed zero sacks, zero hits, and seven hurries on 392 pass-blocking snaps. He also didn’t commit a single penalty on 759 offensive snaps.
The concerns with Hecht are that he didn’t break out until his fifth season at 22 years old, and that his athletic profile doesn’t wow you (7.76 Relative Athletic Score).
But with such pristine numbers in the pass-blocking and penalty departments, you know the technical skills are there. That’s what the Jets should be after as they look to build a smart, technically sound, and pass-protection-savvy wall that gives a young quarterback the best chance to succeed.
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
When scouting corners to play in an Aaron Glenn defense, man-coverage skills are paramount. Glenn loves calling man blitzes, so he needs corners who can be relied upon to survive on an island.
There are some appealing first-round cornerback prospects who fit the bill if New York is bold enough to draft a corner over a receiver with the 16th overall pick. Most likely, though, the Jets will wait until the second round to begin considering corners.
At either the 33rd or 44th overall slot, San Diego State’s Chris Johnson makes plenty of sense for Glenn’s scheme.
Ranked No. 41 overall on the consensus big board, Johnson has the man-coverage production and athleticism that Glenn covets in his corners.
In 2025, Johnson allowed 8-of-19 passing (42.1%) for 78 yards and no touchdowns when targeted in man coverage, coming across 91 snaps. His ball skills were solid, as he recorded a 21.1% forced incompletion rate on these targets, ranking in the 74th percentile among FBS corners with at least 19 man-coverage targets.
Athletically, Johnson offers the make-up speed that is critical for man corners. He clocked a 4.40 in the forty-yard dash (83rd percentile among CB all-time), adding in a 4.12 shuttle time. Johnson also posted a 38-inch vertical and a 126-inch broad jump as part of his 9.83 Relative Athletic Score.
Johnson isn’t the longest or biggest corner, standing at six feet and 193 pounds with only 30⅝-inch arms (22nd percentile among CB all-time). While size and length are welcomed pluses for man corners, they aren’t necessary if the coverage skills and make-up speed are present, both of which Johnson has in droves.
With a former cornerback at the helm and plenty of questions at the cornerback position, don’t be surprised if New York calls Johnson’s name early in the second round. He is the type of player who you could easily envision Aaron Glenn falling in love with.
