With the NFL draft less than three weeks away, here is my second seven-round mock draft for the New York Jets.

No time to waste here, folks, let’s get into it.

Round 1, Pick 2: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

As we have discussed ad nauseam, Arvell Reese is the Jets’ top option at No. 2 overall, despite the Carnell Tate chatter.

At just 20 years old, Reese has already flashed a tremendous amount of upside, and he is a perfect scheme fit with the Jets.

Round 1, Pick 13 (via Los Angeles Rams): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

We have a trade.

The Jets get a deal done with the Los Angeles Rams to move up three spots, from No. 16 to 13. To facilitate the swap, Gang Green gives up their two fourth-round selections (Nos. 103 and 140 overall).

By traditional trade value chart standards, the deal comes out fairly even, with just a 26-point tilt in the Jets’ favor.

With this pick, New York lands my No. 1-ranked wide receiver in this class, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. Wide receiver is a pressing need for the Jets, arguably the most glaring on their depth chart. Everyone knows that by now.

Not only is the team in need of a reliable pass-catching option behind Garrett Wilson, but they are also still searching for a prototypical complement alongside the 2022 first-round pick.

A former five-star prospect out of IMG Academy, Tate spent all three of his NCAA seasons at Ohio State while having an outstanding junior campaign in 2025.

When you turn on the tape, several things are eye-catching: his ability to win in traffic, stretch the field, and convert contested catch opportunities.

On 17 targets deep targets throughout the 2025 season (20+ yards), Tate did immense damage for the Buckeyes, hauling in 11 receptions for 453 yards and six touchdowns. Beyond that, five of his nine touchdowns last season went for 40-plus yards, showcasing his ability to flip the field as a big-play threat.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, Tate profiles as the perfect complement to Wilson, thanks to his boundary presence and ability to stretch the field.

Round 2, Pick 33: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

While the Jets have a deep defensive tackle room, headlined by Jowon Briggs, T’Vondre Sweat, David Onyemata, and Harrison Phillips, they lack a true space-eater on the inside.

That is a void the Jets haven’t filled since they dealt Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline last season. By selecting Christen Miller in this simulation, the hole for New York is now filled.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds, Miller earned All-SEC honors for his efforts in the 2025 season, where he posted 23 total tackles (4.0 for loss) and 1.5 sacks. His 88.1 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 10th among 887 qualified defensive tackles.

He also showed flashes as a pass-rusher in 244 pass-rush reps. Among 10 qualified SEC defensive tackles (minimum 215 pass rush snaps), Miller’s 17.6% true pass-rush win rate ranked first, per PFF. Zooming out, that mark ranked 25th among 191 qualified FBS DTs.

He has a very quick first step and uses excellent leverage. At the next level, the Georgia product also offers a lot of versatility, being able to play anywhere from nose tackle to five-technique.

While run defense is the backbone of his game, Miller has shown promise as a pass rusher, and that aspect of his game can certainly be developed in the pros.

Round 2, Pick 44: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

As I noted in a recent column, linebacker is a position where the Jets can sneakily upgrade at throughout the draft.

So, at pick No. 44, the organization does just that by selecting Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez.

Throughout 14 games in 2025, he posted 128 total tackles (11.0 for loss), a sack, six pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions. He was named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year while earning the Butkus Award as the country’s top linebacker.

Rodriguez also graded out fantastically. According to PFF, his 93.3 overall defensive grade ranked first among 809 qualified linebackers. His 95.3 mark as a run-defender and 92.7 clip in coverage also led all LBs.

The numbers speak for themselves, but the more I watch Rodriguez, the more I am amazed by his style of play.

The Texas Tech product owns excellent lateral speed and will be a sideline-to-sideline linebacker in the pros. At the NFL’s Scouting Combine, he showed off his excellent athleticism, posting a 38.5-inch vertical and an excellent 6.90-second 3-cone drill, which led all LBs in this year’s draft.

Looking back on the four years of his college career at linebacker (after playing quarterback for Virginia in 2021), his production on the ball is astonishing, totaling six interceptions, five fumble recoveries, and 13 forced fumbles.

Despite signing Demario Davis in free agency, the Jets’ linebacker room is riddled with uncertainty. Is Jamien Sherwood able to get back to the level of play that he showcased in 2024? Will players like Kiko Mauigoa and Mykal Walker, who impressed in certain areas, be able to handle a consistent workload?

By selecting Rodriguez, the Jets are able to cap off their LB room with a high-level playmaker.

Remaining Picks

  • Round 5, Pick 179: Hezekiah Masses, CB, California
  • Round 7, Pick 228: Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
  • Round 7, Pick 242: Micah Morris, OL, Georgia

I also highlighted cornerback as a position where the Jets should look to add in the draft. For the second consecutive mock, I have the Jets selecting Cal’s Hezekiah Masses in the fifth round.

At 6-foot-1 and 179 pounds, Masses is slightly undersized for an NFL CB, but his production in the ACC is eye-catching. Logging five interceptions, he allowed under a 50% completion rate on his 64 targets during the 2025 season. He also plays special teams, giving him a path to play right away.

With the Jets’ first seventh-round selection, they take their dart throw at quarterback: Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson.

In 2025, ranked third among FBS signal-callers in touchdowns and sixth in passing yards. He also did damage in the rushing game. Across his final two college seasons, the 23-year-old recorded 481 rushing yards and seven touchdowns throughout 82 attempts.

At 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Robertson, most importantly, fits the bill of what Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich looks for in his QBs, making him worthy of a seventh-round dart throw.

With the final pick of this mock, Gang Green adds a depth piece in the trenches: Georgia offensive lineman Micah Morris. Throughout his college career, Morris played both guard and tackle, while earning an 81.0 run blocking grade from PFF last season. He enters the summer as a backup/developmental offensive lineman.

Complete haul

  • Round 1, Pick 2: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
  • Round 1, Pick 13: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
  • Round 2, Pick 33: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
  • Round 2, Pick 44: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
  • Round 5, Pick 179: Hezekiah Masses, CB, California
  • Round 7, Pick 228: Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor
  • Round 7, Pick 242: Micah Morris, OL, Georgia