On Monday, two NFL insiders stated they had heard the New York Jets are leaning toward a different prospect at No. 2 than Ohio State defensive weapon Arvell Reese.
Sportsbooks are heeding the humors. Suddenly, Reese is no longer the betting favorite to be selected by the Jets with the second overall pick.
At DraftKings Sportsbook, the new betting favorite to be the No. 2 overall pick (regardless of whether it is the Jets who make the pick) is Texas Tech’s David Bailey.
As of this writing, Bailey’s odds are -135, and Reese’s odds are +105. There is a distant gap between them and the third-ranked prospect, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (+2200).
Bailey’s rise occurs in spite of recent criticisms of his work ethic from anonymous NFL scouts, reported via Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” draft guide at The Athletic. According to Brugler, “NFL scouts say they want ‘more consistent energy levels’ from him behind the scenes.”
Despite Bailey’s ascension at sportsbooks, the majority of mock drafters across the internet continue to heavily favor Reese in the battle for the second overall draft choice. According to the website NFL Mock Draft Database, 80% of mock drafters have pegged Reese to New York at No. 2 over the past week.
The Reese-versus-Bailey debate continues to take drastic twists and turns each day. Soon, though, the words will turn to actions, as only two weeks remain until the Jets run their card up to the podium in Pittsburgh.
Either way, the Jets’ front seven will be getting a much-needed cornerstone piece after generating a league-low 15.1% pressure rate in 2025. Still, if their two finalists truly are Reese and Bailey, the Jets are deciding between two wildly different players.
Who the Jets wind up choosing will tell us a lot about the defensive vision of head coach Aaron Glenn, as well as the team-building philosophy of general manager Darren Mougey.
