Draft day is here, and the New York Jets can go in a multitude of directions with their two first-round picks, currently slated at Nos. 2 and 16 overall.
While it will most likely be David Bailey or Arvell Reese at No. 2, what the Jets do at No. 16 remains highly unknown.
Without wasting any more time, let’s rank potential draft scenarios from elite to horrific before Roger Goodell takes the stage in Pittsburgh.
Elite: Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate
This is without a doubt the Jets’ best-case scenario for Gang Green tonight. They make the obvious choice at No. 2 in Arvell Reese while securing the perfect complement for Garrett Wilson and Reese’s OSU teammate in Carnell Tate.
However, keep in mind, this would most likely not occur if the Jets stand pat at pick 16. To secure Tate, the Jets would almost certainly need to trade up.
Keep an eye on the Washington Commanders at No. 7 as a prime spot where the Jets could look to strike a trade.
The Commanders don’t own any second-round picks. After No. 7, their next selection doesn’t come until pick 71 in the third round. The Jets, on the other hand, own the first pick of Day 2 (No. 33) and No. 44. They also own two fourth-round picks (Nos. 103 and 140) while Washington doesn’t have one. The Commanders also own a third-round pick, which the Jets lack.
Given that, both teams align perfectly, and there are multiple ways to angle a trade.
Nevertheless, landing Reese and Tate is a dream scenario for the Jets, and while it is possible, it would almost certainly require a move back into the top 10.
Solid: David Bailey, Omar Cooper Jr.
In this scenario, the Jets don’t take Reese at No. 2, instead going the David Bailey route. While Reese should be the team’s pick, Bailey isn’t an atrocious pick by any measure; he just isn’t worthy of the No. 2 selection in a typical draft.
He led the FBS with 14.5 sacks last season and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top FBS edge rusher. The real issue, though, lies in his run defense. He is not expected to be a three-down player in his rookie season and is slated to turn 23 before Week 1; there is no guarantee his game will develop in that role, much like the Jets’ Will McDonald.
At No. 16, the Jets stay pat and take Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana. With experience both as an X and Y receiver, he offers versatility right out of the gate for a Jets team that is in desperate need of pass-catching help. The Jets held Cooper Jr. for a top 30 visit, and ESPN’s Jordan Reid reported the team is “extremely high” on the Indiana product.
In no world is this a perfect situation for the Jets, but it certainly fits smoothly into the “solid” tier, leaving the first round with a high-end pass rusher and viable WR2.
Meh: David Bailey, Denzel Boston
Here, after taking Bailey at No. 2, the top wide receivers are off the board. New York doesn’t get a deal done, moves up, and ends up settling for Washington’s Denzel Boston.
Ranked No. 25 on Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, selecting Boston, who posted 881 yards and 11 touchdowns on 62 receptions in 2025, would be considered a reach at No. 16. While he posted an impressive 76.9% contested catch rate last season at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, he lacks high-end acceleration and long speed, and he often relied on his physicality in contested catch situations, which makes it harder for him to separate when facing press coverage.
This is a “meh, whatever,” type scenario, where the team bypasses Reese and then lands a polarizing WR2 who is not in the consensus top tier among wide receivers in this year’s class.
Horrific: David Bailey, Olaivavega Ioane
This is the type of Round 1 haul that fans should be furious at. Not only does the team select Bailey over Reese, but they leave the round without an elite pass catcher, which must be a necessity for the team.
While Olaivavega Ioane is worthy of a first-round selection, value is everything. The Jets should look to add up front throughout the draft, but it is not a current need on their depth chart and doesn’t warrant a first-round pick.
There is no excuse for the Jets to leave Round 1 without a wide receiver. To bypass one to take an offensive lineman, regardless of their caliber, is blasphemy given the state of the team’s depth chart.
