One common theme among the New York Jets’ three selections on Night 1 of the 2026 NFL draft is that each player comes from a highly successful program.
David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. were each in the College Football Playoff last season and played integral roles in getting their teams there. Cooper Jr. helped Indiana to a national title.
Speaking to reporters after Thursday night’s selections, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn pointed to each player’s winning pedigree as a main force behind the team’s decisions.
“Here’s what’s also critical about those players: they come from winning programs,” said Glenn. “So, when you get the chance to bring that into your locker room, man, it speaks volumes. I mean Omar [Cooper Jr.], and we all saw him against Penn State when he made that game-winning catch. Man, you saw the things that Bailey did as far as the forced fumbles and things like that. You saw [Kenyon] Sadiq and his RAC, man. All of those guys have done something in their careers that either won the game or took over a game, and they come from winning programs, which was huge to get guys like that.”
When trying to establish a winning environment, it can never hurt to add players with experience winning in the college ranks. However, that isn’t the sole reason Gang Green selected who they did.
Bailey is an elite pass-rusher who led the FBS in sacks and pressures last season. Sadiq is a freakishly athletic tight end who can play in the slot and in-line, dominating both receiving and blocking. As for Cooper Jr., he can play both X and Y wide receiver positions while providing a reliable target for Geno Smith.
At the end of the day, the Jets added multiple players who can start right away, filled multiple areas of need, and still found guys with winning backgrounds, which is clearly a priority for the organization.
