After dealing with two weeks of begging from fans, the New York Jets’ official social media accounts have finally given in.
The jersey numbers for New York’s 2026 draft class have officially been revealed.
Per the Jets’ X/Twitter account, these are the initial jersey numbers that will be donned by the eight members of New York’s rookie class:
- EDGE David Bailey: No. 31
- TE Kenyon Sadiq: No. 16
- WR Omar Cooper Jr.: No. 83
- CB D’Angelo Ponds: No. 23
- DT Darrell Jackson Jr.: No. 78
- QB Cade Klubnik: No. 10
- G Anez Cooper: No. 72
- S VJ Payne: No. 34
Second overall pick David Bailey will retain the No. 31 jersey that he wore at Texas Tech. Those are the same digits worn by the Jets’ defensive first-round pick 32 years ago: their current head coach, Aaron Glenn, who rocked the 31 jersey during his eight-year run with the team from 1994-2001.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie is another successful Jets defender who wore No. 31.
Tight end Kenyon Sadiq will wear No. 16. He’ll stay in the teens after wearing No. 18 at Oregon; that number is currently owned by wide receiver/kick returner Isaiah Williams.
Sadiq is not the only player who will have to switch from his college number due to a kick returner. Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. cannot keep his No. 3 jersey from Indiana due to Kene Nwangwu, so he’ll be slapping an 8 in front of it. If he can be anywhere near as successful as the two best Jets receivers to wear No. 83, George Sauer and Santana Moss, New York’s front office will do backflips.
Second-round cornerback D’Angelo Ponds will wear No. 23, which was worn by rookie cornerback Azareye’h Thomas in 2025. Thomas is still listed as No. 23 on the Jets’ official website; presumably, he has undergone a number switch that has yet to be announced.
If Cade Klubnik emulates the last Jets quarterback to wear No. 10 in a regular season game, Chad Pennington, he will be a home run of a fourth-round selection. The bar is low to outperform the last Jets player to wear it, wide receiver Allen Lazard.
