New York Jets Upcoming 2026 Draft Picks (8)
David Bailey is the right pick. He is a proven edge rusher, while Arvell Reese is a one-year starter who happens to be a project because he has no natural position. Bailey will give the Jets a good chance to rattle Josh Allen and Drake Maye.
Multi-tight end formations have been en vogue lately, so this pick makes sense despite the Jets having a talented tight end in Mason Taylor. Kenyon Sadiq figures to be a great weapon for the Jets, who are starved for play-makers outside of Garrett Wilson. Arch Manning has to love this selection because he’s currently slotted to the Jets in our 2027 NFL Mock Draft.
The Jets are giving Arch Manning quite the arsenal, selecting Omar Cooper after getting Kenyon Sadiq. They were starved for offensive firepower, and they may now have plenty of it. Cooper should be a big upgrade across from Garrett Wilson, and he provides with plenty of value because he easily could have gotten him in the 16-21 range.
D’Angelo Ponds has size issues, but if it wasn’t for those, he would’ve been a first-round pick. He was terrific at Indiana and has a good chance of being a big upgrade for a Jets secondary that lost Sauce Gardner.
Darrell Jackson is a big nose tackle who can offer a bit of pass-rushing upside, and I thought there was a chance he’d go in the third round. This is a solid pick by the Jets, who have had issues stopping the run for a long time.
The Jets were screwed when Dante Moore decided to go back to college. They now have to tank for Arch Manning, but Cade Klubnik is a fine option here in case he ends up being a steal. I'm neutral on him, as he's accurate but doesn't have a strong arm.
Anez Cooper is strong at the point of attack. He's a stout run blocker. The Jets needed guard help entering the 2026 NFL Draft, and they found a solid prospect whom I mocked a round earlier.
V.J. Payne is a big safety who possesses great strength and some ability to play deep free safety. This has been a troubled position for a while, so the Jets did well to secure a prospect who could have gone earlier. I had Payne slotted near the end of Round 5.
Walt's Mock Selections as of 4/23/2026 - View Current Mock Draft
Round: 1
Arvell Reese was the favorite to go to the Jets for a while, but I saw it as 51-49 since the combine. Reese had the better combine performance, but David Bailey also performed on a high level. I switched to Bailey after that after hearing some reports, but now I'm going back to Reese because of the canceled top-30 visit. What strikes me as significant is that this new Jets regime hasn't met with their previous three top-30 visits, as they've become much more tight-lipped. They canceled the Bailey visit, but they at least had one. They didn't even schedule one for Reese, so that might hint that he's the pick. Regardless, defensive help is obviously needed everywhere on a stop unit ranked 29th in EPA. Bailey is now the pick here in this mock draft, but Reese is still a possibility. David Bailey is a fast edge rusher with great potential. I can't imagine slotting Bailey later than No. 4 in this mock draft. He could end up going No. 2 or 3. *** OTHER 2026 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: *** 1. Avell Reese, DE/OLB - The Jets canceled their top-30 visit with Bailey. Adam Schefter seemed to hint that this was a positive. If it wasn't, Reese will be the pick. Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Round: 1
This new pick for the Jets could be anything. It could even be Sauce Gardner. Receiver is a logical approach as well, but guard can't be discounted. This would be three consecutive first-round linemen for the Jets, but the interior blocking is poor and must be addressed. Vega Ioane is an explosive guard with a nasty streak. *** OTHER 2026 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: *** 1. Makai Lemon, WR - Unless the Jets were turned off by Lemon's combine interview, they'll be interested in taking him at No. 16. 2. Jermod McCoy, CB - The Jets may draft the top cornerback on the board if they are OK with the knee. Pick change; previously Makai Lemon, WR Go to 2026 NFL Mock Draft by Charlie Campbell Go to 2027 NFL Mock Draft by Walter Cherepinsky
Round: 2
The Jets lost Sauce Gardner, so they'll need to find a replacement for him with one of their earlier picks. Jermod McCoy is an instinctive cornerback who tackles well, but is coming off a torn ACL. There's growing concern about his health that could boot him out of the first round. Follow @walterfootball for updates. Also, if you haven't visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we've finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look. Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it. It's $7.99 per month, but you'll get a super-fast site with no ads. My developer will be adding new features to paid subscribers as well, so look for that in the near future. If you don't want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help!
Round: 2
The Jets really miss Quinnen Williams, so here's a potential replacement. The Jets added some defensive line talent in free agency, but not enough. Christen Miller has talent, but hasn't been able to put it together on the field yet. Pick change; previously Emmanuel Pregnon, G
Round: 4
The Jets lost out on Dante Moore, so they'll be looking for a young quarterback in Rounds 2-4. Drew Allar has a huge arm and a large frame, and he knows how to apply touch and throwing angles. Pick change; previously Jake Golday, LB
Round: 4
The Jets are set at tackle, but need some help in the interior of the offensive line. Beau Stephens was a mauler in the running game for Iowa. Go to 2026 NFL Mock Draft by Charlie Campbell Go to 2027 NFL Mock Draft by Walter Cherepinsky
Round: 5
The Jets could use another defensive lineman for depth purposes. Deven Eastern has a massive frame and can play in both the 4-3 and 3-4. He had 2.5 sacks last year. Pick change; previously George Gumbs Jr., OLB
Round: 7
The Jets are expected to draft multiple linebackers, given that Demario Davis is nearing the end of his career. Khalil Jacobs is a speedy linebacker who will likely be a core special-teamer.
Round: 7
The Jets can't have enough quality pass rushers to vanquish Drake Maye and Josh Allen. Cian Stone is an explosive but raw edge rusher.
Past Grades and Selections
2025 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A+ I have to grade this as an A+. I mentioned that Trent Williams and Tristan Wirfs were the only offensive linemen in the same athletic category as Will Campbell. That also applies to Armand Membou, expect Membou has longer arms and a wider wingspan than Campbell. The Jets can start Membou at right tackle and eventually move him to the blind side if Olu Fashanu doesn’t pan out. Either way though, the Jets have a bookend of tackles for the next 3-4 years.
A- The Jets had just one viable receiving threat in Garrett Wilson after losing Davante Adams. They needed another wide receiver or a tight end, and they opted for the latter, who is arguably the best player available among the two positions. This is a good pick, and as a bonus, the Jets get to obtain a former rival’s son, which is fun.
A+ The Jets lost a starting cornerback in free agency, so they had to find a replacement. Azareye’h Thomas is a very tall cornerback who covered at a high level in school, and he has the stamp of approval from Aaron Glenn, which has to count for something. I had him in the first or second round the entire time, so I love the value.
B The Jets were lacking downfield play-making talent outside of Garrett Wilson, so they had to draft a receiver at some point. If you’re talking about downfield play-making, Arian Smith fits that description with his great speed and upside. Smith could have easily gone a round earlier with no complaints.
A- Malachi Moore improved steadily throughout his collegiate career after disappointing early. If the upward trend continues, Moore could end up starting for the Jets, who have had safety issues for quite some time.
B+ Francisco Mauigoa was a productive player at Miami who ended up testing well at the combine. The Jets needed to improve their pass rush, and Mauigoa makes sense in the middle of the fifth frame.
B+ I had Tyler Baron going around this area, so he fits the range. It also makes sense that the Jets would draft him, given that they need as many pass rushers as possible to take down Josh Allen.
2024 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
C I don't hate this pick, but it's underwhelming because the Jets still don't have any downfield play-makers outside of Garrett Wilson. Also, the Jets signed Tyron Smith, so will Olu Fashanu even be able to get onto the field as a rookie? Given that the Jets are all-in to win now, that's an important question. This is a good pick for the long haul, but the Jets needed an impact player for 2024.
A The Jets had to draft a receiver, especially after relinquishing resources after trading up. They didn't have any downfield play-makers outside of Garrett Wilson, but now they potentially do with Malachi Corley, a second-round prospect who has drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel. If you haven't visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we've finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look. Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it at the top. It's $7.99 per month, but you'll get a super-fast site with no ads. If you don't want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help! Follow @walterfootball for updates. Also, if you'd like to support the site, check out my book! It's available on Amazon, and it's called A Safety and a Field Goal. Take a look:
You can buy it here. It has some NFL Draft-related topics, so like I said, if you want to support the site, this is a great way to do it!
B The Jets needed a backup running back, given that Breece Hall isn't too far removed from his torn ACL. Braelon Allen should complement Hall well, as Allen is a huge back who can also catch passes well.
B Johnny Wilson was seen as a third- or a fourth-round prospect, so some will argue that this is a steal. However, others will argue that Wilson doesn't have a natural position in the NFL, given that he can't separate enough to be a receiver, and he's too small to be a tight end. Perhaps Wilson will find a home in the NFL.
B I hate early kicker picks, but taking one in the sixth round is fine. Will Reichard was our top-rated kicker, for what it's worth, and the Vikings had to fill this need.
B Not a bad Mr. Irrelevant pick. Jaylen Key is a big safety, but is a bit slow. Still, he was projected as a seventh-round pick, so he made sense as the final pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Thank you so much for everyone who followed the grades. We'll have team grades posted Saturday night and all throughout Sunday, and we'll have an updated 2025 NFL Mock Draft after that.
2023 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
D Wow, what a reach! The Jets wanted Darnell Wright, Peter Skoronski, and Broderick Jones, and all of them went off the board at 10, 11, and 14, respectively. The poor Jets then had to panic and go for Will McDonald, who was widely considered a second-round prospect. I like McDonald, and getting a pass rusher seems significant in the passing-stacked AFC, so I'm not going to fail the Jets. However, the Jets should have been able to trade down 10-15 spots. They could have gotten McDonald in the 20s.
A The Jets finally get their offensive lineman. They missed out on all the tackles in the opening round, but they still obtained a prospect who could have been chosen at the end of the opening frame. Joe Tippman can play center and guard, so he'll be extremely helpful in a potential Super Bowl run. Aaron Rodgers has to be happy about this.
NUTS MILLEN Not only did the Patriots waste a fourth-round pick on a kicker; they traded up for one! This is a Millen grade, through and through. Kickers should be chosen in the late rounds, and no one should ever trade up for one.
C Jahmyr Gibbs was the Jets' Plan D in the first round, as there are some major concerns with Breece Hall's knee injury. The Jets eventually got their runner, but Israel Abanikanda is an underwhelming, late-round prospect.
B The Raiders snatched a Georgia player away from the Eagles. Christopher Smith was very productive at Georgia, but possesses limited athleticism and upside. Still, he could emerge as a starter down the road.
2022 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
A- Grade
A team told me they were convinced Garrett Wilson would go in the top eight. This isn't incredible value, but it's certainly very good value. It could be argued that Wilson is the top receiver in this class, and the Jets needed to do everything in their power to make sure Zach Wilson has as much help as possible.
A+ Grade - A+ Grade
What is this, my Backward Mock Draft? How did Jermaine Johnson fall this far? There were some reports out there that Jets were considering Johnson at No. 4 - incorrect, but still - and yet they were able to land him at No. 26, which is insane. Johnson is a top 10-caliber player and fills a huge need. He has character concerns, but there was just way too much value to pass on him after moving up. This is an A+ grade.
A Grade
The Jets are having a terrific draft. They had a need at running back, as Michael Carter can't be a full-time back. Breece Hall will be a terrific weapon for Zach Wilson, both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. The Jets traded up for him, but had to do so because the Texans easily could've chosen Hall.
C Grade
The Jets added C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin this offseason, so I'm not sure why they needed to spend a significant draft choice on Jeremy Ruckert. The Ohio State product belongs in this range or a bit later, so I don't hate this pick, but I would've liked to have seen Joe Douglas address one of his many other needs.
B+ Grade
Max Mitchell is a solid tackle prospect I've had in the fourth round of my mock drafts on a consistent basis. With the Jets having issues with Mekhi Becton - he reportedly weighed in at 400 pounds recently - it would make sense for them to obtain some insurance.
B+ Grade
I like this gamble for the Jets, and I'm not surprised Joe Douglas made this pick. Micheal Clemons is a bit of a raw player, but has high upside. He could easily fizzle out, or he could become a solid edge rusher for the Jets. New York needs as many pass rushers as it could get.
2021 NFL Draft Selections and Grades
B Grade
Zach Wilson has been locked into the Jets for quite some time, but that doesn't mean that this grade is a slam-dunk A+ like the Jaguars' selection of Trevor Lawrence. There's a ton to like about Wilson, given that he's such a great talent with immense upside. However, Wilson is a one-year wonder and doesn't have much experience against top-level competition. Some people in the NFL also questioned Wilson's character. From the outside looking in, I may have preferred Justin Fields, but the Jets are probably getting a winner in Wilson.
C Grade
I'm torn on this pick. On one hand, the Jets gave up a pair of third-round picks to move up for a guard. On the other hand, as I wrote above, I'm all for teams strengthening the offensive line for a young quarterback. Protecting Zach Wilson is paramount, but couldn't the Jets have obtained a solid offensive lineman at No. 23? Guards can be found all over the draft, so giving up many resources for one doesn't seem like a great decision.
B Grade
How can you not like this value for the Vikings? I thought Christian Darrisaw would be their pick at No. 14 if Rashawn Slater happened to be off the board. He's long and athletic, which is exactly what Minnesota looks for from its offensive linemen. However, several teams told us that there's "something missing with Darrisaw." Some teams think he lacks toughness, which would worry me. Still, this is a good value selection.
B Grade
I've had Elijah Moore in the third round for a while, but moved him up late in the process. I still think this is a bit high for him, as Moore will be limited to the slot. It's a bit of an odd fit for the Jets, but there's no doubt that the Jets needed help at receiver, with their top player at the position being the underwhelming and inconsistent Corey Davis.
B+ Grade
Kellen Mond's accruacy is a concern, but he's a strong-armed quarterback with plenty of upside. Kirk Cousins is overrated and overpaid, so he doesn't seem like he can consistently lead the Vikings deep into the playoffs. The Vikings will be hoping that Mond can overtake him in 2022, which will allow Minnesota to get out of Cousins' albatross of a contract.
B+ Grade
The Vikings are doing a good job of bolstering their offensive line, which is something they sorely needed to do. Wyatt Davis has some trouble with interior speed rushes, but he's a powerful blocker who will blast open huge running lanes for Dalvin Cook. I had Wyatt Davis at the end of the second round, so I like this value.
A Grade
The Jets had absolutely nothing at running back entering the draft, unless you count Tevin Coleman, which I don't. Michael Carter was excellent in the Senior Bowl, so I thought there was a chance he could sneak into Day 2. This is great value.
D Grade
Jamal Adams is gone, but Jamien Sherwood is probably not going to be the guy to replace him. Sherwood is a bad athlete, and it could be argued that he may have to move to linebacker. I didn't have him as a draftable prospect.
D Grade
Did the Jets just become the first team to draft two players with the same name in the same draft? That fact is more interesting than this prospect. Michael Carter is not a very good athlete, and I didn't have him in any of my mock drafts. The Jets have made some dubious defensive back picks lately.
A Grade
How many defensive backs are the Jets going to draft on Day 3? I don't blame them for making this pick though. Hamsah Nasirildeen is someone who was a constant presence in the third round of my mock draft, but that changed late when we learned that one team flunked his medical. The sixth round is a great time to take a chance on him, however.
A+ Grade
This is the steal of the draft. I don't know if Trey Smith will be able to play much in the NFL, but if he does, he could be an All-Pro. If Trey Smith didn't have injury concerns, he would've been a top-10 pick in this draft. Unfortunately, major injuries derailed his career. However, there's always a chance he could recover, so I like the Chiefs shooting for the stars with this selection.
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