The opening act of the 2026 NFL Draft will feature the New York Jets on Thursday night as they set their sights on securing a new cornerstone for their pass‑rush arsenal. Assuming no unexpected upheavals, the first overall selection is widely expected to go to the Las Vegas Raiders, who have their sights set on the class’s premier quarterback prospect, Fernando Mendoza. While the top pick garners most of the headlines, the real intrigue for the Jets lies with the second overall slot. The organization is weighing two elite edge rushers—Arvell Reese and David Bailey—and the decision they make will shape the rest of the draft board.
Jets senior advisor Rick Spielman painted the situation as a win‑win for the franchise, emphasizing that the direction they choose at No. 2 will effectively dictate the flow of the remaining selections. "Everyone knows Mendoza is going to be taken first unless something truly crazy happens, and I don’t expect that," Spielman told Sky Sports.
"The second pick is where we’ll exercise control over the rest of the draft. We’re looking at two top‑tier pass rushers—David Bailey and Arvell Reese—and by the time we hit the clock on Thursday, the choice will be locked in." Spielman, who previously served as general manager of the Miami Dolphins in 2004 and led the Minnesota Vikings from 2012 to 2022, added that the Jets are merely polishing off the final details. "We’re crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s," he said. "General manager Darren Mougey will be ready, and I’m confident that whichever path we take, we’ll end up with a great football player." The Jets’ decision‑making process appears to be well‑structured.
Spielman explained that on draft day, head coach Aaron Glenn and Mougey will meet with the ownership group one last time to confirm the direction. "As they say in the UK, the hay’s in the barn," he quipped, indicating that the plan is already set and only awaiting formal approval before the clock starts. The draft landscape has already seen a surprise with Dexter Lawrence’s trade from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals, signaling that teams are willing to make bold moves early in the first round. Spielman hinted that more activity could be on the horizon, noting that several clubs have expressed interest in moving up to the No.
2 spot. "When I was a top‑10 pick, I got a lot of calls on Thursday. I even made a trade around two o’clock that day.
Everyone is on the phone," he recalled, underscoring the frenetic atmosphere that typically surrounds the opening night. Analysts at Sky Sports NFL, including Jeff Reinebold, have praised the depth of this year’s edge‑rusher class, calling it the deepest they have ever seen. Reinebold highlighted both Bailey and Reese as the class’s premier talents. "David Bailey is a dynamic edge rusher who makes his money by getting to the quarterback.
He’s not a run stopper, but his pass‑rush skills are unmatched in this draft," he said on the Inside the Huddle podcast. "Arvell Reese, on the other hand, is a hybrid player—part edge, part off‑ball linebacker. His versatility makes him a unique weapon." Reinebold also pointed out the advantage that several top prospects, including Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs, have by coming out of Ohio State.
He noted that they have been coached by Matt Patricia, a former NFL defensive coordinator and head coach, who installed a Patriots‑style defensive scheme at the college level. "These guys have been trained in a system that mirrors the complexities of pro football defenses, so they’ll be more NFL‑ready than many of their peers," Reinebold explained.
For the Jets, the choice between Reese and Bailey hinges on how they envision their defensive identity moving forward. Bailey offers a pure, high‑velocity pass rush that can collapse a pocket in an instant, while Reese brings a blend of edge speed and linebacker coverage ability, potentially allowing him to line up in multiple positions and create mismatches. The decision will also affect the Jets’ later picks, as selecting one player may open up trade opportunities or force the team to adjust its strategy for the third overall slot, which remains uncertain.
In addition to the pass‑rush debate, the Jets are likely to consider the broader context of their roster construction. After a disappointing season, the organization is eager to inject elite talent on both sides of the ball. Securing a top‑tier edge rusher could provide an immediate boost to a defense that struggled to generate pressure, while also complementing any future moves at linebacker or secondary. Fans can follow the entire three‑day draft marathon live on Sky Sports, with Day One kicking off in the early hours of Friday morning (1 a.m.
local time). As the clock ticks down on Thursday night, all eyes will be on the Jets’ front office to see which of the two highly‑rated pass rushers they will bring home, and how that choice will ripple through the rest of the draft.