The opening act of the 2026 NFL Draft will feature the New York Jets taking the field on Thursday night, where they will decide who becomes the next cornerstone of their pass‑rushing unit. Assuming the draft proceeds without any unexpected twists, the Las Vegas Raiders are projected to select Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, as he is widely regarded as the top quarterback prospect in this class. The real intrigue for the Jets, however, begins with the second overall selection.
The organization is torn between two highly touted edge rushers: Arvell Reese and David Bailey. Both athletes have generated considerable buzz, and the decision will shape the trajectory of the Jets' defense for years to come. Adding another layer of uncertainty is the situation at the third overall slot, where the identity of the player the Jets might land remains a mystery. Senior advisor Rick Spielman painted a picture of a win‑win scenario for New York as they look to reverse their fortunes on the field next season.
"Everyone knows Mendoza is practically a lock at number one unless something truly crazy happens, and I don’t anticipate that," Spielman told Sky Sports. "But the number two pick is where we will control the rest of the draft." He continued, "We’ve narrowed it down to the two pass‑rushers – David Bailey and Arvell Reese – and I’m confident that by the time our clock starts Thursday, we’ll have made a decision.
Right now we’re just ironing out a few final details, crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s. Darren Mougey, our general manager, will be ready, and whichever direction we go, we’ll end up with a top‑tier football player." Spielman’s résumé includes a stint as the general manager of the Miami Dolphins in 2004 and a decade‑long tenure with the Minnesota Vikings from 2012 to 2022. Despite the fog of speculation that often surrounds draft night, he insists the Jets have a clear plan and will reveal it when the clock starts ticking. "Everything is basically settled with the players; we’re just waiting now," he said.
"On Thursday, Coach Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey will meet with the ownership group one last time to lock in the direction we’re taking. As they say in the UK, ‘the hay’s in the barn.’ The final decision will be made with the owner Thursday night, and we’ll be ready to pull the trigger as soon as the clock starts." The early weeks of the draft have already seen some movement, most notably Dexter Lawrence’s trade from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals, which shook up the draft board. Spielman anticipates more activity, especially as six teams enter the first round with multiple selections. "I’ve been speaking with Darren Mougey, and a few teams have expressed interest in moving up to the number two spot," Spielman noted.
"When I was a top‑10 pick, I got countless calls on Thursday. I even completed a trade around two o’clock that day.
Everyone is on the phone, trying to position themselves." Jeff Reinebold of Sky Sports NFL weighed in on the depth of this year’s edge‑rusher class, calling it the deepest he has ever seen. He highlighted both Bailey and Reese as the premier talents at the position.
"David Bailey is a dynamic edge rusher who makes his money by getting to the quarterback. He’s not a run‑stop specialist, but his pass‑rush skill set is unmatched in this draft," Reinebold said on the Inside the Huddle podcast. "Reese, on the other hand, is a hybrid player. He can line up as an edge, an off‑ball linebacker, or a blend of both." Reinebold also pointed out the advantage Ohio State players enjoy because of their exposure to NFL‑style coaching.
"Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs all came out of Ohio State, where they were coached by Matt Patricia—a former NFL defensive coordinator and head coach. The Patriots‑style defense they learned there prepares them for the complexities of the professional game." For Jets fans, the decision between Reese and Bailey is more than a simple choice between two athletes; it reflects the franchise’s broader strategy. Selecting a pure pass rusher like Bailey could accelerate the team’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, a critical factor in modern NFL defenses.
Conversely, opting for the versatile Reese could provide the Jets with a player capable of filling multiple roles, offering flexibility in defensive scheming and special‑teams contributions. The draft’s first day will unfold live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning in the early hours of Friday morning.
As the clock winds down on Thursday night, all eyes will be on the Jets’ front office, waiting to see which of these two promising edge rushers will don the green and white and become the next cornerstone of New York’s defense.