Jets 2026 NFL Draft Primer: Needs, scenarios, and more
· Yahoo Sports
The NFL Draft is a day away. Finally. All that waiting and mocking and rumor-gathering is over. It’s time for the real thing.
The Jets have nine selections over the three days, including four picks within the first 44. This roster is in dire need of talent. This is a big opportunity to add it.
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Things officially begin Thursday at 8 p.m.
Here’s everything you need to know before.
Updated salary cap situation
The Jets currently have $39.55 million in salary cap space, according to OverTheCap.com. Their effective cap, which takes into consideration the money needed to pay their draft class, is roughly $23.621 million.
That’s an extremely healthy situation for the Jets. Impressive, too, considering the $111.246 million in dead money charges. Expect New York to get back to working on a contract extension for running back Breece Hall (currently on the franchise tag) after the draft. That’s a priority for the team.
There was optimism that the two sides were close before the tag deadline. Ultimately, that proved not to be the case. The three-year, $43.05 million deal Kenneth Walker signed with the Seahawks is likely the realm Hall would like to be in, too.
Current starters
Offense
Geno Smith (QB), Breece Hall (RB), Braelon Allen (RB), Garrett Wilson (WR), AD Mitchell (WR), Isaiah Williams (WR), Mason Taylor (TE), Olu Fashanu (LT), Dylan Parham (LG), Josh Myers (C), Joe Tippmann (RG), Armand Membou (RT)
Defense
Joseph Ossai (EDGE), T’Vondre Sweat (DL), Harrison Phillips (DL), Will McDonald (EDGE), Demario Davis (LB), Mykal Walker (LB), AZ Thomas (CB), Andre Cisco (S), Minkah Fitzpatrick (S), Brandon Stephens (CB), Jarvis Brownlee (CB)
Special teams
Cade York (K), Austin McNamara (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS), Isaiah Williams (RET)
2026 draft picks
First round (No. 2), first round (No. 16), second round (No. 33), second round (No. 44), fourth round (No. 103), fourth round (No. 140), fifth round (No. 179), seventh round (No. 228), seventh round (No. 242).
The last draft class
OT Armand Membou (first round, No. 7), TE Mason Taylor(second round, No. 42), CB AZ Thomas (third round, No. 73), WR Arian Smith (fourth round, No. 110), S Malachi Moore (fourth round, No. 130), LB Francisco Mauigoa (fifth round, No. 162), DE Tyler Baron (fifth round, No. 176)
Best-case scenario
It’s not so much about what the Jets do second overall. They have their pick of whoever they want, with the Raiders locked in on quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Things get a bit more complicated at No. 16.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy would have been a nice player there, but his knee injury has him plummeting down draft boards with some teams, per sources, having him off theirs entirely. Look for New York to target either a receiver or an interior offensive lineman.
Jordyn Tyson is believed to be the top wideout on their (and just about every team’s) board. Teams have varying degrees of concern with his injury history, though. Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn will be on the edges of their seats starting at pick No. 7.
If the Commanders go with corner Mansoor Delane, the Saints trade their pick to the Cowboys, who select linebacker Sonny Styles, which opens a window for the Jets to trade up themselves with the Chiefs. They could jump the Giants (No. 10) for Tyson.
If they’re just as nervous about Tyson, hope Kansas takes an offensive tackle and the Giants select the wideout. That almost assures New York one of Vega Ioane (Penn State guard), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama tackle with guard flex), Francis Mauigoa (Miami tackle with guard flex) or Carnell Tate (Ohio State wideout) is there for them.
Worst-case scenario
Big picture: They pick the wrong player out of Arvell Reese or David Bailey. People could lose jobs if they swing and miss while the other balls out with his new team. You can make that statement just about any year when picking this early.
Specifically on draft night, it again goes back to that Commanders pick. If Washington goes with Tyson, looking for Terry McLaurin’s eventual replacement, it could set off a chain of less-than-ideal situations for New York. Tate might suddenly go earlier than expected, a run on the offensive linemen.
A solid player should still be there at No. 16, but it might not be the one the team was hoping for.
Three biggest needs
1. A difference maker on defense
Writing out the list of the Jets starters illustrates how dire things look on that side of the ball. The blowouts to end the season (first since the merger to lose five straight by 23 or more) and zero interceptions all year are the insult stats most go to, but the Jets allowed an average of 355.6 yards per game (25th) and 29.6 points (31st). That’s so bad.
They did a solid job in free agency of adding NFL-caliber players. They had dudes named Samuel Womack and Keidron Smith starting at the end of last season. But their defense still lacks guys who actually change games. You need those, a few, actually, to legitimately compete.
They must find their first at No. 2.
2. Receiver
The Jets are high on AD Mitchell, but he’s likely best as the third option in a passing attack. The Jets need to find their complement to Garrett Wilson. This class is a good one to do that.
Tyson is the top of the class, then Carnell Tate. The Jets will need to move up from No. 16 to get either. There really aren’t any other wideouts worthy of a selection that high.
If the Jets don’t come up from their second first-round pick, keep an eye on them trading back into the first round for someone like Denzel Boston. He fits the Frank Reich mold of a big-bodied pass catcher perfectly. He should be available in the late 20s.
3. Interior offensive linemen
The Jets are set at tackle with Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou. The interior poses far greater concerns. Myers wasn’t a disaster in 2025, but finished with a ProFootballFocus grade of 52.9 … the lowest of his career. Tippmann was solid at guard (66.6 mark) after replacing Alijah Vera-Tucker, but he’s still best suited at center. Parham is not a long-term answer.
There are other more pressing needs, but depending on how things fall in the first and second rounds, guard is something the Jets should consider. Build that wall so they can protect their franchise quarterback whenever they end up drafting him.
And the picks are …
Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State (No. 2); Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State (No. 9, trade up with Chiefs)