New ESPN mock draft has Jets taking former 5-star linebacker on Day 2

Ohio State Buckeyes edge rusher Arvell Reese isn’t the only All-American defender that ESPN’s Matt Miller believes the New York Jets will add in the 2026 NFL Draft, with Miller suggesting the Jets should also take Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.

In his March 30 mock draft, Miller projected the Jets would select Hill at No. 44, midway through the second round. A former 5-star recruit from Denton, Texas, Hill was a reliable three-year starter for the Longhorns and earned second-team All-American honors the last two seasons.

Although a hand injury ended his 2025 season early, Hill finished his Longhorns career with 31 1/2 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks, three interceptions, and eight forced fumbles.

“The Jets would continue to build a foundation with another rangy, talented front-seven defensive player,” Miller wrote.

Elsewhere in the second round, Miller predicted the Jets would select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 33.

Where would Anthony Hill Jr. fit into the New York Jets’ plans?

The Jets need talent at pretty much every position possible, and adding a dynamic linebacker like Hill would certainly help the defense. Opponents averaged 5.6 yards per play against the Jets last year, including 4.4 yards per carry.

Hill has repeatedly drawn rave reviews for his athleticism, and he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at last month’s NFL combine. NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein went so far as to compare Hill to Seattle Seahawks legend and likely future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Even if Hill doesn’t start as a rookie, he could replace longtime Saints standout Demario Davis by the beginning of 2027. Davis, who turned 37 in January, joined the Jets for a third stint earlier this offseason. However, Hill’s arrival would arguably further raise the questions about why the Jets guaranteed $15 million to an aging middle linebacker.

Alternatively, if the Jets prefer to have Hill play as more of an outside linebacker, he could challenge 2025 fifth-round pick Kiko Mauigoa for snaps.

The most important thing is that the Jets don’t waste Hill’s talent if they believe he’s truly capable of becoming the dynamic linebacker the organization lost upon releasing C.J. Mosley last year. A significant reason why the Jets have managed a single winning season since their 2010 AFC Conference Championship run is their continued failure to properly develop players on their rookie contracts.

Other potential Day 2 linebacker options could include Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez and Missouri’s Josiah Trotter, both of whom Miller has going later in the second round. Trotter’s father, Jeremiah, often played against Glenn in the NFC East; Jeremiah was a longtime Eagles linebacker, and Glenn played two seasons for the Cowboys.