Jets' pick at 2nd overall appears clearer after first wave of free agency

The New York Jets are a team that is trying to win. Entering the second season of the Aaron Glenn era, the seat is feeling warm after a disastrous 3-14 record in year one.

Glenn is taking matters into his own hands and will be doing what landed him this head coaching gig in the first place: calling defensive plays. After letting Steve Wilks run the show in 2025, the former Jets defensive back isn't taking any chances.

New York's free agency spending was focused primarily on its defense. They traded for defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and added veterans to supplement their front seven, including David Onyemata, Kingsley Enagbare, and Joseph Ossai.

But regardless of the signings made, the Jets still need to add some star power to their defense, given how much they lost in 2025. Could they do that with the No. 2 overall pick?

Jets need to find a star pass rusher with the 2nd overall pick

The Jets still need more help off the edge. They were 31st in the league in sacks last season, and traded away a former first-round pick in Jermaine Johnson this offseason. Will McDonald IV seems like a god player, but he's clearly not suited to be a three-down player, being mostly effective in obvious passing situations.

Ossai and Enagabre were fine additions in free agency, but both players are likely better off serving in rotational roles rather than full-time starters. There's a reason why some players make it to the open market.

Enter, the No. 2 overall pick. The Jets have been linked to just about all of the big-time pass rushers in the upcoming draft class. Ohio State's Arvell Reese, Texas Tech's David Bailey, and Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. are the headliners.

Reese arguably has the highest ceiling of the class. Despite playing mostly off the ball for most of his collegiate career, his pass-rush upside has been compared to that of Micah Parsons, who was a similar type of player at Penn State.

The Jets need to find a sure thing (or two) in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while Reese isn't guaranteed to be the game wrecker he's been billed to be, his athleticism and physical prowess will be hard to pass up.