Jets' pick at No. 16 may not be the dream scenario fans are hoping for

While the New York Jets are still trying to figure out if Arvell Reese or David Bailey is going to be the pick at No. 2 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, names like Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. remain in the mix for the No. 16 selection.

Cooper, whom the Jets have recently met with in the lead-up to the Draft, continues to gain steam as a possible draftee among those connected to the team.

Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic listed Cooper as the No. 1 target for the Jets at No. 16 overall, which came about as a result of him combining positional need, value, and the likelihood he will be there. In fact, four of Rosenblatt's top-five options are pass-catchers, which should help placate a fanbase that wants star power on offense.

Rosenblatt's second and third options were USC's Makai Lemon and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, both of whom have been popular mock draft selections for the Jets. The first non-receiver was dominant Penn State guard Vega Ioane, and the top five was rounded out with a tight end in Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq.

The Athletic says Omar Cooper Jr. is most likely Jets pick at No. 16

Cooper may be more appealing to some than Washington's Denzel Boston and Texas A&M's KC Concepcion, as his ability to make plays over the middle and with the ball in his hands can help him beat out a player with speed concerns in Boston and another with some serious drop concerns in Concepcion.

However, if either Lemon or Tyson is available at No. 16, it seems unlikely the Jets would pass on one of them to take Cooper. With Lemon reportedly interviewing poorly with some teams and Tyson's medical concerns scaring some away, there's a chance one of them escapes the Top 15.

Sadiq would be a tremendous tight end prospect, but there needs to be a solid plan in place to prevent any overlap with Mason Taylor. Ioane should be an instant starter at left guard who kicks Dylan Parham to center, but would it be wise for a Jets team lacking in so many areas to invest a first-round pick on the offensive line for three years in a row?

Cooper wearing Jets green in a few weeks is becoming a very real possibility, and while Lemon or Tyson may be the priority for this team, all signs point to the Hoosiers' breakout star being the favorite if those top targets are gone.

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