The New York Jets enter the offseason with plenty of unanswered questions, but none looms larger than how they will use the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With multiple roster holes to address, the selection could shape the franchise’s direction moving forward.
NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY projects the Jets to use the pick on Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.
“Former first-round picks Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald underwhelmed in 2025. Johnson finished with three sacks in 14 games, McDonald had eight in 15 (half of them against the Browns), and the Jets totaled just 26 sacks as a team — second-fewest in the NFL,” wrote Hughes. “Bain gives them an every-down edge presence and allows Johnson and McDonald to rotate.”
Bain Jr. has been a consistent presence on the Hurricanes’ defensive front, generating steady pressure and recording 8.5 sacks during the 2025 season.
GettyBain Jr.
More on Bain Jr.
Bain Jr. is a highly regarded prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, ranking as the top defensive end and the No. 13 overall prospect on ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2026 big board.
“Bain is powerful and has really strong hands. He routinely gets the best of some very good offensive tackles, often with his dominant rip move, and he knows every trick in the book in getting home to the QB,” wrote Kiper Jr. “Bain also shows speed and bend off the edge, and he takes good angles. Plus, he can hold the edge against the run and get off blocks to chase down ball carriers. His tape is just filled with disruption.”
While Bain Jr.’s skill set consistently shows up on film, it is his effort level that stands out most to Kiper Jr.
“But even with all those A-level traits, it’s actually Bain’s hustle that really stands out to me. He never takes a play off and fires at the ball on every play,” wrote Kiper Jr.
In addition to his 8.5 sacks in 2025, Bain Jr. recorded 63 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 68 pressures, eight run stops, one interception, and one forced fumble across 15 games, per Kiper Jr.
GettyBain Jr. would help improve the Jets defensive front.
How Adding Bain Jr. Would Help
It is clear that addressing the defense will be a top priority for the Jets this offseason. New York fielded one of the league’s weakest defensive units, ranking 31st in scoring defense after allowing 29.6 points per game, according to Fox Sports.
One of the biggest factors behind the Jets’ defensive struggles during the 2025 campaign was their inability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks.
As Hughes pointed out, the Jets managed only 26 sacks during the regular season, a total that ranked 31st in the NFL.
Adding a prospect like Bain Jr. would directly address New York’s lack of a pass rush and could significantly strengthen the defense heading into the 2026 season.
GettyBain Jr. is the top DE prospect in the 2026 draft.
Jets Projected to Draft Top Defensive End in Insider’s Mock