It’s officially mock draft season for the New York Jets, baby.
On Tuesday, January 6, ESPN’s Jordan Reid released his latest mock draft. In that projection, he had the Jets selecting Oregon quarterback Dante Moore with the No. 2 overall pick.
With the Jets’ second first-round pick, which they acquired from the Indianapolis Colts, he predicted that they would select Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald with the No. 16 overall pick.
Reid’s Explanation for Pairing Moore and the Jets
“With five first-rounders over the next two drafts, the Jets have a prime opportunity to replenish a roster that lacks talent everywhere. The Justin Fields experiment didn’t go as planned, so the Jets could part ways with him this offseason. Moore would give them a smooth, poised operator who has the potential to be a high-end starter. He has yet to make his intentions known about declaring for the draft, but if Moore does come out, he would be drafted very high — and coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey could get their franchise signal-caller,” Reid wrote.
It is still unclear at this point if Moore will enter the 2026 NFL draft. Moore could declare for the NFL draft as early as January 14; however, if he is involved in the National Championship game, that deadline extends to January 23.
NBC Sports draft analyst Connor Rogers provided a Moore decision update this week.
“Of course, there is a world where Dante Moore doesn’t declare. We have seen all the noise around that. The last I have heard is that he doesn’t even know, like, it’s based on the playoff right now & then probably a little time period after it of figuring out what’s best for your future. Which needs to be discussed with the school, your representation, & your professional feedback from the league,” Rogers explained on the “NFL Stock Exchange” podcast.
‘Of course there is a world where Dante Moore doesn’t declare. We have seen all the noise around that. The last I have heard is that he doesn’t even know, like, it’s based on the playoff right
Jets Predicted to Add Some Much Needed Brutus Beefcake
“After dealing defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline, the Jets need to rebuild their defense from the inside out. McDonald would be a great start to those efforts. He’s a forceful run defender who constantly creates chaos for opposing offenses. His 7.8% run stop percentage was the second-highest rate of all FBS defensive linemen this season. McDonald can also be disruptive as a pass rusher (three sacks this season) and can push the interior of the pocket,” Reid wrote.
The Jets’ defense was terrible in 2025. It will go down as one of the worst defenses in the history of football. This unit needs a new playcaller and an overhaul talent-wise.
Gang Green has some interesting pieces on the defensive line. Jowon Briggs was a pleasant surprise. Harrison Phillips is a leader and a proven veteran. However, this team needs an infusion of youth and disruption.
McDonald is listed at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 326 pounds on the official Ohio State online roster sheet.
He has played three years with the Buckeyes. During that stretch, he has collected 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three pass deflections, three sacks, and 85 total tackles.
Jets Predicted to Acquire ‘Franchise Signal Caller’ and Quinnen Williams Replacement