The New York Jets were one of the worst teams in football last year, finishing 29th in the league in offense and 30th in defense according to Sumer Sports’ EPA/play.
Heading into the offseason, head coach Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey have one job: make this team competitive and prove they deserve to be the decision makers to see this rebuild through.
Free agency comes first, of course, but the real team-building starts in April, when the Jets have three picks in the top 40 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
New York’s brass should be able to get their hands on a few difference makers with their premier picks, and in the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus, they do just that.
Jets Select Arvell Reese No. 2 Overall in Mock Draft
In a New York Jets-centric mock draft from PFF’s Josh Liskiewitz, he has New York selecting Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the No. 2 pick in the draft.
Reese, arguably the highest-rated defensive prospect in the upcoming draft class, would be a major injection of talent into a Jets defense that desperately needs it.
“Between subpar play and expiring contracts, the Jets need a difference-maker on the edge. Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said last season that when Glenn was in Detroit, he often emphasized that ‘you have to earn the right to rush the passer,’ and Reese’s run-defense production at Ohio State suggests he is willing to do just that,” wrote Liskiewitz.
“Reese graded positively on 13.9% of his run-defense snaps for the Buckeyes, recording 18 stops and just two missed tackles. While he was less productive as a pass rusher, he showed the ability to finish, tallying seven sacks on just 117 pass-rush snaps.”
While Reese isn’t the immediate pass-rushing threat that the Jets could use, his ability to stop the run is just as pressing a need for New York.
The Jets’ run defense was 28th-worst in the league in 2025, giving up an average of 139.5 yards per game to opposing teams.
Reese wouldn’t remedy those issues right away, but he would certainly be a good step in the right direction, giving Glenn and whoever the new defensive coordinator will be a blue-chip talent that New York desperately needs.
Jets Select Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss at No. 16
With their second selection of the first round, Liskiewitz projects the New York Jets to use the No. 16 pick on Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
Chambliss made a name for himself in the 2025 College Football Playoff, leading the Rebels to the semifinals with some phenomenal play.
“There could be room for a second signal-caller from Ole Miss at MetLife Stadium. The Ferris State transfer broke out for the Rebels in 2024, recording 29 big-time throws, which ranked third among draft-eligible quarterbacks. He also forced 19 missed tackles and scored eight rushing touchdowns,” continued Liskiewitz.
Now, the problem with projecting a Chambliss pick here is that he isn’t guaranteed to be on the board.
The Ole Miss quarterback is currently suing the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, and his desire is to return to college for one more year.
Depending on how the lawsuit shakes out, Chambliss could be an intriguing quarterback option for the Jets.
He has a lot of starting experience and has shown the ability to perform under pressure on numerous occasions throughout the playoffs.
Chambliss would probably need to sit and learn a bit before taking the reins, but he would still be the most exciting young Jets quarterback since Zach Wilson.
Jets Mock Draft Lands CFP Legend QB & Ohio State Star in First Round