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The New York Jets aren’t just rebuilding but excavating. After a season that managed to be historically bleak even by franchise standards, the 2026 NFL Draft represents more than talent acquisition. It’s an attempt to restore credibility and long-term direction. According to the PFF mock draft simulator, the Jets’ approach is blunt but intentional. They will rebuild the spine of the roster first, especially on defense, and worry about stylistic cohesion later. For a team coming off one of the most alarming seasons in modern NFL history, restraint may actually be the boldest move.
The Jets closed the 2025 season at 3-14. They secured the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and extended the league’s longest active playoff drought to 15 consecutive years. That alone would sting. However, the details make it worse. The Jets became the first team since 1933 to finish a season without recording a single interception. They also forced a league-low four total turnovers. In an era built on takeaways and hidden possessions, New York was functionally toothless.
Year one under head coach Aaron Glenn unraveled quickly. Midseason trades of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams stripped the defense of its foundational pieces. The Jets limped home on a five-game losing streak. They suffered multiple blowout losses by an average margin north of 20 points. What remained was a roster without pillars.
Holding the No. 2 overall pick, New York enters the draft with needs everywhere and answers nowhere. The defense must be rebuilt almost from scratch after the Gardner and Williams trades. Cornerback and defensive line are urgent priorities, not luxuries.
Offensively, the Jets are no better off. The offensive line struggled to protect consistently. The lack of dynamic playmakers at wide receiver and running back left the unit predictable and inefficient. Sure, quarterback remains a looming question. However, this draft, at least in the PFF simulation, suggests the Jets prioritize infrastructure and impact defenders before chasing a savior under center.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Jets’ 3-round mock draft based on the PFF 2026 NFL mock draft simulator.
With the second overall pick, the Jets select Arvell Reese. He is a rare physical specimen whose versatility instantly upgrades multiple areas of the defense. Reese brings elite size, speed, and strength. He also allows defensive coordinators to deploy him creatively. Reese can function as an interior linebacker in a 3–4, roam as a WILL in a 4–3, or rush the passer from sub-package looks.
What separates Reese is not just athleticism, but flexibility. He can match up in space, blitz effectively, and hold his ground at the point of attack. With that, Reese becomes a movable chess piece. He is someone Glenn can build weekly game plans around. This isn’t a flashy pick, but it’s foundational.
Later in the first round, New York stays in...
