The New York Jets knew they would need a long rebuild to get things back on track. Despite making a swing with Aaron Rodgers, things didn’t work out, and they’ve given Aaron Glenn a longer leash as the franchise’s new head coach.
In his first year, things didn’t go too well, and they are now selecting with the second overall pick. While hype around David Bailey continues to grow, the fan base is at least slightly disconnected from the consensus with its preference.
Why New York Jets Fans Want a Better Defense in the NFL Draft
Trying to make it work with Justin Fields, the Jets quickly realized their mistake. Instead, they had to alternate between Brady Cook and Tyrod Taylor at the signal-caller spot for a good chunk of the season.
Now, after trading Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs, they’ve brought in Geno Smith as a stopgap quarterback. With the second overall pick in a draft class that is dominated by one quarterback, it is unlikely that they walk away with their franchise star.
A ton of other positions where they need more depth have dominated the conversations around New York. Bailey, who’s earned his reputation as one of the best talents at the edge rusher spot, has been linked quite heavily to the pick.
However, on the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator, which allows fans to simulate and make selections for their team, fans’ focus hasn’t remained stuck on Bailey. Instead, most of the attention has focused on Arvell Reese.
The star linebacker is walking in as one of the best defensive prospects in the nation. He could have a ton of interest at virtually every spot in the draft and should be a top-10 pick at the very least.
Jets fans have been clamoring for him with the second overall pick, with an astounding 26.8% of selections linking Reese to New York. He isn’t the only one, though, who’s drawn attention from the fan base.
1) Makai Lemon, WR (8.8%)
Makai Lemon ranks as the second-best wide receiver prospect by PFSN and could be a legitimate top-10 pick. A spectacular career at USC saw him tally 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final year. Fans expect him to be a foundational piece for the offense as they wait for their franchise quarterback.
2) David Bailey, EDGE (6.1%)
The second-best edge rusher prospect, according to PFSN, David Bailey has been a focus of media consensus and the organization’s own activities. He isn’t far behind on the fans’ radar, either. At 6.1%, he ranks third on their list, and his activity on the edge could significantly impact their defense.
3) Olaivavega Ioane, G (5.2%)
Olaivavega Ioane projects as the best guard prospect in the entire class. While the offensive line isn’t the highest on the priority list for New York, fans saw what happened to Fields behind a porous offensive line last season. They hope to avoid a repeat of those problems.
4) Kenyon Sadiq, TE (4.9%)
A lethal threat at tight end, Kenyon Sadiq projects as a legitimate game-changing prospect. After the recent success of rookie tight ends like Brock Bowers, Colston Loveland, and Tyler Warren, the Jets could hit a home run and bring in a cornerstone piece to bolster the offense.
5) Omar Cooper Jr., WR (4.5%)
The Indiana offense was clicking on all cylinders last year. Omar Cooper Jr. played a big role in it, tallying over 900 receiving yards and an astounding 13 touchdowns in his final season with the Hoosiers.
An offense that was bottom-four on PFSN’s Offense Impact Metrics could use that type of productivity down the field.
6) Sonny Styles, LB (4.3%)
The highest-ranked linebacker in this year’s draft class, according to PFSN, Sonny Styles is a multi-positional threat. Starting his career at safety, he shifted to linebacker in 2024 and was an immediately dominant threat en route to a national championship. After another productive season, he walks in as an immediate candidate to lift the defense under Glenn.
7) Jordyn Tyson, WR (3.7%)
Another wide receiver threat, Jordyn Tyson, presents a case similar to Cooper’s and Lemon’s. However, his injury history could complicate matters, as he’s been devastated by ACL and MCL tears during his collegiate career, which have hurt his draft stock.
8) Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE (3.5%)
The best edge prospect in the entire draft class, according to PFSN, Rueben Bain Jr., possesses undeniable upside.
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While he is far from a finished product, he is already putting up incredible numbers and could be one of the best finds for Glenn as he works to fix his side of the football in New York.
9) Caleb Downs, S (3.4%)
The only thing that hurts Caleb Downs is his position, as he’s widely viewed as the top overall prospect in the draft class. However, he still has the potential to be a game-wrecking threat in the secondary and could immediately boost a New York unit that ranked second to last on PFSN’s Defense Impact Metrics.
