With the NFL Combine just around the corner, mock draft season is in full swing - and this year, there’s no shortage of intrigue when it comes to the New York Jets. For weeks, the consensus among draft analysts has been that Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is a lock to go No. 2 overall to the Jets. But not everyone is buying that narrative.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah just dropped his Mock Draft 2.0, and let’s just say he’s zagging where others are zigging. In a move that’s sure to shake up draft boards, Jeremiah has the Jets not taking Reese at No. 2 - in fact, he doesn’t have them taking him at all.
Instead, Jeremiah projects the Jets to select Texas Tech EDGE rusher David Bailey with their first pick. That’s right - Bailey, not Reese, is the name Jeremiah believes will be called when the Jets are on the clock. And if you’ve been following Jeremiah’s recent scouting notes, this move has been brewing.
“Finishing up the OT class and it seems like most of them have something in common - they got absolutely smoked by Texas Tech Edge David Bailey,” Jeremiah tweeted last week. That’s not just a throwaway line. It’s a scouting nugget that speaks volumes.
Bailey had a monster 2025 season, racking up 14.5 sacks and 81 total pressures. That kind of production isn’t just eye-popping - it’s predictive.
When it comes to edge rushers, college production is one of the strongest indicators of NFL success, and Bailey checks that box emphatically. He’s explosive off the edge, relentless in pursuit, and has the kind of motor that defensive coordinators dream about.
For a Jets team that’s looking to add juice to its pass rush, Bailey could be a game-changer.
But Jeremiah didn’t stop there. He also has the Jets making another splash later in the first round, selecting Penn State interior offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane at No. 16 overall. While some analysts have pegged USC wideout Makai Lemon to the Jets in this range, Jeremiah has Lemon off the board by pick No. 8, leaving the Jets to address another key area: the offensive line.
And make no mistake - this isn’t just a depth move. The Jets’ O-line was solid in 2025, but there were cracks in the foundation, particularly at left guard and center.
John Simpson, the starting left guard, is headed for free agency. Center Josh Myers may not return, and there’s a chance Joe Tippmann shifts back to his natural center spot after filling in at right guard due to injuries last season.
That leaves a clear opening on the interior, and Ioane looks like a plug-and-play solution. The redshirt junior didn’t allow a single sack or quarterback hit in 311 pass-blocking snaps last season - a testament to both his technique and consistency. He started 12 games at left guard, making him a natural fit for the Jets’ current need.
If the Jets do go with Bailey and Ioane, it would be a strong one-two punch: a disruptive edge rusher who can tilt the line of scrimmage on defense, and a steady, high-floor interior lineman who can help solidify the trenches on offense. It’s not the flashy linebacker pick many expected, but it’s the kind of draft that builds long-term stability on both sides of the ball.
Here’s how Jeremiah’s top 16 shook out:
- Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- New York Jets - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Arizona Cardinals - Francia Mauigoa, OT, Miami
- Tennessee Titans - Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
- New York Giants - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
- Cleveland Browns - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
- Washington Commanders - Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
- New Orleans Saints - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
- Kansas City Chiefs - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- Cincinnati Bengals - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
- Miami Dolphins - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
- Dallas Cowboys - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- Los Angeles Rams - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
- Baltimore Ravens - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- New York Jets - Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
So while the mock draft crowd may still be penciling in Arvell Reese at No. 2, Jeremiah’s latest projection offers a different - and arguably more nuanced - look at what the Jets might be thinking.
With Bailey and Ioane, the Jets would be addressing two foundational needs with high-upside players who’ve proven they can produce. It’s not the mock draft headline fans were expecting, but it might be the one that makes the most sense.