After the NFL Draft, the Jets Finally Have a Plan on Both Sides

The Jets would address the need for a wide receiver to put next to Garrett Wilson by trading back into the first round for Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. Cooper Jr. was the leading receiver for the national championship-winning Hoosiers.

The 6-foot-0 receiver thrived in RAC situations as well as showed the ability to win in one-on-one situations. He will have flexibility when it comes to his positioning in formations. The 22-year-old lined up primarily in the slot but can work on the outside as well.

Ultimately, both Sadiq and Cooper Jr. should help elevate New York’s passing offense, which ranked dead-last in 2025.

Non-Pass Catching Depth on Day 3

The Jets then waited until the fourth round to take another offensive player, trading up for Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik. While Klubnik had a late-round prospect grade come the draft, scouts projected him as a first-rounder at the beginning of 2025.

Klubnik fits the mold of Frank Reich QBs. If the former Tiger adapts to the NFL better after a full college career, he could be the answer at QB the Jets need. Klubnik will likely get a chance to play in 2026, even though he will not be the starter to begin the season. If Geno Smith and Bailey Zappe are not getting the job done, Klubnik will get his opportunity to stop the Jets going QB in 2027.

The Jets finished their offensive haul by taking Anez Cooper, a guard from Miami. The Jets traded up 11 spots to get Cooper in the sixth round. Cooper will serve as depth on an interior offensive line that lost Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson over the offseason.

While not super athletic, Cooper was a part of one of the best offensive lines in the nation with Miami. He played next to Francis Mauigoa, who was the 10th pick in the draft this year. Cooper also did not allow any sacks last year over 16 games played.

The former Hurricane won’t be slated as a starter, but he could be an integral depth piece for the Jets.

The Jets addressed needs on the offense throughout this draft. They obtained two weapons in the first round with Sadiq and Cooper Jr. who could make immediate impacts at the next level. They then finished up their offensive haul with two depth pieces that could end up paying off if they make the most of their opportunities.

Defense Wins Championships

The Jets started their 2026 draft by taking David Bailey, a defensive end from Texas Tech, with the second overall pick.

Whether the Jets took Bailey or Arvell Reese, they were going to be getting a project on the edge. Bailey ranked as the best pass rusher in this draft. He ranked third in the nation in sacks and first in pressures in 2025. While his play in the run game was subpar, his ability to get to the quarterback is undeniable. The Jets ranked 31st in sacks in 2025 and hope that the former Red Raider can bolster those numbers.

The Jets have a fan base that is tired of waiting for success and a coaching staff that can’t wait. The David Bailey pick shows that, while Arvell Reese was an intriguing prospect, they need someone who can make an impact in the pass rush now.

The Jets continued to address a lackluster defense by taking cornerback D’Angelo Ponds in the second round. Ponds was another member of the National Champion Indiana Hoosiers in 2025. While Ponds is undersized, his physicality allowed him to dominate against top receivers in the nation.

Ponds fits into what Aaron Glenn is looking to do with his secondary. Physical corners who can play man are exactly what Glenn wants and exactly what Ponds is. He will get a chance to play immediately in a secondary that finished 25th in passing defense in 2025.

Defensive Depth on Day 3

Darrell Jackson Jr. was the next defensive prospect to get his name called by the Jets. Selected in the 4th round, Jackson Jr. is a defensive tackle from Florida State who specializes in the run game. With the Jets switching to a 3-4 defense, Jackson Jr. will have an opportunity to clog up the middle of the line.

While the Jets are deep at the defensive tackle position, Jackson Jr. wasn’t taken to shore up the depth chart. His ability in the run game will give him a chance to hold a spot in early down situations.

The last pick in the draft for the Jets was safety VJ Payne from Kansas State. The Jets addressed the safety position through the offseason. This means Payne will likely be looking to get special teams reps early in his career.

Payne, however, is quite big for a safety at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds. This size will give him the ability to move around positionally. He can play either safety position as well as slot in at a linebacker spot. While Payne likely will not immediately secure a starting spot, his physical attributes make him a prospect that the Jets could mold as they’d like.

The Jets made eight picks in the 2026 Draft, and all of them have an ability to make an early impact.

With one of the worst rosters in the NFL after 2025, this draft was clearly an important one. The team, and fans alike, will hope that these new New York Jets will be names that they know and love for years to come.

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