NFL draft buzz suggests Jets’ No. 2 selection is all but decided

The closer the New York Jets get to the podium, the louder the whispers become. For weeks, the conversation surrounding the No. 2 overall pick at the 2026 NFL Draft has centered on two names.

In one corner is a polished, high-floor pass rusher, David Bailey. In the other is a versatile, high-upside linebacker in Arvell Reese. It has felt like a true coin flip, one that could go either way depending on the day and the voice delivering the opinion.

Hold those horses. That may be changing.

The Ringer's NFL draft analyst Todd McShay recently released what is expected to be his final mock draft, and while the full breakdown sits behind a paywall, one takeaway has already made its way into the public conversation. In his view, the Jets selecting David Bailey isn’t just likely. It’s a “foregone conclusion.”

That’s strong language this time of year, and it isn't standing alone. CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones didn’t go quite as to etch this one in stone, but he was pretty close to doing so. He offered a similar sentiment.

Jones agrees with McShay, dubs David Bailey as the expected Jets choice at No. 2 overall.

According to sources Jones has spoken with, the expectation across league circles is that the Jets will choose between Bailey and Arvell Reese, with Bailey increasingly viewed as the favorite. It’s not hard to understand why. Bailey’s appeal is rooted in what translates immediately. He’s a proven pass rusher with a defined skill set, someone who can step into the league and affect quarterbacks from Day 1.

For a team looking to establish identity and momentum under head coach Aaron Glenn, that kind of certainty carries weight. Still, nothing is official until it is. Draft week has a way of humbling “sure things,” and the Jets have been unpredictable before. Reese remains firmly in the conversation, and scenarios involving a surprise pivot can never be ruled out entirely.