Two days ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, Jets general manager Darren Mousey kept his comments fairly vague during his pre-draft press conference.
He mainly focused on the Jets’ strategy for this year, which includes four picks within the top 44 selections.
There’s a strong consensus that the Jets are likely to choose between Ohio State’s Arbel Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey for the second overall pick. The debate revolves around their potential and past performance.
While Reese is considered one of the top prospects in this draft, he hasn’t played extensively as an edge rusher in college and will need to adapt to the NFL game.
On the other hand, Bailey recorded 14.5 sacks last year, yet some analysts argue his upside might not match that of Reese.
Amid the speculation about the Jets’ draft choices, some insiders noted that the Jets canceling a top-30 visit with Bailey could indicate they’re not interested in him. His contention is that he would want to utilize every opportunity to engage with his top pick.
Mousey dismissed those notions as overstated.
“I’ll say it in the top 30. Each team uses them differently,” he stated. “For us, once you get into the top 30, every player is unique.”
“At times, I want a player to meet with our player engagement team; other times, it’s about athletic performance or purely medical reasons. Sometimes it’s the recruitment angle, or perhaps even a smokescreen. In David’s case, I wanted him to connect with our player engagement department at the combine. We attended his pro day and shared a nice dinner. We’re just trying to figure out how best to use our visits. There might be adjustments on our end too.”
Discussion has arisen regarding whether the Jets should pursue Bailey, given that he may contribute more immediately as an edge rusher compared to Reese, especially after the Jets’ challenging 3-14 season under coach Aaron Glenn.
Mousey reiterated that the Jets constantly assess both short-term and long-term outcomes.
“We consider this for every player, whether they’re a first-round selection or a seventh-rounder,” he explained. “Properly projecting their value is key for us. We always evaluate the ceiling and floor of prospects, considering how they fit, what they can achieve, and their limitations.”
The Jets face a challenging decision at the No. 2 pick, primarily focused on securing a quarterback.
While it would have been ideal to secure a franchise quarterback this year, the Raiders are anticipated to pick Fernando Mendoza from Indiana State as the first overall selection, and Ty Simpson from Alabama, projected to go No. 2, may drop in the draft.
Unlike previous drafts where elite edge rushers like Aidan Hutchinson or Nick Bosa were available, the Jets find themselves weighing the selection between Reese and Bailey, both of whom have their uncertainties. However, Mousey mentioned he feels positive about the depth of this edge rusher class despite its perceived flaws.
“I’m satisfied with this draft class,” Mousey remarked. “The Edge group brings varied styles, offering different approaches. Overall, it’s a solid group.”
