Who Will New York Jets Draft at No. 2 Overall in 2026 NFL Draft?

The NFL Draft is just a few days away, and it’s a foregone conclusion that Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders.

But who goes No. 2 overall at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh?

That’s still up for some debate, as the New York Jets own the keys to when the draft actually begins. There’s been plenty of debate between Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey and Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese.

The Jets have plenty of needs, including a franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, after Mendoza, a quarterback doesn’t exist. That means the Jets are likely to get defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn a difference maker on defense.

On popular prediction market site, Kalshi, Reese is more likely to be the No. 2 overall selection as of Friday evening.

He’s 59% to be the No. 2 overall selection at 61¢. Bailey is 43% to be the No. 2 overall selection at 48¢. Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. is <1% – a true long shot.

There’s actually some debate here – and that favors Bailey, who is the less likely player to be selected by the Jets at No. 2 overall.

After a dominant first three seasons at Stanford, Bailey cemented his NFL Draft stock by showcasing his ability in 14 games at Texas Tech. He had career-highs in almost every category, finishing the season with 52 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. Of course, that was good enough for a consensus All-American.

Reese’s story is just as impressive – but much different.

As a true freshman, Reese appeared in just six games for the Buckeyes. In 2024, Reese played in 16 games for the national championship winning team, recording half a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss. In his final season, Reese exploded onto the scene at Ohio State. He had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He joined Bailey as a consensus All-American.

Most organizations would prefer Reese’s age, which is just 20 years old. Bailey isn’t a dinosaur at 22 years old, but extending Reese on his second contract before he’s 25 years old is very ideal. That maximizes the window for how great players can be in one organization.

They’re also similar in size – but Reese had some real naysayers at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis because of his unorthodox pass rushing style.

There’s plenty of reason to believe that Reese should be the No. 2 overall pick. But the value on Bailey makes sense, especially if the Jets don’t feel comfortable with drafting a player that could be perceived as a bit of a tweener.