NFL draft odds: What will Jets do at No. 2?
The Jets currently hold the second pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they'll have their pick of the litter when it comes to players not named Fernando Mendoza.
The rebuilding, quarterback-needy Raiders have the first overall selection, and the Heisman-winning national champion is the best quarterback in the draft by a wide margin. Mendoza is -5000 on theScore Bet to hear his name called first (98% implied probability).
After Mendoza, the draft is wide-open. A slew of defensive players will be among the Jets' options at No. 2, and they could also trade the pick.
New York dealt pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Titans on Thursday for T'Vondre Sweat. That bolstered the interior of the Jets' defensive line while creating a hole they could elect to fill with a first-round edge rusher.
Ohio State's Arvell Reese and Texas Tech's David Bailey are considered the Jets' two options at edge rusher, and they're fittingly atop the oddsboard to be drafted second overall.
2nd overall pick odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Arvell Reese (LB) | -110 |
| David Bailey (EDGE) | +130 |
| Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE) | +500 |
| Caleb Downs (S) | +4000 |
| Sonny Styles (LB) | +4000 |
| Fernando Mendoza (QB) | +8000 |
👉 See all the NFL draft odds available at theScore Bet here (markets subject to availability)
Reese mostly played inside linebacker at Ohio State, but he logged plenty of snaps as an edge rusher, inspiring confidence he can make the jump at one of the NFL's most important positions. His versatility should appeal to the Jets, who are in desperate need of playmakers on defense.
Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. are more traditional defensive ends. Bailey led the country with 14.5 sacks last year, and Bain carried a stout Miami defense to the national championship game. Bain's measurables, mainly his arm length, are raising some concerns, but his tape speaks for itself.
Many people believe Caleb Downs is the best player in the entire draft, but he's being docked because he's a safety. The positional value of a safety is much lower than that of an elite pass-rusher, which is why Downs may slide. The last safety drafted with a top-10 pick was Jamal Adams in 2017 - selected, coincidentally, by the Jets.
Downs' Buckeyes teammate Sonny Styles is in a similar situation. He's a traditional off-ball linebacker - another position that isn't as desirable at the top of the draft - but his jaw-dropping numbers at the combine turned heads.
Sonny Styles is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 10.00 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1 out of 3215 LB from 1987 to 2026.
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) February 27, 2026
Splits projected, all times unofficial, agilities left, bench tmrw, but 10.00 RAS watch is officially on!… pic.twitter.com/f2JFhymsXH
Front offices may be just as impressed with Styles' combine as the internet was.
If the Jets keep their pick, they should land a game-changer on defense. And the teams picking after them that need defensive upgrades - the Cardinals (No. 3), Titans (No. 4), and Commanders (No. 7) - should all be pleased with whichever defensive player falls into their lap.
The 2026 NFL Draft gets underway April 23 in Pittsburgh.
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