After a woeful 3-14 season, the New York Jets are looking to reinvigorate a shred of hope in their eminently jaded fanbase via April’s NFL Draft.

Especially in light of his resilient performance in the 2026 CFP National Championship, Heisman Trophy–winner Fernando Mendoza has more or less sealed his theoretical place as the first overall pick for the Las Vegas Raiders. With Dante Moore having recently announced his return to Oregon for the 2026 season, the Jets are likely going to turn their attention away from the quarterback position with their two first-round picks.

Advertisement

According to a recent FOX Sports mock draft, New York will instead set their sights on shoring up defense with their selections at No. 2 and No.16. Perhaps this pivot is for the best; in the 2025 regular season, the Jets ranked an abysmal 31st in points allowed with a historical zero interceptions recorded.

FOX points to OSU linebacker Arvell Reese and UT cornerback Jermod McCoy as the Jets’ primary picks. Here are their detailed breakdowns:

2. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

With Dante Moore returning to Oregon, New York will likely take the best player available here. A big riser on draft boards over the past few months, Reese has cemented himself as the clear-cut best linebacker in this draft. Due to his elite speed for his size, he can drop back into coverage as an off-ball backer or line up on the edge and rush the passer. Reese has 6.5 sacks and two passes defended on the year, and 112 total tackles in two seasons for the Buckeyes.

16. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

If he didn’t tear his ACL back in January and miss the entire 2025 season, McCoy would easily be the first corner taken in this draft. He was a first-team All-American last season, finishing with four interceptions and seven passes defended while also holding opposing QBs to a 53.6 passer rating (PFF).

With the departure of Sauce Gardner, McCoy would be a huge addition to New York’s secondary.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: FOX Sports projects defensive focus for Jets