Feb. 21, 2026, 3:48 p.m. ET
The New York Jets have sizable decisions to make throughout the 2026 NFL draft. The first crucial decision occurs at No. 2 overall. The expectation is that the Jets will choose between four top defensive prospects with the second pick.
Ohio State linebacker/EDGE Arvell Reese, Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, and Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. are viewed as the consensus top defensive prospects in the draft. The Jets will have their pick of the litter.
The process of sorting through these prospects began months ago with scouting evaluations. But the decision-making process is about to pick up.
The Jets will possess an excellent opportunity to intimately assess all four prospects at next week’s NFL Scouting Combine.
The Jets should have formal interviews with all four prospects. Hopefully Bailey, Reese, Downs, and Bain Jr. participate in the testing process. The more information the Jets gather, the better.
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Each prospect is facing pre-draft questions that could be answered at the NFL Combine. Is Downs, a safety, really worth drafting at No. 2 overall? Just how off-putting are Bain’s arm-length measurements? Does Bailey possess the lower-body mass needed to hold up? Does Reese’s testing results indicate he’s more of an off-ball linebacker, or a pass rusher? Those are just some examples.
The NFL Combine will have a profound impact on the Jets’ decision at No. 2 overall.