We've known for about three months that the Las Vegas Raiders would be using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. The mystery since then is what the New York Jets would do with the No. 2 overall pick. After months of back and forth, and with just over 48 hours until they send the card to the podium, it seems we have an answer.
According to NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline along with many others, the Jets will be taking Texas Tech star pass rusher David Bailey with the second selection. Bailey is one of two prospects that have been tipped to go to New York, along with Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese.
“Almost everyone from the league that I spoke with on Monday told me that the word is the Jets will use the second pick of the draft on David Bailey," Pauline recently said.
As a senior transfer for the Red Raiders, Bailey had 52 combined tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and an NCAA-leading 14.5 sacks. He was a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Warning Signs
However, the scouting reports on Bailey offer slightly more mixed results compared to Reese. While the consensus is that he could have a higher ceiling than Reese, there's also a much higher bust potential.
The Jets have been completely irrelevant for a decade and once again seem to have made the wrong decision at head coach in Aaron Glenn. With his job on the line, Glenn really can't afford to add a player who isn't guaranteed to be a Day 1, dominant starter for him. But that might be exactly what general manager Darren Mougey does here.
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No NFL team is more renown for making the wrong decision on Draft Day than the Jets. Every player they've selected for the last 15 years has either fizzled out or been shipped out to finish their career with better teams.
Whatever decision the Jets make, whether it's Bailey, Reese or someone else entirely, history will ultimately determine it to have been the wrong one.
