Jets Could Shake Up NFL Draft by Trading No. 2 Pick

Could the New York Jets have a major draft day trade coming this offseason?

As things stand right now, the Jets have the No. 2 pick in the upcoming 2026 National Football League Draft. We're now under three weeks away from the draft kicking off on April 23. That day we will find out for sure if the Jets are going to move the pick or stay and pick someone like Arvell Reese of Ohio State or David Bailey of Texas Tech.

It's been a long few months with draft talk each day, but it's finally in striking distance. One thing that stood out from the annual league meetings this past week is the fact that Jets general manager Darren Mougey didn't close the door on the idea of trading out from the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

"We're always open. We'll always pick up the phone," Mougey said about potentially trading the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Should the Jets trade the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It shouldn't surprise anyone too much. This is the guy who shocked the National Football League world by trading Sauce Gardner after giving him a long-term contract extension. So, when he says the Jets are "always open," he's certainly not kidding.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt added a bit more fuel to the fire by saying that he left the owner's meetings thinking that a deal is "at least possible" on "Jets Final Drive."

"The question is who is another team trading up for? There are only two answers I could come up with, that would be Jeremiyah Love or Arvell Reese," Rosenblatt said. "The offer would have to be really good. It would have to include picks for next year, I would say. If not a third-round pick this year, but I still lean more towards them emphasizing next year's draft a little bit more. Do I feel confident that a trade will happen? I don't, but I left the owner's meetings thinking it's at least possible, I would say."

One big question to consider is should the Jets even think about moving the pick?

New York has a serious hole on defense right now with the pass rush. It can be solved with the No. 2 pick if the Jets select Reese or Bailey. There are other pass rushers in the draft class worth watching, though, like Rueben Bain Jr. out of the University of Miami. If a team is willing to make an offer like the Cleveland Browns got last year, then it might be worth a look.

The Browns moved down from the No. 2 pick to the No. 5 pick last year and got extra draft compensation in the blockbuster deal, including a second-round pick and a future first-round pick. If a team is willing to make an offer like that, then it's worth considering. If the Jets can add extra picks and still land at least Bain, that would be good enough.