Gang Green added an explosive pass rusher with its first pick on Thursday night to give Aaron Glenn's defense a needed pop. Later, they added two much-needed weapons to the offense.
The New York Jets selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Gang Green later landed two playmakers for the offense, selecting dynamic Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 and then trading back into the first round to nab Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr. with the 30th pick.
"I think it's something that I've talked about before is, when you have targets, you identify guys you like, you love, you go get them," Glenn said in his post-draft news conference when asked how making three first-round picks could accelerate a rebuild, via team transcript. "And that's exactly what we did today. And any time you can bring guys with a winning background on your team, that only helps the morale of your team. So, there's a lot of thing that goes into that, but man to get three first round picks and the caliber guys that we got, the personality, the mentality, the football character, all those things are huge, bringing those guys on our team."
An uber-explosive blur and the top sack artist in the draft, Bailey immediately upgrades an area of need for a Jets defense that struggled to generate consistent pressure in 2025.
Following three seasons at Stanford, Bailey transferred to Texas Tech in 2025 and exploded. He generated 14.5 sacks (tied for most in the FBS) with a 21.3% pressure rate. He added 19.5 tackles for loss and 81 QB pressures. He was a unanimous first-team All-American, the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and a finalist for the Lombardi Award.
A twitched-up athlete, Bailey blasts to the quarterback with jet-fueled propulsion. An explosive first step allows him to play behind the line of scrimmage, and long strides quickly negate blockers' cushion. Winning the first step off the snap is his superpower, and he flies off the edge with ferocity and bad intentions. The quick get-off allows him to get linemen off balance, and he can use a rip move to create a clear path to the quarterback.
Bailey's speed is a game-changer, and he boasts the ability to chase down plays from the backside. Able to play in a two-point or four-point stance, he must improve converting that speed to power, but can play through blockers to get to his intended target.
While his burst allows him to play the run in the backfield and eat up negative plays, the 22-year-old must improve his anchoring against the run and play strength at the point of attack, or teams will run right at him. At times, he also gets latched on by blockers and needs to upgrade his counter moves in the NFL.
An eruption off the edge, Bailey is a disruptive pass rusher who can play in the backfield and flies to the football. With just one full season as a starter, the athletic specimen still has room to grow.
The Jets spent the offseason remaking Glenn's defense, which generated just 26 sacks and famously recorded zero interceptions, with productive veterans. Bailey becomes the crown jewel and a much-needed edge presence who can win one-on-ones and tilt the field.
2023 first-round pick Will McDonald IV led the Jets with eight sacks last season. No other Gang Green defender reached the five-sack mark. With their choice of defenders or receivers with the No. 2 pick, New York opted for the draft's most explosive and proven pass rusher in a pivotal season for Glenn.
After shipping Jermaine Johnson II to Tennessee for behemoth T'Vondre Sweat, adding David Onyemata in the middle and Joseph Ossai on the outside, the New York defensive front needed a force to bring it all together. They landed that man in Bailey.
The Jets stuck at pick No. 16 and added a much-coveted tight end playmaker in Sadiq.
A freak athlete with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash time, Sadiq brings Joker-type qualities to the NFL. He took most of his snaps in 2025 from the slot but can also play in line and has the ability to thrive in space. He can run a varied route tree and eats up opponents down the seam. A mismatch nightmare against man coverage, Sadiq can out-quick linebackers and has the physicality to bully safeties or corners.
Sadiq adds needed explosive speed and athleticism to the Jets offense, upgrading a tight end room alongside 2025 second-round selection Mason Taylor. With the proliferation of two-TE sets, new offensive coordinator Frank Reich could deploy both prolifically this season.
Late in the first round, Gang Green traded back in to add more playmaking, shipping the No. 33 pick and a fifth-rounder (179) to grab Cooper.
The 6-foot, 199-pound wideout is a strong, yoked-up target who plays fearless, particularly in the middle of the field, and boasts Deebo Samuel-type after-the-catch ability, forcing 27 missed tackles in 2025 (fourth in FBS). He plucks the ball, and his frame allows him to absorb contact. The wideout also has the ability to adjust to the ball in mid-air and the leaping ability to go get it in the red zone. The 22-year-old generated 29 catches of 20-plus yards the past two campaigns.
Cooper's strength allows him to beat press coverage, and his acceleration before and after the catch allows him to gobble up defenders. While he did most of his work from the slot at Indiana, his frame and talent portend a receiver who can work both inside and outside, giving the offense flexibility.
The additions of Sadiq and Cooper help transform the Jets offense from dull to exciting alongside Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. Geno Smith now has playmakers all over the formation.
The Jets used the first round to transform a downtrodden squad that hasn't made the playoffs in 15 seasons. It marked the third time in team history the Jets have made three or more first-round picks (three in 2022, four in 2000). Gang Green also has three first-round picks next year, setting the foundation for a potential turnaround.
