Jets Fill Glaring Need With Second-Round Pick in Last-Minute Draft Projection

The 2026 NFL draft is finally here, and the event kicks off on Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh. After months of looking at mocks and random draft projections, all the questions of where these college hopefuls will land will be answered over the course of the weekend.

The New York Jets are still in rebuild mode. Head coach Aaron Glenn is heading into his second season with the team, and he’s trying to come back from a dismal 3-14 record for the 2025-26 season.

While all eyes are on the first round of the draft, some interesting choices can be made in the second round, too. Jordan Reid of ESPN has published a seven-round mock draft naming all of the 32 teams’ picks in the draft, based on his projections.

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“I’ve compiled these projections based on my latest intel from conversations with sources throughout the league, months of scouting the entire class and examining each team’s biggest positional needs,” he notes in the piece. “I didn’t project any trades, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be surprises and intrigue.”

For the Jets’ second round pick, he has them going with safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren out of Toledo.

“The Jets didn’t record an interception last season and need a young playmaking safety,” he notes in the piece. “McNeil-Warren is a physical defender who is at his best when playing closer to the line of scrimmage even though he can play sparingly in the high post.”

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Earlier in the draft, he has them use their No. 2 overall selection to get linebacker and edge Arvell Reese out of Ohio State

“The pick comes down to Reese vs. Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey,” he notes. “I believe the Jets would prefer Reese’s upside even though Bailey is a more polished pass rusher right now.”

Does Arvell Reese and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Make Sense for the Jets?

The Jets need to make big moves to come back from their 3-14 season, so if they pull out some surprises during the 2026 NFL draft, you’ve been warned. While both Reese and McNeil-Warren are “safe picks” for the team, there’s also something to be said for playing it safe. With a franchise that has so much to lose, I think the playing it safe mode is the best choice here, and these two players could certainly bring some stability as rookies on the squad.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 3:40 PM.