Jets ‘Expected to Be Aggressive’ in NFL Draft, Says Expert

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A snapshot of the 2024 NFL Draft when the New York Jets were on the clock.

The rumors are starting to bubble just two weeks out from the 2026 NFL draft.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid revealed what he is hearing about the New York Jets’ draft plans.

“With three picks inside the top 33, the Jets will take a true best-player-available approach, but don’t be surprised if they end Round 1 with three picks … using none of them on a QB. The Jets are expected to be aggressive in boosting their wide receivers room, and Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) is one player they are reported to be extremely high on. They view him as an ideal complementary WR2 to Garrett Wilson,” Reid wrote.

Building out the Rest of the Team

Reid left the door open for the Jets to end up with three first-round picks by the time everything is said and done.

2026 will be the 10th time in franchise history that the Jets have had multiple first-round picks in the modern draft era (since 1967).

The green and white already have multiple first-round picks at No. 2 and No. 16, respectively. However, they’re right on the doorstep of having a third first-round draft choice.

The Jets hold the No. 33 overall pick, the first pick of the second round. Gang Green has the assets to be able to trade back into round one.

The interesting layer, according to Reid, is that none of those potential three first round picks could be used on a quarterback. Instead, the strategy for the Jets would be building up the rest of the team.

Quarterback is a seismic need, but the Jets have plenty of other roster holes in terms of starters and depth questions:

• Wide receiver
• Off-Ball-Linebacker
• Cornerback
• Safety
• Defensive end
• Tight end
• Offensive line
• Placekicker

A Way to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

If the Jets truly want three first-round picks, they can make it happen. However, if they trade back into day one the right way, there is a path to keeping all of their picks.

If the Jets flipped the No. 44 overall pick and a 2027 third-round pick, they could move up to the No. 28 overall pick in a trade with the Houston Texans, according to the NFL draft value chart.

Then, by keeping the No. 33 overall pick, the Jets could trade back in the second round to get their picks back.

One deal that checks out according to the value chart would be a trade with the Green Bay Packers. The Jets could send the No. 33 overall pick to the Packers in exchange for a 2026 second rounder (No. 52 overall) and a 2027 third rounder. That would be an equal swap.

In this scenario, the Jets would have three first-rounders, a second-rounder, and they’d get their future third-rounder back. Did you get all that?

Jets Circling the Wagons at Wide Receiver

A player who is picking up plenty of buzz is Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr.

Reid says the Jets are “extremely high” on Cooper and view him as an “ideal” WR2 to Wilson.

However, we have some conflicting reports out there in the universe. Insider Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports recently wrote that the Jets have interest in Cooper, but shared they wouldn’t take him any earlier than the No. 33 overall pick.

Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.