The Jets were the talk of the town last night. Walking away with three high-impact players in the first round is a rare feat, and most analysts are giving them very high marks for being aggressive.
Here is a breakdown of the grades from major outlets:
Did any of those picks surprise you, or was that the haul you were hoping for?
Here is a breakdown of the grades from major outlets:
Pick No. 2: David Bailey, EDGE (Texas Tech)
- Grade: A
- The Consensus: Most experts (including Fox Sports and NFL.com) see this as a home run. The Jets finished dead last in the AFC in sacks last year, and Bailey was the most productive pass rusher in college football (14.5 sacks).
- The Debate: There was a long debate about whether they should have taken Ohio State’s Arvell Reese (who went No. 5 to the Giants), but coach Aaron Glenn emphasized that Bailey’s specific length (34-inch arms) and "jet-fueled" first step made him the perfect fit for the Jets' scheme.
Pick No. 16: Kenyon Sadiq, TE (Oregon)
- Grade: A-
- The Consensus: While some fans wanted a pure wide receiver here, Sadiq is being graded as a "weapon" rather than just a tight end.
- The Logic: Analysts point to his historic Combine numbers (4.39 40-yard dash) as proof that he can't be covered by linebackers. Proponents call this a "no-brainer" pick because he immediately provides Geno Smith with a mismatch over the middle of the field.
Pick No. 30: Omar Cooper Jr., WR (Indiana)
- Grade: A+
- The Consensus: This is being called the "steal of the night." Many experts, including PFF and Daniel Jeremiah, had Cooper ranked in their top 20.
- The Strategy: By trading up from No. 33 to No. 30, the Jets gave up very little (a 5th-round compensatory pick) to jump ahead of other interested teams and, crucially, secure the fifth-year option on his contract. He’s expected to be the physical, reliable "YAC" (yards after catch) machine that complements Garrett Wilson perfectly.
Overall Round 1 Grade: A
The Jets' front office clearly felt they couldn't afford to play it safe. By grabbing the draft's best pass rusher, the fastest tight end prospect in years, and a high-floor wide receiver, they have significantly raised the ceiling for the 2026 season.Did any of those picks surprise you, or was that the haul you were hoping for?