The top non-QB 2026 draft prospect targets for the New York Jets

By Ian Roddy — 1/15/2026

Now that Dante Moore has officially announced his intention to return to Oregon for another year, the New York Jets’ hopes of securing their franchise quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft appear slim to none.

Assuming Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza goes first overall to the Raiders, the Jets will have their pick of any non-quarterback in the entire draft class. And with the 16th overall pick in their back pocket as well, thanks to the Sauce Gardner trade, there’s still plenty of reason to be excited about this draft season as a Jets fan. 

In a year without a consensus top overall non-QB prospect, the Jets could really go in any direction at this point. And with glaring holes all over the roster, it’s about to be a wide-open conversation, and the fanbase is bound to be split.

So, it’s time to introduce the guys we’re all about to be fighting about. Here are some of the players that figure to be in play for the Jets with each of their first-round picks.

No. 2 overall pick

Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

Arvell Reese is who many experts have pegged as the top overall player in this year’s draft class at the moment. While Reese is technically an off-ball linebacker, the belief is that his absurd combination of size, length, play strength, athleticism, and explosiveness will be best suited to rushing the passer off the edge at the next level.

Reese exploded onto the scene this year in his first season as a starter. As he continued wrecking games left and right, it became apparent pretty quickly that he was going to hear his name called very early in the draft. Regardless of how Aaron Glenn would want to use him, this is a guy who’d make the Jets defense a better unit immediately.

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