Jets Predicted to Select ‘Micah Parsons-Ish' Defender in 2026 NFL Draft
The New York Jets are preparing for a major rebuild, holding four selections within the top 45 of the 2026 NFL Draft. While they have several key roster needs, defense remains their biggest concern, and they have reportedly narrowed their No. 2 overall pick down to Arvell Reese and David Bailey.
New York is coming off a disappointing first season under head coach Aaron Glenn, finishing 3–14 and ranking in the bottom half of the league in both yards per game and yards allowed.
The Jets have brought in Geno Smith as their starting quarterback and appear to have no plans to draft Ty Simpson early. That shifts the focus of the No. 2 pick toward top linebacker prospects, with Reese and Bailey standing out as the leading options.
In Athlon's latest mock draft, analysts Luke Easterling and Doug Farrar project the Jets to select Reese, whom Farrar describes as a player with Micah Parsons-like potential.
"To be clear, Reese is still developing as an edge-rusher – he played 58% of his snaps on the edge last season for the Buckeyes, with the rest as an off-ball linebacker or pass-rushing spinner from multiple gaps," Farar wrote. "Four of his eight sacks, and 17 of his 27 pressures, came from the edge.
"But you don't want Reese as just an edge guy - you (and the Jets) want him for the Micah Parsons-ish positional profile, and for the utterly ridiculous speed off the snap he shows no matter where he's aligned."
While the Reese vs. Bailey debate is often framed as potential versus production, as the latter recorded an FBS-tied 14.5 sacks in 2025, the Jets run a 3–4 defensive scheme, where Reese's first-step quickness and ability to operate in space may make him a better fit.
Bailey's production is undeniably appealing and represents the safer option, especially for a Jets defense that ranked second-last in the league with just 1.5 sacks per game. However, Reese's upside is difficult to ignore. He is an elite athlete who ran a sub-4.50-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and he remains productive in his own right, finishing with a respectable 6.5 sacks last season.
Reese spent much of his collegiate career as an off-ball linebacker, so a full-time transition to edge rusher at the NFL level comes with some risk. However, for a player with the potential to become the next Parsons, it may be a risk worth taking.
Related: Jets Predicted to Land Potential Geno Smith Replacement
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 8:10 AM.