Jets May Have Made the Steal of the 2026 NFL Draft

The New York Jets made the correct choice to be aggressive in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Following a 3-17 season, the Jets knew they needed to add talent to the roster to be competitive in an AFC East division that has the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, two teams that now appear as threats to make the Super Bowl.

New York made a safe but smart choice by taking David Bailey over Arvell Reese, going with production over projection. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq will give the Jets a mismatch in the middle of the field.

The Jets took a risk by trading back into the first round for wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. out of Indiana. The addition gave two first-round talents to whoever is under center over the next few years.

Matt Miller of ESPN thinks Cooper is going to have a great league career, leaving people wondering why he fell to No. 30 in the draft.

"It's a head-scratcher that the Indiana receiver fell to the No. 30 pick, and he'll be a steal if the Jets can figure out the quarterback position," Miller wrote. 

"Cooper's ability to make tough catches without decelerating is his best trait, and he'll do serious work on underneath routes while Wilson keeps safeties on their heels."

Jets head coach Aaron Glenn felt the value was right for taking Cooper at the back of the first round.

"We were still stacking the board with players that we think can help us," Glenn said, via the Jets. "Talking about [TE Kenyon] Sadiq and just as an overall weapon, he was there and we think this is great value. 

"Then Omar Cooper was a guy we had good grades on. And when we saw him there toward the end, we had an opportunity to give up a compensatory pick to get back up and get the fifth-year option, just make sure we got our guy."

Cooper and Sadiq will be strong additions to an offense that already has Garrett Wilson. 

There is one big uncertainty in New York, and that's who will be throwing those pass catchers the ball.