With the heavy investment into the defensive side of the ball in free agency, the Jets could build even more for the future with these two picks.
For the New York Jets right now, the vibes around the team are fantastic. While nobody is saying they're a Super Bowl favorite, they're clearly a much-improved team over last year after free agency.
So much so that head coach Aaron Glenn can't contain his excitement about this upcoming season and his new quarterback acquisition, Geno Smith. Not only have they upgraded at the quarterbakc position, but they completely revamped their defense.
The Jets came out guns blazing on day one of free agency, securing solid veteran players throughout all three groups of the defense. Players like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Nahshon Wright, Demario Davis, and Joseph Ossai should give Jets fans much more to look forward to.
The work is far from over this offseason, though. The Jets hold nine total picks in this upcoming draft and have the chance to select two game changers with the 2nd and 16th overall picks.
In NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein's latest mock draft, he had the Jets going even further towards building out a legit defense with them drafting two elite players from the same school.
Jets Mocked to Draft Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs with 2nd and 16th Pick
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesThe New York Jets could get even more stout on the defensive end and also build for the future if this is what they wind up doing. Zierlein predicted them to take LB Arvell Reese and S Caleb Downs with their two first-round picks.
Many have predicted that the Jets would select Arvell Reese with the second overall pick for some time now, but the development of Caleb Downs, possibly being available that late, is a somewhat recent revelation.
It was announced earlier in the offseason that Downs' physicals came back with a partially torn meniscus, but also with a potentially 'degenerative' ACL issue. While this is not the end of Downs' career by any means, it has had him falling a bit in some mock drafts.
This would work out tremendously for the New York Jets if he did. Last year for Ohio State, Reese and Downs were the 2nd and 3rd leading tacklers for the Buckeyes, and both will be incredible players at the next level.
With Demario Davis and Minkah Fitzpatrick in-house to mentor these two elite young talents, the Jets could set themselves up well into the future with two key pillars of their defense.
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