As the hype surrounding the 2026 NFL Draft continues to grow, New York Jets fans are slowly beginning to prepare for the big day.

This year, the Jets will have a total of 11 picks, with general manager Darren Mougey’s first four picks landing within the top-50. With an incredible amount of ammo, New York is in a perfect spot to revamp the roster prior to the 2026 NFL season.

NFL Draft analyst Gordon McGuinness recently did a full round one mock draft, with the Jets making a surprising move at No. 2 by taking Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs.

“Downs notched an 85.0-plus PFF overall grade in each of the past three seasons and is firmly in the conversation as the best overall player in this draft,” McGuinness wrote. “Positional value will determine when he ultimately comes off the board, but look back at the 2022 NFL Draft and consider how much earlier Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton would go in a redo.”

Downs, throughout his past three seasons, has been widely considered one of the best players in all of college football. During his time at both Alabama and Ohio State, the highly-touted defender has recorded 257 tackles, 15 tackles for losses, 12 pass deflections, and six interceptions.

Standing at 6-foot, 205 lbs., Downs has the ability to play anywhere on the field, which he demonstrated last season with the Buckeyes. His combination of elite athleticism and knowledge of the game will make him a true all-around defensive weapon at the NFL level.

However, since Downs is a safety, many believe that he could fall in the upcoming draft due to positional value. But with how underwhelming this year’s draft class is at the top, there is a real chance that the Jets would consider taking the best player in the class despite his position.

In addition to landing Downs with the No. 2 pick, McGuinness followed up the pick with another defensive player in Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at pick No. 16.

“The Jets continue to upgrade their defense with the second of their first-round draft picks, adding some talent to the interior defensive line,” McGuinness wrote. “Woods is coming off his lowest-graded season in three years, but with PFF overall grades above 83.0 in both 2023 and 2024, the talent is clearly there.”

With former star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams being dealt to the Dallas Cowboys at the trade deadline, it’s clear that the Jets could use an interior threat on defense next season.

Prior to the 2025 college football season, Woods was regarded as one of the best players in the upcoming draft, finishing with 28 tackles, eight tackles for losses, and three sacks as a sophomore. But his slight regression in numbers this past year has caused some concern for many NFL Draft analysts due to his inconsistency on a weekly basis.

Still, Woods has incredible athleticism and a terrific frame (6-foot-3, 315 lbs.) that could easily translate to the NFL level. If the Jets were to ultimately select Woods in the first round, newly-hired defensive coordinator Brian Duker must help him develop his skill set to become a consistent defender in both the pass and run game.

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