With the 2026 NFL Draft just around the corner, the New York Jets and general manager Darren Mougey will now begin to prepare for the highly anticipated event this month.

Throughout the 2026 NFL Free Agency period, Mougey and the rest of the front office were able to reshape the defense after trading away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. However, while the organization has used most of its resources on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, the Jets must now direct their attention to the offense during the draft.

One of the primary concerns leading up to next season for the organization will be the wide receiver position, as star playmaker Garrett Wilson remains the lone proven wideout on the roster. New York will likely use one of their top four picks on a wideout to assist newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith, but it’s clear that the offense needs more than one pass catcher in the draft.

Luckily for the Jets and Mougey, Oklahoma’s Deion Burks is the perfect late-round flyer that could have a massive impact on offense in 2026 and beyond.

Burks, a longtime college standout at both Purdue and Oklahoma, is one of the more underrated prospects in this year’s draft class. During his five seasons at the college level, Burks recorded 1,669 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 151 receptions. While his numbers may not stand out amongst the rest of the receivers in the upcoming draft, his style of play makes him a “must-watch” prospect for Jets fans this offseason.

Standing at 5-foot-10, 180 lbs., Burks is certainly one of the smaller wide receivers in the 2026 draft class. Still, the polarizing playmaker has elite speed (4.30 official 40-yard dash), which allowed him to be successful within the slot this past season. New York has been missing a true slot receiver over the past few seasons, and Burks' dynamic speed would give the struggling franchise a real threat alongside Wilson.

If the Jets are willing to take a swing on Burks on Day Two or Three, in addition to an outside receiver with one of the four first picks, the offense would be in an excellent spot for Smith and the team’s newest offensive coordinator, Frank Reich.

Burks will need to spend his rookie season developing as a true deep threat, but his potential makes him an intriguing prospect ahead of the draft.

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