Whether or not the New York Jets wanted to draft Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore, his decision to return to school was bad news.
The second pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will not be a quarterback. And while the Jets are in position to take the class's first non-passer, there is little clarity on where New York will go.
With such a pivotal decision looming, it's worth taking a look at where the Jets' options stand and how Moore's choice could impact the offseason.
Potential options for the Jets at No. 2
Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
Reese gained steam early this season, lapping Sonny Styles on draft boards and begging to follow the Micah Parsons path to full-time edge play.
Reese didn't rush the passer all that much for Matt Patricia's defense. But he is far more powerful than his 243-pound frame suggests, boasts elite athleticism, and has flashed nuance despite his inexperience. Fundamentally, Reese has a long way to go, and splitting time at off-ball linebacker could curtail that development.
His ability to play the run from either spot is enticing. However, Reese has some questions to answer in coverage, and there's a real chance he is positionless at the next level.
Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Bain is the best player on a Miami defense hoping to win a championship. His production checks the box, he should test well in April, and his 2025 season was spent ensuring that last season's injuries were truly behind him.
Bain has generated top-pick hype for much of the season, and his ability to make plays against the best teams on his schedule bodes well for his stock.
His outlier arm length, though, could cut him out of the Jets' plans. We haven't seen an edge rusher with arms as short as Bain's truly deliver on a blue-chip ceiling. While that doesn't rule out a high-level impact, it makes a move to defensive tackle a little more likely. Bain has flashed there, but his best work comes off the edge. It's reasonable to suggest New York doesn't want to undergo any experiments with the second pick.
To his credit, Bain's power and tenacity have helped him beat elite collegiate tackles. Among all the short-armed edge rushers to come before him, Bain has one of the best arguments to stay outside and get run as a full-time starter given his body of work. He'll be polarizing, but Bain may be more of a floor play than other top prospects, potentially revealing the Jets' roster-building philosophy.
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Among the under-the-radar options at No. 2 is Bailey, who transformed Texas Tech's defense and paved a path to the top 10 in the process.
Bailey began the season with significant questions to answer about his run defense, which kept him off the field in too many situations and rendered his projection to that of a rotational rusher at the next level.
MORE: Ranking best Jets QB options for 2026
Then he led the Big 12 with 19.5 tackles for loss.
Bailey has all the tools as a speed rusher, combining elite burst and bend with a strong feel for hand usage. By mitigating the biggest concern on his profile, he's made himself a legitimate candidate for New York, especially if they like him on early downs more than Will McDonald.
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Faulk was the top-ranked edge rusher on my preseason board. While I've soured on him since -- he posted just two sacks without the win rates to compensate -- a strong pre-draft circuit could keep him alive early on Day 1.
Faulk is an incredible run defender who wins with play strength and technique. He'll likely test better than his on-field speed plays, inflating his stock, but there are ingredients to believe in as a pass rusher.
At this point in the process, a pivot to Faulk seems like an unnecessary play for run defense, buying toughness instead of identifying bigger issues across the spine of the defense.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
It is rare for (non-Travis Hunter) wide receivers to go as early as No. 2. However, there's no quarterback available, the defensive talent has questions to answer, and New York is focused on building an ideal environment for a future rookie quarterback.
So why not roll the dice?
Tate has exploded in 2025, showcasing remarkable year-over-year development and blossoming into an incredibly quarterback-friendly target. His hands, catch radius, and toughness are all among the best traits in this receiving class. He improved as a route runner and will test well, too.
Having a pair of Buckeyes on the boundary would make life easier for whoever is under center in 2026 (and beyond), and Tate's platform season makes a valid argument to buck recent draft trends.
Makai Lemon, WR, USC
If not Tate, Lemon will have his fair share of fans touting WR1 hype, and the argument is nearly identical.
Lemon, whose shades of Jaxon Smith-Njigba make him a top-15 prospect, is more slot-bound than Tate. With Adonai Mitchell in the building and a handful of boundary deep threats entering free agency, New York might prefer Lemon and the impact he makes closer to the line of scrimmage.
He isn't the biggest or fastest, but Lemon separates incredibly well, plays bigger than his size, and is above-average after the catch. Taking either prospect might not be ideal, but banking on positional value and improving the passing game is an easy sell to the fanbase.
Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
We know the Jets aren't taking a quarterback, and it certainly seems like there is not a clear-cut choice at No. 2. Every edge rusher comes with a glaring issue or questionable track record. The receivers are promising, but not the same caliber of superstar that have gone in the top six in years past.
If there was ever a year to take the best football player -- regardless of positional value -- the 2026 NFL Draft is it.
Downs is the best safety prospect since Kyle Hamilton and has the highest chance to go in the top 10 since Jamal Adams went sixth (to New York) in 2017.
The Jets have a need at safety, a lack of blue-chip players, and little room for risk atop such a foundational class. New York already has to bite the bullet on surplus value. The perfect No. 2 pick is off the board. Taking an exceptional talent like Downs adds a high-floor body to a defense that fell apart last season and would allow head coach Aaron Glenn to get a little more creative in Year 2 on the job.
More Jets news
- Dante Moore's decision suggests he doesn't want to play for Jets
- Wink Martindale has Aaron Glenn's ear
- Jets just made a quarterback signing and it's not a bad one
- Cardinals, Raiders request to interview Robert Saleh