New York Jets cash in on overthink, add numerous difference makers on defense in latest 3-round 2026 NFL mock draft

With the 2026 NFL Draft still months away, the New York Jets have already mapped out a blueprint that could accelerate the rebuild under second-year head coach Aaron Glenn. In A to Z Sports’ updated three-round projection, Gang Green walks away with four potential impact players inside the top 45 selections, the bulk of the haul concentrated on a defense still searching for an identity.

The mock begins at No. 2 overall, where the Jets bypass quarterbacks and edge rushers in favor of Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. The 6-3, 240-pound Reese is viewed as a chess piece who can line up at off-ball linebacker, edge, slot, or even safety in sub-packages. “No easier solution than a player who can play four different positions and be a Pro Bowler at three of them,” the analysis notes, suggesting Reese could become the face of Aaron Glenn’s unit the moment he steps on the field.

New York’s second first-round pick, No. 16 overall, produces the first steal of the simulation. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, projected by many as a top-ten talent, slips through the cracks and into the Jets’ lap. The 6-2, 205-pound outside threat profiles as a more explosive version of veteran Robert Woods, giving the offense a legitimate perimeter weapon who can win vertically and after the catch.

Day 2 turns into a defensive double-dip. At pick 33 the Jets again benefit from a perceived overthink, landing Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Listed at 6-6 and 330 pounds, Banks is a space-eating presence who can two-gap in the run game and collapse the pocket with surprising burst for his size. The selection addresses one of the roster’s thinnest spots and should free up linebackers to flow freely to the football.

The third round closes with San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, a 6-0 cover man with 32-inch arms and a 4.4-second 40-yard dash on his résumé. Johnson’s blend of length, speed and ball skills could push him into a starting role opposite the Jets’ incumbent boundary corners sooner rather than later.

If the board breaks this way next April, New York would exit the draft with four immediate contributors, three on defense and one explosive playmaker for the passing game—exactly the kind of talent infusion Aaron Glenn needs as he attempts to establish a long-term culture in Florham Park.