Jets insider reveals which prospect is the 'favorite' to be No. 2 overall pick

The New York Jets have some of the best draft capital over the next two years, thanks in large part to their trades of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams this past season.

But their best pick this year in the 2026 NFL Draft is the second-overall selection. Their options are abundant, as any non-Fernando Mendoza prospect is on the table.

However, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, there is a favorite for the 2nd overall pick for the Jets. This player is Ohio State's Arvell Reese, just ahead of David Bailey out of Texas Tech.

The favorite to go No. 2 overall is Ohio State's Arvell Reese

"So, Reese still feels like the favorite to be picked, but Bailey is definitely a contender," Rosenblatt writes.

While Reese is called the favorite for the 2nd pick, Bailey is "definitely a possibility," with the Jets' first-round pick.

The Texas Tech edge had 14.5 sacks last year, and might be a more "safe" pick in the sense that he's a full-time edge, and won't be trying to make the transition that Reese will.

But, Reese has a ton of upside, as seen with his ridiculous testing at the NFL Combine, which featured the 6-foot-4, 241-pound linebacker running a 4.46 40-yard dash.

More: Jets' ideal pick at No. 2 overall is Arvell Reese out of Ohio State

The Junior out of Ohio State had 6.5 sacks last season with 34 tackles as a linebacker/edge rusher hybrid.

He's a slightly risky pick if he can't make the transition to edge rusher in the NFL, but after seeing what Micah Parsons turned into, this is a pick that the Jets can take a chance on.

Even if he doesn't work out, it'd be a move that's worth taking a chance on with how the team isn't close to contending just yet.

Reese is the current favorite for the 2nd overall pick, just barely ahead of Bailey. No other player, including Ruben Bain Jr., was named as a strong possibility for the Jets this early.

More Jets news:

• Jets predicted to trade for one more QB trade after Geno Smith deal
• Zachariah Branch would be ideal round 2 fit for Jets
• Aaron Glenn believes Geno Smith can lead Jets to 'the promised land'
• Chris Streveler retires from football years after Jets cameo
• Jets predicted to trade up for Ty Simpson like Giants did for Jaxon Dart
• Aaron Glenn announced Geno Smith as Jets starting QB for 2026
• Garrett Wilson named Jets most overpaid player