FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets aren’t just rebuilding; they are stripping the engine to the studs. Following a fire sale that sent superstars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams packing, the franchise now holds a war chest of picks for the 2026 NFL Draft. A new PFF mock simulation has GM Darren Mougey loading up on elite defensive talent and a high-upside quarterback to finally replace the Geno Smith bridge era.
To the surprise of no one, the Las Vegas Raiders start this simulation by grabbing Fernando Mendoza at number one. That leaves the Jets with a clear path to the best defender in the class. With the second overall pick, New York selects Arvell Reese, the twitchy edge rusher from Ohio State. Reese is a nightmare for tackles. He racked up 6.5 sacks in 14 games last season and carries the pedigree of a 2024 National Champion. After the Jets moved Jermaine Johnson II to Tennessee earlier this spring, Reese fits into the starting lineup on day one.
The draft capital from the Gardner trade pays off at pick 16. The Jets snag Malaki Lemon, the USC wideout who terrorized secondaries for 1,156 yards in 2025. Lemon is a route-running technician. Pairing him with Garrett Wilson gives the Jets a duo that can actually help Smith — or whoever is under center — move the chains. If the front office plans to break in a new passer in 2027, having two elite weapons on rookie deals is a savvy play.
Friday at the NFL Draft usually brings drama, and this mock delivers. With the 33rd overall pick, the first of the second round, the Jets pull the trigger on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Simpson is a polarizing prospect. His final college game was a disaster — a 38-3 Rose Bowl thumping by Indiana where he managed just 67 yards before being pulled. That collapse killed his first-round buzz, but the raw talent remains. Mougey can afford to let Simpson sit behind Smith for a year, absorbing the playbook without the pressure of a Week 1 start.
With the second-round pick acquired from Dallas, the Jets stay in the Big Ten. They take Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. Replacing a generational talent like Sauce Gardner is impossible, but Ponds is a ballhawk. He recorded five interceptions over two seasons in Bloomington and has a knack for finding the end zone on returns. He’s the first piece of a total secondary overhaul.
“We aren’t just looking for bodies to fill a depth chart; we’re looking for guys who want to hunt. This roster needs a complete shift in attitude, and it starts with the guys we bring in this April.”
— Anonymous Jets Scouting Source
The fourth round is all about the “no-fly zone” project. The Jets take Malik Muhammad (Texas) and Charles Demmings (Stephen F. Austin) back-to-back. Taking three straight cornerbacks might seem like overkill, but the Jets’ depth chart was a desert after the Quinnen and Sauce trades. Aaron Glenn needs athletes who can play man-to-man while he dials up the pressure with Reese up front.
Late-round fliers focus on the offensive rotation. Joe Royer, the Cincinnati tight end, arrives in the fifth round to replace the departed Tyler Conklin. Royer’s 937 yards over two years with the Bearcats suggest he can be a reliable safety valve. The draft closes out with UTSA runner Robert Henry Jr. and Georgia guard Micah Morris. Both provide much-needed insurance for a team that saw Alijah Vera-Tucker move on this offseason.
This draft class represents a total pivot for the Jets. By ignoring the urge to reach for a quarterback at number two, Mougey has fortified the trenches and the perimeter. The success of this haul hinges entirely on whether Ty Simpson can find his confidence again after the Alabama exit. If he develops, the Jets have a foundation. If he busts, they’ll be right back in the quarterback market in 2027 with their extra first-rounders. For now, the focus is on April 23 in Pittsburgh.
