The New York Jets. Honestly, just saying the name out loud usually triggers a reflex of winces and eye-rolls from anyone who’s spent the last decade watching football in the Meadowlands. We’ve all seen the highlights—the ones where the draft room erupts and fans at Radio City Music Hall bury their heads in their hands. But if you look at the trajectory of Jets first round picks lately, specifically from 2022 through this current 2026 offseason, the story is actually getting weirdly... good?
It’s easy to joke about the "Same Old Jets," but the reality is that the front office has basically been trying to perform open-heart surgery on a roster that’s been flatlining for years. Between the massive trades of franchise pillars like Sauce Gardner and the constant reshuffling of the offensive line, the first round has become the only place where this team can actually breathe.
📖 Related: Patriots Press Conference: What Really Happened at Gillette Stadium This Week
The Trenches or Bust: Why 2024 and 2025 Changed Everything
For a long time, the Jets tried to get cute. They took "high-ceiling" guys who ended up having the floor of a basement. But in 2024, they finally stopped overthinking it. Selecting Olu Fashanu at No. 11 overall was basically the football equivalent of buying insurance. You don't always want to spend the money on it, but boy, are you glad you have it when the car breaks down.
And the car broke down immediately.
Olu was drafted as the "tackle of the future," a guy supposed to sit and learn behind Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. Instead, he was thrown into the fire. He didn't just play tackle, though. In a wild game against the Texans, he was moved to guard—a position he had literally never played in high school or college. Veteran Max Mitchell said the kid "balled the hell out," and he wasn't lying. Fashanu didn't allow a sack in those emergency guard reps. That kind of versatility is why he’s viewed as a foundational piece heading into 2026.
Then came 2025. The Jets were on the clock at No. 7.
Most people thought they might go for a flashy playmaker for their new quarterback, Justin Fields, but they stuck to the blueprint. They took Armand Membou, the massive right tackle out of Missouri. If you haven't watched Membou, he’s basically a human brick wall. He started 12 games his final year at Mizzou and was an All-SEC second-teamer. Pairing him with Fashanu has finally given the Jets two young, high-pedigree anchors. It’s not "sexy" like drafting a wide receiver, but it’s how you stop your quarterback from getting seeing stars every Sunday.
The Sauce Gardner Trade and the 2026 Bounty
You've probably heard the rumors or saw the news: Sauce Gardner is gone. It was a "sweet sorrow" situation, as the team's writers put it. Trading a generational talent like Sauce to the Colts felt like a gut punch, but look at the return. Because of that move, the Jets are heading into the 2026 draft with an absolutely ridiculous amount of capital.
They currently hold the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks in the first round.
Think about that. In a draft where they desperately need to decide if they're sticking with the current QB path or grabbing a blue-chip edge rusher to replace the production they lost, they have the leverage.
What the Experts Are Saying About the No. 2 Pick
There's a lot of chatter about the Jets taking an edge rusher at No. 2. Since they also moved Quinnen Williams to Dallas, the defensive line is looking a bit thin. Names like Rueben Bain from Miami or Arvelle Reese from Ohio State are flying around.
The interesting thing is the math. Analysts at Jets X-Factor have been obsessed with this "Big 4" metric—PFF grade, pressure rate, pass-rush win rate, and sack rate. Historically, guys who hit high on these metrics at the top of the draft don't just "hit," they dominate. If the Jets use that No. 2 pick on a defender who checks those boxes, they might finally replace the production they traded away.
A History of "What Ifs" and Home Runs
To understand why the current Jets first round picks matter so much, you have to look at the scars. The Joe Douglas era was a rollercoaster of incredible highs and "what were they thinking" lows.
✨ Don't miss: Naz Reid Last 5 Games: Why He’s Still the X-Factor for Minnesota
Take 2022. That was the "Grand Slam" year. Sauce Gardner (No. 4), Garrett Wilson (No. 10), and Jermaine Johnson (No. 26). In one night, they landed a Defensive Rookie of the Year and an Offensive Rookie of the Year. It’s rare. Like, winning-the-lottery-twice-in-one-week rare.
But then there’s the 2023 debacle with Will McDonald IV.
Honestly, the report that came out recently about the Jets passing on Jaxon Smith-Njigba is painful to read. Apparently, the Jets didn't even have a first-round grade on JSN because they thought they’d always be playing with a lead and needed a "closer" pass rusher. Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba is out here leading the league in receiving yards, and McDonald has been a situational player at best. That's the Jets' draft history in a nutshell: hitting a 500-foot home run and then striking out on three pitches in the next inning.
The 2026 Strategy: How to Not Mess This Up
With two picks in the top 16, the Jets are in a position most GMs would kill for. Darren Mougey, the current GM, has been much more transparent about wanting to build a "bounty" of selections.
- The No. 2 Dilemma: Do you take the best defensive player on the board? If a guy like Rueben Bain is there, you almost have to. The "Big 4" metrics suggest he’s as close to a sure thing as you can get for a pass rusher.
- The No. 16 Swing: This is where it gets fun. Since they already have Adonai Mitchell (acquired in the Sauce trade) and Garrett Wilson, do they go for more O-line depth? Or do they grab a safety like Malachi Moore’s successor?
- The 2027 Outlook: People forget that the Jets also have three first-round picks in 2027. This isn't just a one-year rebuild. This is a multi-year hoarding of talent.
It’s easy to be cynical. I get it. Being a Jets fan is basically a full-time job in managing expectations. But for the first time in a long time, the draft picks aren't just names on a jersey—they're actual, functional parts of a machine that might finally start running.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re tracking how these Jets first round picks will impact the roster this year, keep your eyes on the "Big 4" prospect scores. The Jets are clearly pivoting toward a data-driven approach under the new regime, moving away from the "gut feeling" picks that led to the McDonald reach.
Watch the trade market leading up to April. With that many picks, Mougey might not even stay at No. 2 or No. 16. If a team is desperate for a quarterback and wants to jump up to No. 2, the Jets could end up with even more picks in the 2026 and 2027 cycles. The goal isn't just to pick players anymore; it's to own the board.
Check the final PFF college grades for the top five edge rushers this March. If the Jets' pick at No. 2 has a pass-rush win rate over 20%, you can breathe a little easier. The strategy is finally shifting from "hope" to "hardware."