The 2026 NFL Draft is set to take place on Thursday, April 23 through Saturday, April 25, with all 32 NFL teams getting the opportunity to add young, rising stars to their squad. The New York Jets and Giants currently both hold two first-round picks, an excellent place to be given all the talent on the board.
New York Jets (No. 2 and No. 16 Pick)
The New York Jets first-round draft picks include the second and 16th overall picks, giving them a wide range of players to choose from. The team has several needs to address in this draft, though, it seems that the biggest topic of concern is defense. The two names circulating around the team’s second overall pick are Arvell Reese, a linebacker from Ohio State, as well as David Bailey, an edge from Texas Tech. Both players would bring immense talents to the Jets’ roster.
Arvell Reese recorded 34 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks in his last season at Ohio State, establishing himself as a dominant force on defense. Reese portrays great skills in versatility and explosiveness, putting constant pressure on tackles. In his last season, David Bailey recorded 32 solo tackles and 14.5 sacks. Similar to Reese, Bailey also possesses elite explosiveness, as well as a quickness that his opposition has a hard time containing. Both of these players are ideal options for the Jets to draft with the second overall pick and one of them will most likely be coming to the Meadowlands this Thursday.
With the 16th overall pick, the Jets have more options to choose from and additional needs to address. The consensus position that many believe the team will target with this pick is the wide receiver position, looking for a young receiver to pair with star Garrett Wilson. The top two options most likely to be available at this pick are University of Arizona receiver Jordyn Tyson and USC receiver Makai Lemon.
Jordyn Tyson recorded 61 receptions for 711 yards in his most recent season, totaling eight touchdowns. Tyson’s route running abilities and strong showing in contested catches makes him an ideal target for many teams. Makai Lemon’s last season at USC featured the star player grabbing 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon’s greatest strength is his other-worldly speed, in addition to strong playmaking abilities.
New York Giants (No. 5 and No. 10 Pick)
After trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, the New York Giants now hold two of the top 10 picks in this year’s NFL Draft. In Jaxson Dart’s sophomore season, the first with him fully under control of the team, the Giants will look to build a solid squad around him.
At the 5th overall pick, the team has several needs to address, with David Bailey being a potential target for the Giants if he is still available. Another potential target for the team is Sonny Styles, a linebacker from Ohio State.
Styles recorded 46 solo tackles and a sack during his 2025 season at Ohio State, but really made a name for himself at the Draft Combine. His pure athleticism alone as a linebacker makes him an attractive option for many NFL teams.
At the 10th overall pick, the Giants have many other needs to address, including defense and receiving options for Dart. While Malik Nabers is set to return, giving Dart a lethal WR1, the draft gives the team an option to add a second option for him to throw to. Jordyn Tyson is a name commonly connected to the Giants, who has drawn interest from many teams.
Another option for the Giants is Caleb Downs, a safety from Ohio State. In his most recent season, Downs recorded 45 solo tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions. As a player, Downs is quick enough to cause disruptions on the field and bring immense value to any team that drafts him.
Regardless of who either team chooses in the draft, both squads have a lengthy amount of draft picks to use on young stars that will shape the future of both teams. While the results of the 2025 NFL season were less than ideal for both the Jets and Giants, the players chosen in this draft will be asked to lead the future of football in the Meadowlands for years to come.
