Jets Sign No. 2 Pick David Bailey
The Jets announced a four-year agreement with first-round edge defender David Bailey, the second overall pick in the draft. Bailey’s pact is worth approximately $54.68MM.
It was clear throughout the pre-draft process that the Raiders would select former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. There was less certainty surrounding the Jets’ top choice, as reports went back and forth on whether they would take Bailey or ex-Ohio State linebacker/edge defender Arvell Reese. Looking for an immediate pass-rushing upgrade, the Jets landed on Bailey, a former Stanford and Texas Tech standout.
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Bailey played three years at Stanford, where he notched 14.5 sacks in 32 games. After transferring to Texas Tech for his senior season last year, his production skyrocketed. Bailey piled up a nation-leading 14.5 sacks in 14 games, and he finished second in pressures (81) and tackles for loss (19.5). He earned unanimous All-America honors and the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Award for his efforts.
The Jets, who finished last in the NFL in pressure rate and 31st in sacks in 2025, have made it a point to boost an anemic pass rush this offseason. Before using a premium pick on Bailey, they signed Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare in free agency. Ossai and Enagbare will complement the Jets’ top edge rushers, Bailey and 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald.
With Bailey under wraps, the Jets have already signed all three of their first-round picks. They previously reached deals with tight end Kenyon Sadiq (16th overall) and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (30th). Fourth-round defensive tackle Darrell Jackson is the only member of their eight-player draft class who has not signed yet.
Jets Sign Round 2 CB D’Angelo Ponds
One of the Jets’ three first-round picks has signed his rookie contract to date, while some of the team’s Day 3 selections are on the books as well. New York has inked its only Day 2 pick as well.
Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds has agreed to terms on his initial NFL deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. The four-year pact is worth $9.84MM. As Schefter adds, Ponds secured $8.95MM in guarantees. The matter of locked-in money for second-round picks was a significant storyline last year, and that is likely to remain the case in 2026.
Ponds began his college career at James Madison, spending one year there. He was among the players who followed head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana ahead of the 2024 season. A full-time starting role awaited him upon arrival, and Ponds was a productive member of the Hoosiers’ defense. Ponds racked up five interceptions and 21 pass deflections during his Indiana tenure.
That production helped him earn first-team All-Big Ten honors along with a second-team All-American nod in 2024 and ’25. Size was no doubt a concern for some NFL evaluators, but the 5-8, 180-pound Ponds was still viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in this year’s class. It thus came as no surprise when the Jets selected him 50th overall. Ponds will be tasked with handling slot duties at the pro level after working on the perimeter in college.
The Jets ranked 17th against the pass in 2025, head coach Aaron Glenn‘s first year as head coach. The former NFL defensive back will take on a larger role leading New York’s defense this season after the unit struggled in several other areas. A strong rookie campaign from Ponds would help bring about needed improvements this season and help him establish himself as core figure in the secondary.
The Jets also announced on Friday that guard Anez Cooper has inked his rookie deal. The sixth-rounder is thus on the books in time for rookie minicamp. Five members of the Jets’ draft class have now been signed, leaving three more to go.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/26
A slew of rookies signed their first NFL contracts on Thursday. Here’s a look…
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Reggie Virgil (fifth round, Texas Tech)
- LB Karson Sharar (sixth round, Iowa)
- T Jayden Williams (seventh round, Ole Miss)
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Zachariah Branch (third round, Georgia)
- LB Kendal Daniels (fourth round, Oklahoma)
- LB Harold Perkins Jr. (sixth round, LSU)
- T Ethan Onianwa (seventh round, Ohio State)
Buffalo Bills
- OLB TJ Parker (second round, Clemson)
- S Jalon Kilgore (fifth round, South Carolina)
- DT Zane Durant (fifth round, Penn State)
- CB Toriano Pride Jr. (seventh round, Missouri)
- P Tommy Doman Jr. (seventh round, Florida)
- G Ar’maj Reed-Adams (seventh round, Texas A&M)
Denver Broncos
- TE Justin Joly (fifth round, NC State)
- S Miles Scott (seventh round, Illinois)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB CJ Allen (second round, Georgia)
- S A.J. Haulcy (third round, LSU)
- EDGE George Gumbs Jr. (fifth round, Florida)
- EDGE Caden Curry (sixth round, Ohio State)
- RB Seth McGowan (seventh round, Kentucky)
- WR Deion Burks (seventh round, Oklahoma)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DT Albert Regis (third round, Texas A&M)
- OL Emmanuel Pregnon (third round, Miami)
- S Jalen Huskey (third round, Maryland)
- DE Wesley Williams (fourth round, Duke)
- TE Tanner Koziol (fifth round, Houston)
- WR Josh Cameron (sixth round, Baylor)
- WR CJ Williams (sixth round, Stanford)
- DE Zach Durfee (seventh round, Washington)
- LB Parker Hughes (seventh round, Middle Tennessee State)
New York Giants
- WR Malachi Fields (third round, Notre Dame)
- DT Bobby Jamison-Travis (sixth round, Auburn)
- T J.C. Davis (sixth round, Illinois)
- LB Jack Kelly (sixth round, BYU)
New York Jets
- QB Cade Klubnik (fourth round, Clemson)
- S VJ Payne (seventh round, Kansas State)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Ted Hurst (third round, Georgia State)
- CB Keionte Scott (fourth round, Miami)
- DT DeMonte Capehart (fifth round, Clemson)
- G Billy Schrauth (fifth round, Notre Dame)
- TE Bauer Sharp (sixth round, LSU)
With the Jaguars’ three-day rookie minicamp scheduled to start Friday, they now have nine of their 10 picks under contract. The lone exception is their top choice, second-round tight end Nate Boerkircher.
The Buccaneers are in a similar situation to the Jaguars. Their second-rounder, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, is also unsigned. Meanwhile, Hurst has not officially put pen to paper, but that will change when he arrives for rookie camp on Friday. He has already agreed to terms, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/26
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Andre Baccellia (failed physical)
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Darren Hall
- Waived: S Tysheem Johnson
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: LB Jacoby Windmon
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DB Zah Frazier
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: OL Sal Wormley
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: DL Josh Fuga, CB Jordan Oladokun
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Zxavian Harris
New York Giants
- Released: DL Marlon Tuipulotu
- Waived: LB Swayze Bozeman, DL Elijah Chatman, WR Courtney Jackson
New York Jets
- Waived: C Gus Hartwig (failed physical)
- Waived/injured: S Chris Smith
The Bears surprised many today when they moved on from 2025 fifth-round pick Zah Frazier. The six-foot-three cornerback sat out his entire rookie campaign for what the team described as a “personal reason,” leading to his placement on the non-football injury list. As Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times notes, GM Ryan Poles recently acknowledged that the player had a “mountain to climb” if he hoped to contribute in 2026, with the executive adding that Frazier “needed to play” last year. Now, the defensive back will have to make his NFL debut elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals received a roster exemption today for international player Valentin Senn. The former Austrian prospect will be auditioning for a spot on Arizona’s offensive line. The Jets also got a roster exemption for Paschal Ekeji. The former rugby player will be competing for a spot on the Jets defensive line.
Jets Sign First-Round TE Kenyon Sadiq
The Jets now have the second of their three first-round picks under contract. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq has signed his fully guaranteed rookie deal, the team announced. As the 16th overall pick, Sadiq will earn approximately $22.34MM.
This year’s draft saw 22 tight ends come off the board, but Sadiq was the lone first-rounder of the bunch. The 6-foot-3, 241-pounder played three years at Oregon, where he enjoyed a breakout junior season in 2025. Sadiq hauled in 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns en route to Big Ten Tight End of the Year honors. He was also a second-team All-American.
Sadiq’s stock was already high when Oregon’s season ended, but he improved it with a scintillating performance at the Combine. The 21-year-old cemented himself as a first-round lock when he ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.39 seconds) of any tight end since at least 2003. He also paced the position in the 10-yard split and finished second in the vertical jump, broad jump and bench press.
The Jets, who entered the draft in dire need of pass-catching help, are banking on the athletically gifted Sadiq emerging as a key weapon in new coordinator Frank Reich‘s offense. Sadiq will join 2025 second-rounder Mason Taylor, who was a bright spot in a rough year for the team, as well as Jeremy Ruckert as New York’s tight ends. Sadiq, Taylor, No. 1 wide receiver Garrett Wilson, first-round wideout Omar Cooper Jr. (pick No. 30) and WR Adonai Mitchell form a respectable-looking collection of pass catchers on paper.
Sadiq is the first member of the Jets’ eight-player draft class to put pen to paper on his rookie deal. Edge defender David Bailey, the second overall pick, is the headliner of the group.
AFC Draft Rumors: Ravens, Dolphins, Patriots, Colts, Jets, Bengals
When the Ravens were on the clock at No. 14 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, the number of options available to the team had general manager Eric DeCosta seeking an opportunity to move back. Baltimore thought it had a deal in place, but it “fell apart,” according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
The top option for the Ravens was always offensive guard Vega Ioane, but surprisingly, when the team was on the clock, Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. was still on the board. Not to mention, DeCosta had interest in grabbing a weapon for his star quarterback, if they were able to move back and still secure USC receiver Makai Lemon or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. DeCosta felt comfortable the team could trade back and still land one of those four players without leaving the teens.
Per Michael Silver, also with The Athletic, DeCosta thought he had a deal in place to do so while also returning “extra fourth-round picks in each of the next two drafts” to Baltimore. Similar to how DeCosta and the Ravens backed out of their trade agreement at the turn of the new league year, though, the team he thought would make the deal “changed their mind,” changing their half of the deal in the process and leading to the Ravens moving on without a trade and with Ioane instead.
Here are a few other recent draft rumors from across the AFC:
- The Dolphins also got hurt by the trade game during the draft. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami had its eye set on Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields in the third round before the Giants sent three picks to Cleveland for the right to move just ahead of the Dolphins at No. 74. With Fields off the board, Miami pivoted to the next wide receiver on their board, Caleb Douglas out of Texas Tech, a pick that was generally criticized as a bit of a reach by analysts.
- Miami almost got targeted again in the fourth round, per Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports. Pauline claims the Patriots were interested in trading up on Day 3 for Texas defensive end Trey Moore, whom the Dolphins took at No. 130. New England had given up their 125th overall pick to move up three spots in the first round and would’ve had to trade up from the fifth round to land Moore. They didn’t end up selecting a pass rusher until the seventh round, when they took Boston College’s Quintayvious Hutchins just before the final compensatory picks.
- The Colts were able to land Georgia linebacker CJ Allen after trading back six spots. It was a gutsy move to delay the selection right when a run at the position had begun. General manager Chris Ballard had been eager to add more picks heading into Day 3, and the move back was a perfect opportunity to do just that. According to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, Ballard desired the picks enough to consider moving back again, but after playing with fire once already, he opted not to risk losing the services of the linebacker they coveted.
- One of the biggest debates leading into the 2026 NFL Draft was who the Jets were going to select at No. 2 overall. They ended up choosing Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey over Ohio State hybrid linebacker Arvell Reese. According to Jets senior reporter Eric Allen, while New York liked both prospects, Bailey’s established pass-rushing prowess and demonstrated production made him a better fit for what the team is trying to do. Per head coach Aaron Glenn, they still believe Reese will go on “to have a really good career” but felt more secure with Bailey as their pick.
- The Bengals made a bold move trading away a top 10 draft pick for former Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. A pick that high is usually considered a guarantee to land a franchise with a blue chip prospect, but this year’s draft crop was seen as thinner than usual. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero appeared on the Rich Eisen Show before the draft and claimed that the lack of blue chip prospects convinced Cincinnati to make the move for Lawrence. Per Pelissero, the Bengals only had seven players graded as blue chip prospects and didn’t foresee any of them falling to them at No. 10, so they traded for a player they knew was a blue chip prospect. It would be interesting to know if Bain had been one of those seven, and whether or not they would’ve preferred to have Bain fresh out of college, but ultimately, Lawrence is a decent consolation prize.
2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
May 1 marked the deadline for teams to decide on fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth. Twenty-two options were exercised this year. Here is how each team with an option decision proceeded with 2023 first-round contracts:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): Exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM): Declined
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Tyree Wilson, Saints ($14.48MM): Declined
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM): Exercised
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM): Exercised
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM): Exercised
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM): Exercised
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM): Exercised
- LB Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM): Exercised
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): Declined
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): Exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM): Declined
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM): Declined
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM): Exercised
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM): Exercised
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): Exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): Exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM): Declined
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM): Declined
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM): Declined
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
- LB Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM): Exercised
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($14.48MM): Declined
Jets Decline Mazi Smith’s Fifth-Year Option
The Jets announced on Wednesday that they picked up the fifth-year option for their 2023 first-round pick, Will McDonald. However, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, they will not do the same with Mazi Smith, the Cowboys’ 2023 first-rounder who was acquired as part of the Quinnen Williams deal at the 2025 trade deadline.
New York’s second fifth-year option decision certainly comes as no surprise. Smith did not develop as hoped during his tenure with the Cowboys, something which made him expendable in the Williams swap. He will now enter next season as a pending free agent.
Smith played sparingly as a rookie but took on a full-time starting role during his second season in Dallas. The Michigan product did not emerge as a notable presence in the pass rush department. Run defense remained a concern, and while the Cowboys initially displayed a desire to keep Smith in the fold, his name was mentioned in trade speculation. Upgrading along the defensive interior was a goal for the team last offseason, and Kenny Clark was part of the package Dallas received in the Micah Parsons blockbuster.
Even with Clark in the fold, Dallas sought out further changes at the D-tackle spot. That led to the Williams trade, and Smith — a throw-in piece in that November 2025 swap — played a role in replacing him upon arrival in New York.
Smith made just three appearances with the Jets down the stretch, though, logging only 54 defensive snaps along the way. A depth role should again be in store for his first full campaign with the team. The Jets acquired T’Vondre Sweat in the trade which sent Jermaine Johnson to the Titans and signed David Onyemata in free agency.
Defensive tackle was still seen as a position where New York could make further investments entering the draft. The Jets selected Darrell Jackson Jr. in the fourth round, and he will look to carve out a rotational role as a rookie. How Smith fits into the team’s setup on the defensive line will be interesting to see. It will also determine his earning potential upon testing the open market next spring.
Seventeen defensive tackles are currently attached to an AAV of $20MM or more. Smith would not have joined that group had his option ($13.93MM) been exercised, but a raise to that figure would have still been unexpected. The 2026 season will represent Smith’s age-25 campaign, and it will be key in deciding how his second NFL contract takes shape.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
Jets Pick Up Will McDonald’s Fifth-Year Option
The Jets officially picked up Will McDonald‘s fifth-year option, per a team announcement, ensuring the 2023 first-rounder remains under contract through the 2027 season. This had been the expectation, and this Jets regime now has more time to evaluate the Joe Douglas/Robert Saleh-era first-rounder.
McDonald, 26, had a quiet rookie year but emerged as a productive edge rusher in the last two seasons with 18.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss. Those numbers did not earn him any Pro Bowl recognition, which, combined with his minimal playing time as a rookie, keeps his fifth-year option at the lowest tier. He will be owed a fully guaranteed salary of $13.75MM, an excellent price for a consistent pass rusher.
[RELATED: 2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
That number looks even better considering McDonald’s upside. He is an elite athlete with nearly 35-inch arms, though his otherwise undersized frame significantly limits him against the run. That, of course, is less important in a league that pays for pass rushing production more than anything else.
The two sides can now get to work on a long-term extension, though negotiations could be tricky. McDonald’s traditional counting statistics over the last two years place him among the league’s top 20 edge rushers and in the company of players like Odafe Oweh, who just signed with the Commanders for $24MM per year. However, his pass rush win rate and pressure production fall closer to the middle of the pack, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
In fact, those numbers closely compare to Joseph Ossai, who just signed with the Jets for $11.5MM per year. A McDonald extension should certainly come in higher than Ossai’s due to his option value, but there is still a significant gap between that and Oweh’s deal. However, both player and club have plenty of reason to come to the table. McDonald is set to earn just $3MM in 2026, and his fifth-year option will be paid out as base salary over the course of the 2027 season. A multiyear deal would give him a sizable up-front payday and some long-term security as soon as he puts pen to paper.
The Jets would also benefit from an early extension. The new years and money would be added on to McDonald’s current deal, resulting in a much more favorable annual cost over the full term of the contract. The team retained McDonald at last year’s trade deadline. At the time, it was believed he carried more value to the current regime than fellow 2025 trade target Jermaine Johnson. The Jets dealt Johnson to Saleh’s Titans in March, though No. 2 overall pick David Bailey now resides as the team’s pass-rushing centerpiece. Johnson will remain in the fold, however, as the team evaluates his place alongside the Texas Tech standout.
Jets Host QB Russell Wilson
After spending last season with the Giants, quarterback Russell Wilson may not have to go far to find his next team. Wilson visited the Jets on Monday, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.
No signing is imminent, but there is “mutual interest” between the Jets and the 37-year-old Wilson, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. Wilson still lives in the area and “doesn’t really want to leave,” per Hughes.
Wilson was among the NFL’s top signal-callers for a large portion of a Seattle run that spanned from 2012-21, but the one-time Super Bowl winner’s production has fallen off in recent years. Since the end of his decade-long tenure in Seattle, where he earned nine Pro Bowl nods, Wilson has played for three teams in a four-year span.
Wilson’s fruitful Seahawks stint came to an end when they sent him to the Broncos for two first-round picks, a pair of second-rounders, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, tight end Noah Fant and QB Drew Lock in a March 2022 blockbuster. It ended up an ill-fated trade for the Broncos, who got two underwhelming seasons from Wilson and sputtered to a 13-21 record. They released Wilson in March 2024 and took on a then-record $85MM in dead money.
Looking for an upgrade over Kenny Pickett, the Steelers made a pair of dart throws when they added Wilson and Justin Fields ahead of the 2024 season. Both players wound up making starts, but Wilson got more action. Across 11 starts, he threw 16 touchdowns against five interceptions. While the Steelers went a middling 6-5 in Wilson’s outings, they finished 10-7 and earned a wild-card berth. Wilson completed 20 of 29 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns in the first round of the playoffs, but the Ravens handled the Steelers in a 28-14 victory. That proved to be Wilson’s last game in Pittsburgh.
Wilson was one of three high-profile QB pickups for the Giants last offseason. Before trading back into the first round to draft Jaxson Dart 25th overall, they signed Wilson to a one-year, $10.5MM guarantee and gave Jameis Winston $8MM over two years. Wilson opened the season as the Giants’ starter, but then-head coach Brian Daboll quickly pulled the plug. Daboll handed the reins to Dart in Week 4. Even though Dart later missed two games with a concussion, the Giants turned to Winston instead of Wilson in those instances. Wilson’s last start as a Giant came Sept. 21, 2025. He attempted just nine passes the rest of the year.
Shortly after the Giants’ season ended in January, Wilson revealed he suffered a hamstring tear last September. Despite that, he has insisted on multiple occasions that he wants to play a 15th season in 2026. The rebuilding Jets already have a bridge starter in offseason acquisition Geno Smith, Wilson’s former backup with the Seahawks, but the former enjoyed working with the latter in Seattle, per Costello. While rookie fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe are also in the fold, the Jets may turn to Wilson as Smith’s primary backup next season.