Titans Were Intrigued By WR Carnell Tate’s Work Against Press Coverage; Latest On Team’s QB Room
When the Cardinals selected running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in last month’s draft, many expected the Titans to grab linebacker/EDGE Arvell Reese with the No. 4 choice. As we learned after the draft, the Titans were concerned about Reese’s positional fit in new head coach Robert Saleh’s defense, which is one of the reasons why Tennessee opted for wide receiver Carnell Tate instead (although the team reportedly would have taken Reese if Tate had not been available).
We also learned the Titans viewed Tate’s athleticism more highly than his official scouting combine metrics. And there was another aspect of his game that drew Tennessee to the former Buckeye: his ability against press coverage.
As ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes, Titans receivers caught just 17% of their targets last season when facing press coverage. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll (video link via Davenport) said he will address that concern schematically with more bunch formations and motions, and Daboll added that Tate’s presence will go a long way given what he was able to put on tape while in college.
Tennessee did find an EDGE later on in Day 1, trading back into the first round to land Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk. The team then picked up linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round, so it quickly tended to both of the defensive positions that could have been targets at No. 4. Clearly, however, adding more weaponry to second-year quarterback Cam Ward’s arsenal was a top priority, and the Titans apparently feel they landed a complete player at the top of the draft board.
In addition to his press coverage acumen, the 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. His production took off after Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka turned pro, and he did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
The Titans also added free agent WR Wan’Dale Robinson to a receiver room that includes promising 2025 draftees Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike (along with second-year tight end Gunnar Helm). The team returns veteran wideout Calvin Ridley, whose 2025 campaign was cut short by a broken fibula.
Behind Ward on the QB depth chart are new acquisitions Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker, along with holdover Will Levis. Trubisky appears locked into a role as Ward’s top backup, leaving Levis and Hooker to battle for a QB3/practice squad spot. Levis’ future in Nashville has been called into question, but he remains on the roster for the time being.
Naturally, Daboll had nothing but positive things to say about his group of passers. As Terry McCormick of TitanInsider relays, Daboll praised Ward’s professional approach and Trubisky’s familiarity with his offensive system (the OC also believes Trubisky’s teammates can benefit from the former No. 2 overall pick’s history of ups and downs). Daboll added that Levis has picked up the system quickly and will benefit from the fresh start presented by Tennessee’s offseason regime change, and he said Hooker “looked good” in his tryout with the club.
Steelers Explored Trade With Bucs To Take Makai Lemon At No. 15
While the Steelers did not call the Cowboys about trading up for Makai Lemon during last month’s draft, they did explore a move to the Buccaneers’ No. 15 pick to land the USC wide receiver, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Rich Eisen Show).
Tampa Bay, though, did not expect Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to be available midway through the first round, and they quickly pounced on one of their top-ranked defenders. Pittsburgh looked at the five teams ahead of them at No. 21 – the Jets, Lions, Vikings, Panthers, and Cowboys – and assessed that none would take a wide receiver. They were correct; however, they did not anticipate getting jumped by Philadelphia, who traded up for Dallas’ pick and selected Lemon.
In what may be remembered as an infamous draft night moment, the Steelers were on the phone with Lemon informing him that he would be the 21st pick – while the Cowboys were still on the clock – when the Eagles made their move. General manager Howie Roseman called Lemon, who awkwardly hung up with the Steelers and got the news that he would be headed to Philly instead.
The Steelers pivoted to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound physical specimen who will fill a key need in Pittsburgh right away. If he proves to be a high-level starter, then missing out on Lemon may have been a blessing in disguise, as reliable offensive tackles are much harder to find than productive wide receivers. Trading up with the Buccaneers likely would have cost the Steelers their third-round pick, too, which they ended up using on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
Pittsburgh was also willing to trade up for safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Carnell Tate, Dulac added, though both were selected long before they were in the Steelers’ range. Tate went surprisingly early to the Titans at No. 4, while the Cowboys moved up one pick to snag Downs at No. 11. An aggressive move up for Downs would have required Pittsburgh’s second-round pick, which they used to grab one of their other preferred wideouts, Alabama’s Germie Bernard.
Titans’ First-Round WR Carnell Tate Signs Rookie Deal
Having wrapped up the signings of their late-round picks, the Titans turned their attention to their top overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tennessee has reached an agreement with Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate on his rookie four-year deal worth $51.13MM. The No. 4 overall pick reportedly received a $33.65MM signing bonus on his fully guaranteed agreement.
Tate started his career with the Buckeyes coming off the bench as a true freshman, earning his first start in the team’s bowl game. As a full-time starter in Year 2, Tate finished third in all three major receiving stats, behind then-freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith and future first-rounder Emeka Egbuka, en route to a national championship title. In his final year of collegiate play, Tate finished second behind Smith with career highs in receiving yards (875) and touchdowns (9).
It was thought that the Titans would grab a pass rusher, if one of the top two slipped past Arizona, but when the Cardinals took the running back many predicted would end up in Tennessee, the team surprised by taking Tate. Opting to secure another new weapon for their No. 1 overall pick from last year’s draft, the Titans landed an athlete proficient in multiple areas.
With deceptive speed, Tate showed deep ball potential with nine catches of 40+ yards. Despite the fact that he routinely found the end zone from far out — his nine touchdown catches averaged 32.5 yards per reception — Tate’s size and length also make him a formidable redzone target. In 14 contested targets, Tate came down with 12 catches. He’s a savvy route runner, too. The only questions following him to the NFL have to do with his ability to play across the middle of the defense — something he was not asked to do much in Columbus — and whether he can produce as a main target as he finally steps out from Smith’s shadow.
Tate joins an impressively re-tooled passing attack in Tennessee. The Titans signed wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and tight end Daniel Bellinger in free agency to team up with last year’s impressive rookie pass catchers Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and tight end Gunnar Helm. Quarterback Cam Ward has a much-improved group that expects to see Tate starting alongside Robinson and a healthy Calvin Ridley.
After inking Tate, the Titans have two more high draft picks to sign before they wrap a bow on this year’s rookie class:
- Round 1, No. 4: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 31 (from Patriots via Bills): Keldric Faulk (DE, Auburn)
- Round 2, No. 60 (from Bills via Titans): Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas)
- Round 5, No. 142 (from Jets via Ravens): Fernando Carmona (G, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 165 (from Bears via Bills): Nicholas Singleton (RB, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 184: Jackie Marshall (DT, Baylor) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 194 (from Ravens via Jets): Pat Coogan, C (Indiana) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 225 (from Chiefs via Cowboys): Jaren Kanak (TE, Oklahoma) (signed)
Titans Were Down To Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese At No. 4
MAY 4: Uncertainty about Reese’s positional fit in Saleh’s defense was a factor in passing on the Ohio State linebacker, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The team’s draft board reflected that concern with Tate ranked above Reese.
Still, the Titans may not have expected to be faced with that decision. Reese was long projected as a top-three pick, but the Jets and Cardinals went with David Bailey and Jeremiyah Love, respectively. Had Bailey fallen to Tennessee, the team may have opted for him or considered a trade back with the goal of adding either the Texas Tech edge rusher or Tate later in the top 10.
MAY 1: The Titans surprised many by taking Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, a move that significantly shook up the top 10.
Tennessee was widely expected to draft a top defender or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with their first pick. When the Cardinals took Love at No. 3, it seemed that new Titans head coach Robert Saleh was free to handpick a new star for his defense. Instead, the team went with Tate.
Their decision was multi-faceted. First was a different assessment of Tate’s athleticism than the public consensus. The Titans timed Tate’s 40-yard dash at the Combine “in the mid-4.4s” as opposed to his official time of 4.53 seconds, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. In their eyes, that rounded out the profile of an otherwise complete wide receiver with a full route tree and excellent skills at the catch point.
Getting help for former No. 1 pick Cam Ward was also a priority, one that encouraged Tennessee to go with an offensive playmaker rather than a defensive one. Tate largely played second fiddle to Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State in 2025, which many evaluators saw as a negative – he could not even be the top target on his own team. The Titans, though, had a different takeaway: Tate would have a place in whatever offense they build over the next several years, whether it be as a WR1 or a versatile part of a deeper group.
Had Tate not been available, Breer adds, the Titans would have gone with his teammate, linebacker Arvell Reese. The team badly needs to strengthen their pass rush, especially at defensive end even after reuniting Saleh with Jets 2022 first-rounder Jermaine Johnson. Reese was projected to convert into an edge rusher in the pros, but he might been a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker than a defensive end in Saleh’s 4-3 scheme.
Tennessee also drafted Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round and could deploy him in the role they envisioned for Reese. Hill has a slightly smaller frame and lacks the same bend and agility as Reese, but he could still be used creatively by Saleh.
The Titans’ decision highlights a false trend in the NFL: teams who hire a new head coach prioritize their side of the ball with their first draft picks. Despite the symbolism of such a move – letting a new leader select a prospect that fits his scheme, style, and culture – the process rarely plays out that way. General managers are still focused on value and following their draft board while incorporating coaches’ feedback.
This year, only four of the 10 teams with new head coaches used their first pick on the coach’s side of the ball. The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza for Klint Kubiak – though that likely would have been the case no matter who they hired – the Cardinals drafted Love for LaFleur, the Browns got both Spencer Fano and KC Concepcion for Todd Monken, and the Steelers got Max Iheanachor (instead of Makai Lemon) for Mike McCarthy.
But, just as the Jets went with quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021, Saleh’s first year in New York, the Titans went with a wide receiver who was the top-ranked player on their board. That is not to say Saleh was not on board for those picks, or that head coaches in general prioritize their side of the ball. Another new defensive head coach, Jesse Minter, urged general manager Eric DeCosta to select guard Vega Ioane over edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., and the Jeff Hafley-led Dolphins took offensive lineman Kayden Proctor. In fact, there is an argument that the head coach’s expertise on one side of the ball means there should be more talent investment in the other.
At the end of the day, the Titans nabbed their desired prospect for their first pick in Tate, and Saleh still got a defensive lineman when the team traded back into the first round to select Auburn’s Keldric Faulk.
Titans Select WR Carnell Tate At No. 4
The first receiver has come off the board early. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate has been selected fourth overall by the Titans, a team long seen as a candidate to make a defensive investment at this spot.
Some teams reportedly considered Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson the top receiver in the draft, but Tate has won out and will become a key weapon for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans spent the first overall pick in last year’s draft on Ward, but a poor supporting cast contributed to a difficult rookie season for the Miami product.
Hoping to make life easier for Ward, Tennessee has added Tate and free agent pickup Wan’Dale Robinson to its receiving corps this offseason. They will also bring back veteran Calvin Ridley and second-year wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. The Titans’ Tate-led receiving corps will work with an established offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, one of new head coach Robert Saleh‘s most important hires. As the Giants’ head coach in 2024, Daboll helped then-rookie receiver Malik Nabers to a 109-catch, 1,204-yard year after they chose him sixth in the draft. The Titans will hope for a similar impact from Tate.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. Stuck behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as a freshman, Tate only managed 18 receptions and a score. His production took off after those two left for the NFL. Although Tate played second fiddle to future pro Jeremiah Smith from 2024-25, he averaged 52 catches, 804 yards and seven touchdowns per year. The sure-handed Tate did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
Tate is now the latest Buckeyes wideout to exit the board in the first round in recent years, joining Egbuka, Harrison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. All of those players have enjoyed successful careers in the pros.
The Titans were expected to use their top pick on either a receiver or an edge defender. Having landed a pass catcher, they could turn their attention to the other side of the ball with their next selection (No. 35).
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Latest On Giants’ First-Round Plans
The Giants adding the No. 10 overall pick in the Dexter Lawrence trade has complicated the first round for the NFC East franchise. A lot is in play as John Harbaugh finalizes preparations for his first New York draft.
Tied to the likes of Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Jordyn Tyson and also potentially bolstering their O-line, the Giants have several directions they can now go holding two top-10 choices. The Giants are believed to want to help Jaxson Dart in this year’s first round, per ESPN.com’s Matt Miller, and Love links have piled up. But it is quite possible the Notre Dame running back is off the board by No. 5.
How the board falls at 5 may dictate what the Giants do at 10, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones expecting Big Blue to draft a player on each side of the ball by night’s end. It would be interesting to see the Giants take Love at 5 and perhaps Tyson or Carnell Tate at 10, but if the team does draft either Love or Tyson at 5, finding a defender at 10 might be difficult.
It is quite possible Styles and Downs will be off the board by No. 10, perhaps ramping up the pressure on New York — presuming it wants at least one of the Ohio State defenders — to go defense then offense. Downs appears more likely than Styles to be available at 10, and before the Bengals and Giants made the above-referenced trade, Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft had the safety falling to Cincinnati in that spot. But it is very possible both go off the board in the top nine, and in a scenario where the Giants end up with Love or Tyson at 5, they might need to look closely at their O-line options due to Styles and Downs potentially being spoken for by 10.
Love may be too difficult to pass on at 5, but Miller adds the Giants do not expect him to be there by then. That said, Miller notes the team would pick the former Fighting Irish star if he is available. That simplifies this process to a degree, but with Love links to the Cardinals and Titans, it is obviously possible the Giants will need to turn to their second choice (at least) at 5.
Tyson may be part of that equation, as the Arizona State wideout has vaulted up the board — with his recent workout showing the skillset that has tantalized teams amid an injury-plagued career. Giants coaches are “very high on” Tyson, Miller colleague Jeremy Fowler adds. No team did more work on Tyson than the Giants, per Miller.
Joe Schoen was at the prospect’s modified pro day in Tempe, Ariz., and that included a dinner with the fast-rising pass catcher. If the Giants do not believe Tyson will be available at 10, adding him early and taking their chances with one of the Ohio State defenders or an O-lineman may be the play (in the event Love is gone by 5).
The team has also been connected to Tate, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mocks the ex-Buckeyes receiver to New York at No. 5. The team likes both players, per Breer, but Tate would give New York a much safer prospect — albeit one with less upside — in this premium draft slot.
Tyson will be a higher-variance prospect, while Tate — Ohio State’s WR2 behind Jeremiah Smith over the past two years — would slot in alongside Malik Nabers. The latter’s recent ACL tear could impact the Giants on Tyson, but if the NFC East team is truly sold on the Arizona State product’s upside, passing for a safer option may not go over too well should Tyson hit elsewhere.
Jets Have ‘Settled On’ Arvell Reese At No. 2? Latest On 16th Pick
With the Raiders a lock to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall on Thursday, the real draft drama will begin when the Jets are on the clock at No. 2. The Jets are expected to select Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker/edge Arvell Reese. On the eve of the draft, there is a belief the team has “settled on Reese,” Dan Graziano of ESPN hears.
Jets reports centering on Bailey and Reese have gone back and forth in recent weeks. Reese was the favorite to go to the Jets as of April 5, but Bailey took the lead last week. It has since swung back to Reese after the Jets canceled a scheduled “30” visit with Bailey.
Asked about the Jets on Wednesday, Bailey told reporters (via Jets Videos): “It’s been good, man. They canceled my “30” visit, so I wasn’t able to get around the facility, but I had a great interaction with them at the combine and FaceTime calls.”
Bailey notched 14.5 sacks over three years at Stanford, but he matched that total during his lone season at Texas Tech in 2025. While he is considered a safer bet than Reese from a pass-rushing standpoint, the latter’s upside and versatility may be too much for the Jets to ignore. As PFR’s Sam Robinson noted, the Jaguars were in a similar situation heading into the 2022 draft. Looking for an impact pass rusher, the Jaguars went with the upside play (Travon Walker) over someone who was more productive in college (Aidan Hutchinson). Walker has turned into a good pro, but Hutchinson has been the better of the two.
In assessing Reese, a defensive coordinator told James Palmer of Bleacher Report: “It’s tough. I think his best spot is edge rusher. But he is fully athletically capable of playing inside LB. I think his disposition is more edge rusher when you talk to him. You just get that feel from him. If he had a gun to his head he’d probably say that as well. With his athletic tools and how his brain works he could be directly impactful there at edge.”
The Jets’ first-round work will continue even after they decide on Reese or Bailey. They also own the 16th overall pick, but there is “a real chance” they will trade out of that slot, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reports. A team in need of an offensive lineman could jump the Lions at 17 to acquire the Jets’ selection, per Pauline, who points to Pittsburgh as a possibility. For now, the Steelers are in line to pick 21st.
Depending on how aggressive the Jets are in targeting a receiver with their second pick, trading up from 16 may also be under consideration. The Jets reportedly have first-round grades on three wideouts: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Denzel Boston (Washington). However, they “don’t seem as high” on Tate as they are on Tyson, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. While Tyson has a concerning injury history, he might have the most upside of any receiver in this class. Unless the Jets move up, Tyson may be out of reach.
Some Teams Prefer Jordyn Tyson’s Upside To Carnell Tate’s; Giants, Jets Showing Interest
One of the top storylines during the late runup to the draft covers the wide receiver position. It no longer appears a given Carnell Tate will be the first wideout chosen this year.
Residing as a fairly high-floor option, Tate did not operate as Ohio State’s No. 1 wide receiver during his time in Columbus. This is due to the presence of standout Jeremiah Smith, who is a candidate to be a top-five pick in 2027. But some teams prefer Jordyn Tyson‘s upside to Tate’s at the receiver spot, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes.
Breer does view most teams as having Tate as this class’ top wideout prospect; we have heard the Saints (No. 8) as a potential floor for the ex-Buckeyes talent, with the Titans, Giants and Commanders being connected as well. Several teams in the top 10, however, like Tyson, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Tyson, who battled injuries during his college career and amid the draft leadup, performed positional drills for teams at a workout last week. That audition drew extensive attention, with Giants GM Joe Schoen among those making the trip for the showcase.
As our Ely Allen noted last week, Tyson had been viewed as the class’ top wideout at a previous juncture. But injuries have dinged his stock. Tyson suffered ACL, MCL and PCL tears while at Colorado before sustaining a broken collarbone during a 2024 comeback season. He played nine games last year due to hamstring injuries, with that issue coming up during the pre-draft process as well. Tyson shined before the collarbone break in 2024, however, totaling 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions.
The Giants obtained a second first-round pick via the Dexter Lawrence trade. Holding Nos. 5 and 10, New York could land both a defender and wide receiver. It might be a bit of a skill-position overcommitment for the Giants to go Jeremiyah Love at No. 5 and a receiver at 10, but if Big Blue opts for defense at 5, teams may be leery of them pouncing on Tyson at 10. On that note, SNY’s Connor Hughes mocks the Jets trading up to No. 9 for Tyson, who is believed to be the top receiver on Gang Green’s board.
Smokescreen warnings are obvious at this time of the year, but we heard previously the Jets had first-round grades on just three WRs — Tate, Tyson and Washington’s Denzel Boston. Ely mocked Boston to New York at No. 16, but PFR’s mock draft did not include trades. It is quite possible the Jets — who hold four picks in the first two rounds — could be aggressive to move up for a player they like in a maligned draft class.
The Giants’ Tyson interest is “well known,” per Hughes, who adds the Jets have held exploratory conversations about what it would take to climb up for a receiver. Tyson falling to No. 16 served as a previous Jets hope, per Hughes, but Rapoport now views it as likelier the 6-foot-2 pass catcher goes off the board in the top 10. Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. sits second at the position on some teams’ boards, per Breer, providing considerable intrigue as to the order this receiver class comes off the board.
Tate did not produce a 900-yard receiving season, playing as Smith’s sidekick. Tyson flashed brightly with the Sun Devils but could not shake injury trouble. That represents the main reason why there is a debate on this year’s first receiver off the board, as Tyson would likely occupy that spot were he cleaner from a health perspective. Will Tate’s safer prospect profile outflank Tyson’s higher ceiling Thursday night?
WR Draft Notes: Branch, Tate, Tyson
A week after some controversial draft reporting opened up discussions on journalistic ethics, another story was reported this afternoon concerning the arrest of another high-projected draft pick. An uncredited ESPN report disclosed today that Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch was arrested late-Saturday night/early-Sunday morning on two possible misdemeanor charges.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero quickly followed up the report describing the situation as Branch being “arrested while standing on a public sidewalk for not moving far enough when a police officer asked him to move.” Pelissero’s version of events comes from a copy of the police report of the incident. The report describes Branch as a male who “continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move.” It goes on to say that, upon receiving commands and threats of citation, Branch “smirked” and “stepped backwards and to the right” but “remained standing upon the public sidewalk.”
The officer placed him under arrest for “misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and (he) received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.” Mike Garafolo, also of NFL Network, reached out to a few teams’ personnel departments, and while some claimed they would do the requisite research on it over the next few days, it ultimately “doesn’t sound like it’ll be something that affects Zachariah Branch’s draft prospects greatly, if at all.”
Here are a couple other rumors concerning wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft:
- According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is widely viewed as the draft class’s “safest pick.” Per Fowler, he’s projected solidly in the range of pick Nos. 4-7. His pedigree, polished route-running, and good but not great top speed are all attributes that secure him as the potential WR1, but he may not be considered the most talented at his position.
- Fowler went on to mention the recent rise of Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, after his recent workout this week. Tyson showed all of the explosive, twitchy athleticism in that workout that scouts know he is capable of, but his injury history persists as a potential concern for his future durability. Still, Fowler claims multiple teams have Tyson ranked as the best wide receiver of the draft class, but he only connected Tyson to teams picking around Nos. 7-10, meaning he might end up being WR2.
Jets Expected To Draft David Bailey Second Overall; Latest On WR Possibilities
The Jets canceled a scheduled “30” visit with David Bailey, but that is hardly an indication they will pass on the Texas Tech edge defender at No. 2 overall in the draft. On the contrary, “most of the league” expects the Jets to use their first pick on Bailey, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears.
The possibility of the Jets taking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in the second slot exists, but the popular belief is they will settle on Bailey or Buckeyes LB/edge Arvell Reese. Not even two weeks ago, Reese was reportedly the favorite to end up in New York. The draft is still a week away, leaving enough time for this to swing in a different direction by next Thursday.
Will McDonald and free agent additions Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare are the Jets’ top edge options heading into the draft. They make for a decent trio, but the Jets are in need of a game-wrecking pass rusher. They may get one in the 22-year-old Bailey, whose production exploded last season. Spending his first three college seasons at Stanford, Bailey combined for 14.5 sacks over 32 games. He matched that sack total in 14 games with the Red Raiders.
After leading his conference in sacks and tackles for loss (19.5) in 2025, Bailey earned a unanimous All-America selection and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder further demonstrated his athletic prowess at the Combine, where he paced his position in the 40-yard dash (4.50) and ranked third in the broad jump, seventh in the 10-yard split and tied for 10th in the vertical jump.
Even if Bailey does not end up as their choice, the Jets are likely to take a defender with their initial pick. The Jets also have another first-rounder, No. 16, and may use that selection to bring in a potential impact player on offense. Receiver is a glaring weakness for the Jets, who need a high-end complement to the excellent Garrett Wilson. A recent report indicated the Jets are “extremely high on” Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr., but they like him much better as a potential option at No. 33 than at 16, according to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports.
New York spending a first-rounder on Cooper is not on the table, per Pauline, who reports the team has only given Round 1 grades to three receivers: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Denzel Boston (Washington). Tate should be long gone when the Jets are on the clock again at the midpoint of the first round, but coming away with either Tyson or Boston looks like a realistic outcome.