FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets took an aggressive but uneven approach in the 2026 NFL draft, a strategy that earned a “C-” grade from EasySportz’s in-house NFL analyst in its team-by-team evaluation.
New York made a bold move with three first-round selections, drafting David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr., aiming to inject talent across multiple position groups. The Jets followed with defensive back D’Angelo Ponds in the second round.
The Jets added defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. and quarterback Cade Klubnik in the fourth round, then selected offensive lineman Anez Cooper in the sixth and V.J. Payne in the seventh to round out the class.
EasySportz’s analyst questioned the overall direction, noting the volume of early picks did not translate into clear value or roster cohesion. The report cited inconsistency in positional focus and uncertainty surrounding long-term impact, particularly with several picks viewed as reaches.
National evaluations reflected similar concerns, with analysts pointing to a lack of clear strategy despite the high draft capital.
Overall, the Jets’ draft was viewed as a high-risk, uneven class that failed to maximize its opportunities — reflected in the analyst’s C- grade.
