NFL
Did The New York Jets Win the Draft? Rival Front Offices Believe So
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2026 NFL Draft - Round One by Emilee Chinn | Getty Images
It’s unusual to think of the Jets in terms of maximising roster decisions and shining in the draft, but that’s precisely what’s going on in NFL circles right now.
The Jets aren’t earning the same media accolades as some other clubs in the post-draft analysis period, but multiple general managers expressed surprise over just how well a usually dysfunctional front office operated.
Sure, picking second in every round helps, but the Jets have been selecting near the top of the draft for a generation, seemingly, and rarely have they created this kind of buzz.
“I was starting at their board this morning before I cleaned out my office,” one general manager told SportsBoom after digesting the flurry of activity over the weekend, “and I think the Jets kind of crushed it man. Like their first five picks, holy (crap), it’s really impressive. They got a lot better, man. They just did.”
Why The Accolades?
The Jets may have landed the best pass rusher in the draft with David Bailey second-overall.
“They made the right call there, I really believe,” the GM said, and, probably, the best big downfield target in tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Receiver Omar Cooper was the go-to guy on the national championship Indiana team, and while their fourth-round pick, D’Angelo Ponds, lacks ideal size, he is built to win in the slot, which is vital in the modern passing game.
“Dude, they landed four starters right there,” the GM said, “and not just kids who could start for them. Those are four NFL starters I think.”
Another GM echoed that sentiment, and while the selection of quarterback Cade Klubnik with their second fourth-round pick was a bit more controversial the team desperately needed a developmental option, it stands to reason veteran Geno Smith might not make it through the season, and despite a poor season at Clemson Klubnik entered the season with Heisman Trophy hype.
“I don’t even really mind them taking a shot on Klubnik,” said another GM who can be pretty direct in his criticism. “They got a lot right.”
Of course, finding a legit quarterback has eluded this franchise forever, and will be the biggest obstacle to clear in any rebuild. That’s a matter for 2027. So far so good in 2026.
La Canfora has covered over 20 Super Bowls and League Meetings and NFL drafts, building a wide network of sources throughout all aspects of the game. He was an award winning print journalist as well, working at The Detroit Free Press and The Baltimore Sun prior to his first stint at The Washington Post. He has covered sporting events around the world, including two Winter Olympics and all of the 2006 World Cup. He attended his first NFL game in 1978, and would soon kindle what has become a lifelong love and appreciation of the sport. La Canfora is also a professional handicapper, specializing in the NFL, creating a daily sports wagering game show - "Wanna Bet?" He also hosts nationally broadcast NFL radio shows in the US, as well as a daily sports radio show in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.