After the events of this season’s trade deadline, the writing was on the wall for the New York Jets.
It’s been another miserable season for Gang Green, finishing dead last in the division and second-worst in the entire league. For some, however, hope still springs eternal as new GM Darren Mougey has plenty of capital to load up a barren roster. With four top 50 draft picks, New York is equipped to crawl their way out of the basement.
Round 1, Pick 2: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
It seems like Rueben Bain is destined to be the most polarizing player in this draft class.
Draft insider Dane Brugler sent the NFL community into a frenzy after reporting that Bain received Day 2 grades from several scouts. Due to outlier measurables, his reported arm length of 30 ¾ inches, some don’t see Bain as an edge rusher at the next level.
However, everything else from a production and traits standpoint suggests that Bain is the best player in this class. In true pass sets, Bain ranked second in the country in pass rush win rate while leading the nation in pressures. He’s almost as good against the run, ranking 9th in FBS in run defense grade per PFF.
Although he’s only 6’3, Bain has the ideal modern edge-rusher build at 270 pounds. In an era where the best offenses punish defenses for predominantly lighter boxes, Bain has the size to dispose of his blocker and wreak havoc at the line. What’s truly unique about Bain is the burst for his size, suggesting that his maligned arm length could be less of an issue if he simply can’t be touched.
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At the moment, Bain is the definition of a tone setter in a draft class sorely lacking many.
Round 1, Pick 16: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
With all of the elite talents off the board, the Jets still get a quality contributor at pick 16.
In terms of fluidity and speed, there might not be a corner with a better combination than Terrell. His speed and athleticism allows him to mirror whoever his matchup is downfield. Terrell is excellent when targeted, forcing receivers to be aggressive at the catch point.
Maybe most intriguing about Terrell is his ability to take the ball away. Although he has just three interceptions in his college career, he’s forced a remarkable eight fumbles throughout his time at Clemson. For a Jets team that was averse to takeaways, that should stand out with Mougey.
Some will knock Terrell as too short to play on the outside, but in an era where nickel corners are becoming cornerstones on defense, this isn’t the end of the world either. Terrell is as feisty as it gets for a corner, recording an 85.2 run defense grade per PFF. We’ve seen Glenn value tackling corners throughout his first year, and there’s no doubt Terrell fits the billing.
Round 2, Pick 33: Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
After a stellar season at Indiana, Cooper has flown up boards and is even starting to garner round one attention.
At the moment, Cooper is the perfect fit for what this Jets offense needs. He isn’t a press man specialist, but he offers Y/Z alignment versatility and eats up zone coverage. He’s strong at the catch point, as Indiana fans will never forget his go-ahead catch against Penn State, saving the Hoosiers’ perfect season.
Production wise, it seems like Cooper can offer a diet version of what USC’s Makai Lemon will bring to a team. He won’t wow testing wise, but it’s hard to find players in this class that have his combination of route running, ball skills, and ability after the catch.
It doesn’t feel like Cooper will ever be an alpha weapon, but his efficiency per route run suggests he’s the perfect complementary weapon. On top of all the things he does well as a receiver, Cooper is more than satisfactory as an auxiliary blocker at 205 pounds. With everything he does well, it’s hard to imagine him not being a solid NFL contributor in his career.
Round 2, Pick 44: Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
One of the main downfalls for an all time inept defense was its struggles at linebacker.
For all his qualms, Hill looks the part for a linebacker that Glenn can mold well into his system. At 6’3, 238 pounds, he provides the build that New York is missing in the spine of their unit. He certainly plays like it too, profiling as the enforcer of the Texas Longhorns defense.
Hill is still a work in progress coverage wise, but there’s enough there athletically to suggest he can improve. This is more a feel issue than an ability issue, and a system that doesn’t run a lot of zone will ask more of his strengths over weaknesses.
Another big link between Hill and the Jets is his ability as a blitzer. Glenn will certainly look for pass rush ability in his linebackers as one of the most aggressive defensive minds in the league. Hill totaled 12 sacks in his time at Texas, aligning both in the B gap and off the edge as a will linebacker. Once again, the athleticism stands out as something New York lacked in 2025.
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