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Should Jets Consider Double-dip at Premium Position?
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Should Jets Consider Double-dip at Premium Position?

Originally posted on JetNation.com  |  By Glenn Naughton  |  Last updated Apr 20, 2026 12:08 PM ET
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While Darren Mougey and the New York Jets put the finishing touches on their draft board before all eyes on on Pittsburgh, a peek at their roster shows a potential need to double-dip at a key spot in a draft class that offers that possibility.

After dealing edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat and signing both Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enegbare, there’s some potential on the edge, but hardly enough to ignore it come draft day.  In fact, there’s so little in terms of proven commodities, that grabbing two edge rushers with their top 44 picks would make sense.

As currently constructed, the Jets roster consists of eight edge rushers.  Of those eight, four have never registered a single sack (Kingsley Jonathan, Eric Watts, Tyler Baron and Paschal Ekeji).  Of the four who have registered a sack, only one has hit double digits in fewer than sixty games in Joseph Ossai (14.5 in 61 games) and Kingsley Enagbare (11.5 in 68 games).  Braiden McGregor has one in 19 games.

Former first round pick Will McDonald is of course at the top of the list with 21.5 sacks in 47 career games, but him being a liability against the run limits when and where you can use him.

With this being the case, Mougey and the Jets should seriously consider taking advantage of a draft class that boasts several high ceiling pass rushers by taking two early on.  According to those “in the know”, Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is a lock to land with the Jets at pick number two.  If not, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese would be the pick.  Another defensive player with edge rushing traits.

Once Bailey or Reese are in the fold, should the Jets go in that direction, they should turn their attention to one of the three edge rushers who may be there with the 33rd pick.  Three names worth keeping an eye on are Clemson’s TJ Parker, Missouri’s Zion Young and Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence.

While it is possible, perhaps even quite likely that two of those three go in the first round, at least one of that trio should be available when the Jets open up at the top of the second round.  That’s where a double dip could start building a solid rotation of pass rushers for head coach Aaron Glenn.

In Parker, you have one of many players who had letdown performances in 2025. Viewed as a possible top ten or fifteen pick at the start of the season, there are those who now have him falling to the bottom of round 1 or early round two.  Young is a 6′ 6” 262 edge defender who is plenty stout against the run, uses his length well to close passing lanes and is currently Pro Football Network’s 32nd ranked player.

Lawrence is the “small school” prospect among the three out of UCF, but his explosiveness jumps out on film and was supported by his performance at the combine.  His 40” vertical, 10′ 10” broad jump and 4.52 40 time verified what onlookers saw on Saturdays and has had some onlookers, though not many, suggesting he could go in the first round.

But if Lawrence, Parker or Young are on the board when the Jets are picking at 33 or 44, they’d be doing the right thing by adding another high-ceiling player at a premium position of need who would be years away from a huge pay day.

This article first appeared on JetNation.com and was syndicated with permission.

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