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Jets Draft Oregon WR Kenyon Sadiq, 16th Overall

4/25/2026

Summary

Jets Draft Sadiq

The Jets selected Oregon end Kenyon Sadiq with pick 16 in the 2026 Draft.
Sadiq thought call was a prank until Aaron Glenn confirmed it.
He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, finishing 2025 with 51 catches and eight touchdowns, leading FBS.
The Jets view him as the second-best receiver behind Garrett Wilson and will pair him with Mason Taylor.
They expect him to improve hand-eye coordination after six drops.

Summary

Jets Draft Cooper

The Jets entered the draft with two first-round picks and, after trading up with the 49ers, took Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30.
GM Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn said they favored players from recent CFP-winning programs.
Analysts said the picks mark a shift to offensive weapons, breaking a decade of defensive-first drafting.
The No. 44 second-round selection remains open, allowing the Jets to still target a quarterback.

Summary

Cooper Draft Prospect

Analyst Adam Holt says Omar Cooper Jr. is among the top run-blocking wideouts in the 2026 draft class and spent most of 2025 lining up in the slot, suggesting a long-term NFL slot role.
Holt notes Cooper’s catches grew from 18 for 267 yards in 2023 to 69 for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025, though his short-area quickness was occasionally lacking.
He adds that Cooper’s red-zone threat should not be underestimated.

Summary

Jets Draft Bailey

The Jets selected defensive end David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick, the highest-selected defender since 1967.
Analysts point to the Jets allowing 29.6 points per game, recording 26 sacks (31st in pass-rush), and note that previous No. 2 overall picks Johnny “Lam” Jones, Blair Thomas and Zach Wilson failed to meet expectations.
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn plans to use Bailey in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, pairing him with Will McDonald IV.

History

Historical Context

In the 1967 common draft, the Baltimore Colts used the first-overall selection—acquired from the New Orleans Saints—to pick Michigan State defensive end Bubba Smith, who played nine NFL seasons and helped Baltimore win Super Bowl V. The 2026 New York Jets, selecting defensive backs David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr., are echoing that historic move by adding pass-rush talent to reshape their defense.

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Jets Draft Sadiq

The Jets selected Oregon end Kenyon Sadiq with pick 16 in the 2026 Draft.
Sadiq thought call was a prank until Aaron Glenn confirmed it.
He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, finishing 2025 with 51 catches and eight touchdowns, leading FBS.
The Jets view him as the second-best receiver behind Garrett Wilson and will pair him with Mason Taylor.
They expect him to improve hand-eye coordination after six drops.

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