The New York Jets remain tight-lipped about their plans for the second overall selection in Thursday night’s NFL draft.
However, major sportsbooks believe they’re detecting a pattern: David Bailey, the pass rusher from Texas A&M, has overtaken Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese as the betting favorite to be chosen right after the Las Vegas Raiders select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first pick.
Just one day earlier, BetMGM had Reese listed at -400 odds to be the second pick, while Bailey was available at +200. At that point, Bailey led in total number of bets placed at 21.2%, while Reese attracted the most money wagered at 37.2%. However, by Wednesday evening, Bailey had become the favorite at -145 odds, with Reese dropping significantly to +110.
DraftKings similarly shows Bailey at -150 to be selected second overall, Reese at +115, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love far behind at +8000.
This dramatic shift in betting patterns happened even though the Jets canceled Bailey’s scheduled “top 30” visit to their facility. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn minimized the significance of not hosting Bailey for a pre-draft workout, and Bailey echoed that sentiment Wednesday, explaining he has maintained extensive communication with team leadership and recently connected with them via FaceTime.
Another consideration remains whether the Jets will actually use that second pick.
New York holds five selections among the first 103 picks and might choose to trade down from either the No. 2 or No. 16 positions Thursday evening. The team also possesses two second-round picks for Friday night.
Should the Jets remain at No. 2, the choice between Bailey and Reese has generated significant pre-draft discussion.
Field Level Media ranks the 6-foot-4, 243-pound Reese as the sixth-best prospect in the 2026 draft class, with the 6-3, 247-pound Bailey following closely at seventh.
Bailey shared the NCAA lead with 14.5 sacks this past season and has earned recognition as an exceptional athlete who demonstrates explosive first-step quickness. Analysts have drawn comparisons between Bailey and Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto, who faced similar concerns about his run-stopping ability when he left Oklahoma before the 2022 draft.
Reese offers the ability to anchor the edge in a 3-4 defensive scheme or provide interior pressure in a 4-3 alignment. He also demonstrates coverage skills against tight ends and brings an appealing mix of physical tools and positional flexibility. However, comparisons to former pass rusher Barkevious Mingo, who failed to meet pre-draft expectations during his career, may have NFL decision-makers in the Jets’ position leaning toward Bailey instead.
