The Jets need a full-on talent infusion, and Reese might be the best overall player in this year's draft.

After drafting a pass rusher with the second overall pick, the Jets take a rugged people-mover at guard to continue their inside-out rebuild.

The Jets need playmakers across the board on defense. In case you haven't heard, they set NFL records for fewest turnovers (four) and interceptions (zero) in a season. Reese can't solve all of that, but he has Micah Parsons-esque potential as a college off-ball linebacker with the skills to be a dominant pass rusher. His ability to play at multiple spots would make him a fun chess piece for Aaron Glenn to deploy as he returns to calling plays on that side of the ball. If there was a quarterback worth taking here, the Jets would do it — but unfortunately, there isn't.

GM Darren Mougey worked the phones looking both to trade up and trade back and either accumulate assets or add a quarterback of the Tanner McKee/Mac Jones ilk. There were bites — especially since the Jets aren't quite ready to dip into their stock of 2027 draft picks. The Jets hoped for one of Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson to fall here, but because they didn't, they'll be just fine with the next-best wideout on the board in Boston, a big-bodied talent who would complement Garrett Wilson well in the new Frank Reich-run offense.

As NFL defenses continue to evolve, positional versatility is becoming more valuable, and Arvell Reese provides that. He can play all three linebacker spots, fit any scheme, and is as good off the ball as he is rushing off the edge. In other words, he's the kind of player likely to come off the board early.

Projected trade: It's possible the Jets could go for a QB with their second first-round pick, but I have them targeting another WR for whoever their quarterback ends up being in 2026 and beyond. Jordyn Tyson essentially was the Arizona State passing attack, receiving roughly 125% of the team's targets. Everybody knew where the Sun Devils were trying to get the ball, and nobody could keep Tyson from getting it.

Let's flash back to 2022, when the Jets had two picks in Round 1 and ended up making three selections -- Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson. Only one of those players is still with the team, and one of them was actually traded for one of the Jets' first-rounders this year, but we're running it back. New York added three playmakers on Day 1, starting with David Bailey.

I made the case that this should have been Arvell Reese because of his high upside. But Bailey brings tangible production to the table, having led the nation in pressure rate (20.4%) en route to 14.5 sacks -- which also tied for the most among all FBS players. He's a bendy 251-pounder with 4.5 speed that allows him to get on top of QBs quickly. Johnson is in Tennessee now, so the Jets needed a real presence opposite Will McDonald IV. They were 31st in sacks last season with 26.

New York went with offense at Nos. 16 and 30. The Jets used a second-round pick on Mason Taylor last year at tight end (44 catches in Year 1), but that didn't stop them from jumping on Kenyon Sadiq in the middle of Round 1. It wasn't the most obvious need, and I had zeroed this one in on receiver Makai Lemon. But Sadiq is going to be used all over the formation and is basically a big receiver when he's flexed out. He ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and jumped 43½ inches in the vertical jump at 241 pounds. He can box out cornerbacks and safeties and outrun linebackers, so it's no surprise that he's terrific after the catch.

Coming right back with Omar Cooper Jr. after trading back into the first round suddenly turns one of the worst pass-catching groups in the NFL (if not the worst) into a promising unit. Cooper caught 13 touchdowns last season.

The Jets only made one pick on Day 2, but I love what they did. D'Angelo Ponds isn't for every defense at 5-9 and 182 pounds, but the Jets didn't have a single interception last season. Not one. So adding a slot corner with seven picks and 27 pass breakups over his three-year college career is a good move. Recall that Ponds got a lot of attention at the combine when he leapt 43½ inches in the vertical. He's a tough kid who plays bigger than his size.

Where's the QB, though? Well, probably in 2027, when the class is expected to be very, very good, and when New York is again set up with multiple first-rounders. But the Jets did add Cade Klubnik late. He's competition for Brady Cook for the QB2 role. At one point, he looked like a first-rounder, but 2025 wasn't kind to his résumé, as he went from 36 passing touchdowns in 2024 to 16 last year.

It felt like Part 1 of a summer blockbuster, the highly anticipated draft sequel — generally and specifically to the NYJ — still a year away. But if things unfold as nicely in 2027 as well as Gang Green's haul seemed to go this year, then New York should actually be a legitimate playoff contender by 2028 ... or so. But OLB David Bailey, the second overall pick, TE Kenyon Sadiq, WR Omar Cooper and CB D'Angelo Ponds all project as immediate starters — Ponds and Sadiq both arriving courtesy of trades GM Darren Mougey made at last year's November deadline. Even fourth-round QB Cade Klubnik could get an extended audition at some point this season — think Davis Mills in Houston. A team that also needs to progress with a significant cultural shift, was also probably wise to bring in Cooper and Ponds fresh off their championship run at Indiana. Admittedly, the Jets have "won" offseasons before, but it's time to find out if potential starts translating to a much better product on the field.