The 2026 NFL Draft is only a few days away. The one thing that’s almost certain as of now is that the Las Vegas Raiders have locked in on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
So, the 2026 NFL Draft truly begins at the No. 2 overall selection. That’s where the fun, drama, and uncertainty of the draft start. The New York Jets have the second pick in the draft, followed by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3.
The Jets have a total of nine picks in the draft, whereas the Cardinals have seven. The Jets have two in round 1, round 2, round 4, and round 7. They have one pick in round 5 at No. 179.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, have one pick each in rounds 1 through 7. Here’s a complete list of their draft picks.
New York Jets
Round 1: No. 2
Round 1: No. 16
Round 2: No. 33
Round 2: No. 44
Round 4: No. 103
Round 4: No. 140
Round 5: No. 179
Round 7: No. 228
Round 7: No. 242
Arizona Cardinals
Round 1: No. 3
Round 2: No. 34
Round 3: No. 65
Round 4: No. 104
Round 5: No. 143
Round 6: No. 183
Round 7: No. 217
The Jets have a slight advantage due to the number of picks and their position in each draft. However, the players that the two teams need and who they are eyeing are going to make all the difference.
2026 NFL Draft: Jets vs Cardinals
Both teams are coming off rough 3-14 seasons, but their priorities are on opposite sides of the ball. The Jets are desperate for a defensive identity after trading away stars like Sauce Gardner. The Cardinals, having moved on from Kyler Murray, are in protection mode.
The Jets need WR, QB, and Edge, while the Cardinals are looking for OL, QB, and S to stabilize the franchise.
At No. 2, the Jets are zeroing in on David Bailey. The former Texas Tech defensive end is coming off a good season and is considered pro-ready by many pundits. The other great option for the Jets at #2 is linebacker Arvell Reese of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
At No. 3, the Cardinals are widely expected to take Francis Mauigoa, offensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes. They also have Arvell Reese and linebacker Sonny Styles on the radar as the third overall pick.
The Jets are eyeing Omar Cooper Jr. as their other first-round pick, 16th overall. Denzel Boston is likely to be their second round, #33 pick, and Zion Young as their #44 pick.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is likely to be Arizona’s second-round, #34 overall pick.
The NFL draft gets trickier as we go lower in the rounds. Teams often make shocking selections based on the shake-ups earlier and how their roster has been shaping up. However, we can make an assumption based on players slated for the later rounds and what the teams might require for their roster.
Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette could be New York’s fourth-round pick alongside John Michael Gyllenborg. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green is widely projected as a mid-to-late round (4th–6th round) pick and could join the Jets. The two round 7 picks will be dedicated to special teams depth and will be dictated by the best available players.
Arizona could pick Jonah Coleman at #65, Genesis Smith at #104, Jaydn Ott at #143, and Taurean York at #183.
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