Andre from UnitedGamblers.com has returned for a special peek into the 2026 NFL Draft. During the 2025 NFL season, he appeared every week for insight on the best betting odds, tips, and predictions for the New York Jets and the NFL. This time, he’s examining the options for the second-most valuable pick this April.
Although the Jets don’t have the first selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, their pick is one of the more intriguing on the board. Everyone assumes that the Las Vegas Raiders will take Fernando Mendoza Jr., but there’s no consensus on who Gang Green will get.
The most consistent projection is that Aaron Glenn will have a new weapon on defense.
So, who are the potential players for the second pick? There are plenty of players that Jets fans should get familiar with before the draft, but today, we’re seeing what some of the country’s betting apps think are likeliest for the Jets at #2.
Second Overall Pick Betting Odds – 2026 NFL Draft
|
Player
|
Position
|
School
|
Odds
|
|
Arvell Reese
|
Linebacker
|
Ohio State
|
-105
|
|
David Bailey
|
Edge
|
Texas Tech
|
+105
|
|
Rueben Bain Jr.
|
Edge
|
Miami (FL)
|
+450
|
|
Caleb Downs
|
Safety
|
Ohio State
|
+3500
|
|
Ty Simpson
|
Quarterback
|
Alabama
|
+6600
|
These odds are via BetMGM and subject to change. Other sports betting sites have different odds for each player.
The Favorite: Arvell Reese
Although he’s far from a runaway favorite, Arvell Reese has the shortest odds to go second overall at most books. The 20-year-old from Ohio State is interesting because he could slot into an off-ball LB spot or as an edge rusher. A lot of scouts and mock drafts believe that Reese has the highest ceiling in this draft, regardless of position.
How the Jets view him in their system will determine if he’s their pick, assuming that New York doesn’t trade out of the spot.
Need an Edge?
BetMGM has two true edge rushers with the second and third-shortest odds, respectively.
David Bailey tends to be considered safer than Rueben Bain Jr. is. Bailey was the most productive edge among this year’s draft class. There are concerns about his size and future against the run, but Bailey seems more likely than Bain Jr. for now if the Jets want a true edge from day one.
As for Rueben Bain Jr., his floor is highly touted. Bain Jr. works with Hall of Famer and former-Jet Jason Taylor as well. However, his arms were measured to be historically short, which will probably dissuade any teams, including the Jets, from taking him second overall with Bailey (or Reese) on the board.
Rueben Bain Jr. is not a smart bet for this selection until there’s more available on these prospects.
Caleb Downs: Best Overall Player?
The Jets may not need a safety as much as pass-rushing help, but a safety is still a need. Enter Caleb Downs, who logged plenty of big snaps at Alabama and Ohio State, and is widely considered to be the best overall prospect this year.
Safety isn’t a premium position, which is why the odds for this aren’t great. Yet, Downs is productive enough and regarded highly enough that he could be the first safety selected second overall in 35 years (Eric Turner, 1991). This may be the most valuable bet for the second overall pick, as the likelihood, need, and prospect talent all align neatly. Positional value is the greatest roadblock, but one that could be ignored if the Jets want the best player available.
A Potential Franchise QB
Ty Simpson’s odds for going second overall are simple. He’s a quarterback, the game’s most important position, and the Jets don’t have a long-term QB right now. With Mendoza almost assuredly going first overall, the odds of QB2 (in this case, Simpson) getting selected early will always be among the shortest.
If Simpson goes second overall, it probably won’t be the Jets taking him. New York has the resources to wait until next year and get the QB they want in a QB class that’s supposed to be deeper. So, the question here is, do the Jets like another player enough to address one of their needs, or do they trade back?
Even if the Jets trade out of two, there’s no guarantee that the new team with the pick takes Simpson.
