Jets Draft Audit: Bailey and Cooper Struggle to Fix Pass Offense

The New York Jets have dropped their fourth game by one score this season, including a Week 7 loss to the previously winless Miami Dolphins. Head coach Aaron Glenn’s team now holds a 2-5 record, a performance that has renewed scrutiny on his job security and the front office’s recent personnel decisions. With the 2026 NFL Draft only recently concluded, the evaluation of the team’s top three first-round picks remains a central topic for fans and analysts.

The Jets selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the No. 2 overall pick. The choice sparked months of public debate, as many believed Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese offered higher upside. Reese has since settled into an off-ball linebacker role for New York, a position considered his natural fit. TruMedia data shows Bailey has recorded 26 pressures and 5.5 sacks through seven games. His 15.4% pressure rate ranks 11th among players with at least 150 pass rush snaps, but his 3.62 seconds to sack time remains below average.

Bailey has played 81.3% of the team’s defensive snaps, establishing himself as a full-time starter. While he displays maximum effort, he often relies on post-spin moves and swipes around the edge rather than a structured rush plan. In the run game, he shows requisite power but occasionally loses gap integrity. His ceiling is projected at that of a high-end No. 2 pass rusher, a role that would benefit from greater creativity in pass-rushing techniques.

To address the lack of viable pass-game contributors, New York used picks 16 and 30 to select Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. The Jets traded up from No. 33 to take Cooper, a move that cost them other available talent including wide receiver K.C. Concepcion and safety Dillon Thieneman. Cooper has appeared in only three games due to injury, but he has already posted back-to-back performances with over 100 receiving yards.

Cooper ranks in the top five among rookie receivers in receiving yards. He averages 9.3 yards after the catch per reception, the highest mark among rookies with at least 10 receptions. Sadiq, who returned to full play after missing most of the offseason with a hernia injury, has played in all seven games. He ranks third among rookies in yards after the catch, averaging 6.3 per reception. Sadiq excels as a physical run blocker and a natural pass catcher, though he sometimes overexerts in coverage situations.

No evidence suggests the Jets made a poor selection with any of their three first-round picks. All three players have contributed and project as long-term assets. Bailey and Cooper function as complementary starters, while Sadiq possesses a higher ceiling at his position. The team’s ability to maintain health will be a critical factor, particularly for Cooper, who has been limited to three of the team’s seven games. New York holds three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft to address any remaining needs.