The 2026 NFL Draft got here to an finish on Saturday, April twenty fifth. After an thrilling first three rounds, followers have been intrigued to see how the Jets would end out their again half of this yr’s draft. That they had a powerful first half, choosing up the likes of defensive star David Bailey, otherworldly tight finish Kenyon Sadiq, the speedy Omar Cooper Jr., and a possible cornerback to construct round for the way forward for this group, D’Angelo Ponds.
The Jets had 4 picks left to be made on Saturday, together with two within the fourth spherical, one within the sixth spherical, and one choose within the seventh and last spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft. Whereas these gamers could are typically a little bit of an extended shot, all of them nonetheless have the potential to do one thing nice on this league, and solely time will inform if they’ll obtain that or not. Nonetheless, right here’s how the ultimate 4 picks of the Jets match into their present group.
Fourth Spherical: Decide No. 103, Darrell Jackson Jr., DT
The Jets’ first choose of Day Three of the 2026 NFL Draft got here a mere three spots into the day. They selected Darrell Jackson Jr, the defensive deal with from Florida State. General, this was an excellent addition for New York. This might have been used to get an additional physique on its inside defensive position. Jackson joins commerce acquisition T’Vondre Sweat, Jowan Briggs, free agent signee David Onyemata, and veteran defensive deal with Harrison Phillips.
#Jets followers, you bought probably the most bodily imposing defensive linemen within the class in Darrell Jackson.
Wins at Nostril and 3-tech, as a run defender and move rusher, and as an in-space… pic.twitter.com/G2fqF2cs30
That is definitely a reasonably deep group on the inside of the defensive position. It’s additionally an excellent mixture of youthful and older guys. Nevertheless, this choose might spell doom for one of many veterans on the place. With Phillips getting into the ultimate yr of his contract and being due $7.5 million in 2026, that wage will not be assured, and the Jets very properly might lower him in the event that they like what they see from Jackson at coaching camp. Nevertheless, that is very properly pretty unlikely.
Merely put, with this choose, the Jets are getting an infinite human being who has starter upside if he can develop. Not unhealthy for somebody picked within the fourth spherical of the NFL Draft. Nevertheless, the one obtrusive problem with Jackson is his pass-rushing. That can want probably the most work. He graded out with a 58.5 in a move rush grade, 589th amongst 887 gamers. Regardless, it was a proactive draft choose from the Jets. Their inside defensive position wanted not less than yet another new face, contemplating the in-house choices.
Fourth Spherical: Decide No. 110, Cade Klubnik, QB
This one could go down as one among my private favourite picks of the 2026 NFL Draft for Gang Inexperienced. Cade Klubnik is an absolute canine at quarterback, and Clemson followers noticed that first-hand all through his whole faculty profession. Klubnik had a storied but up-and-down profession as a four-year starter at Clemson. He’s a pure pocket passer with spectacular general contact, timing, and accuracy. Whereas Klubnik might not be the reply at quarterback, he definitely provides Jets followers a enjoyable growth mission outdoors of Geno Smith.
New York clearly wished him. They traded up with the Cincinnati Bengals, sending them No. 128 and No. 140 in trade for No. 110 and No. 199, per NFL insider Aaron Wilson. The Jets have been all the time going to take a quarterback within the draft. It was only a matter of who and when. Day 3 made probably the most sense. Whereas this one has some followers on edge, we’ve seen loads of good and unhealthy from Klubnik in his time at Clemson. Nevertheless, if they might harness his good qualities and develop him there, we could possibly be in enterprise.
In his last season at Clemson, Klubnik accomplished 65.6% of his passes, threw for two,943 yards, and tossed 16 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. It was definitely a down yr following his 2024 marketing campaign, the place the Tigers QB threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns to solely six interceptions. Klubnik could finally outperform expectations. Perhaps he overachieves and, at a minimal, turns into an reasonably priced backup quarterback on a rookie contract. Depend on the Jets to draft their quarterback of the longer term subsequent yr.
Sixth Spherical: Decide No. 188, Anez Cooper, G
The New York Jets are addressing the offensive line with their sixth-round choose, and so they bought aggressive to get it finished. Whereas the Jets have already got a younger, stable offensive line, you may by no means add too many our bodies. New York shipped picks No. 199 and No. 242 to the Seattle Seahawks to maneuver as much as choose No. 188. With that draft choose, the Jets chosen Miami guard Anez Cooper, a large human being who has an opportunity of creating into a possible starter someday down the highway.
Cooper stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs in at 334 kilos. A four-year starter at Miami, the 22-year-old senior was all the time positioned with no consideration guard. In response to Professional Soccer Focus, he was the 91st-best guard in faculty soccer final season amongst 686 certified gamers. After the Jets misplaced Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson in free company, they wanted so as to add somebody who might wait within the wings and develop as a long-term substitute.
The primary problem with Cooper will not be whether or not or not he’s an excellent blocker. There’s a ton to love about him. Nevertheless, his athleticism is what comes into query. He ran a 5.52 40-yard sprint and struggles to maneuver laterally. He’s going to wish some work if he needs to be an NFL starter. That is definitely one thing that may be fastened with exhausting work. He has move safety down pat, but when he can refine his recreation, he can show he generally is a starter in 2027.
Seventh Spherical: Decide No. 228, VJ Payne, DB
With their last choice within the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets addressed the security place, including Kansas State defensive again VJ Payne with the 228th general choose. The Jets could have really saved one of the best for final with this choose. The worth right here is out of this world for a seventh-round choose. Payne has good measurement for the place. He stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 208 kilos. He didn’t grade out properly in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus, ending the season as their 238th-ranked security out of 914 gamers, however there are nonetheless positives in his recreation.
In response to ESPN’s Wealthy Cimini, Payne allowed 2.6 yards per try as the first defender in protection final season, ninth-best in faculty soccer and one of the best within the Massive 12. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had him because the 143rd-best prospect within the class, so it looks like the Jets bought some good worth on their new security. The Jets appeared to have discovered themselves a flexible defensive again with expertise enjoying a number of roles on protection.
We’ll see how the Jets make the most of Payne all through his rookie season. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely he receives all that a lot enjoying time. There are a number of gamers forward of him with way more expertise on the depth chart, together with former New York Large Dane Belton, 2025 fourth-round choose Malachi Moore, Andre Cisco, and, after all, Minkah Fitzpatrick. Payne is a uncooked prospect and is unlikely to make a big influence early on. However he definitely has an opportunity to be taught from the veterans in entrance of him and switch right into a long-term possibility for the Jets.
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