With just under two weeks to go until the NFL Scouting Combine, the NFL world is in the thick of it when it comes to the 2026 NFL Draft. One of the most interesting parts of draft season is performing mock draft exercises. Sports media companies will be pumping these out for the next two months, exhausting every possible outcome. In the mock draft world, certain teams will sometimes have “consensus” picks. For example, Fernando Mendoza goes to the Raiders at #1 in just about every mock draft. The Jets are among the teams with consensus picks in mock drafts this year, often landing Ohio State LB Arvell Reese at #2 and USC WR Makai Lemon at #16. There is clear evidence of this on the NFL Mock Draft Database.
The beautiful thing about the draft, though, is that nothing is truly guaranteed. In the latest mock draft published by ESPN, analyst Field Yates goes a different way for New York.
A New Contender Enters the Fray
Yates kept it chalk with the Jets 2nd overall selection by taking Arvell Reese in this mock draft. The dynamic defensive playmaker could result in great things for a defense that struggled mightily in 2025. However, things changed later in the first round as Yates sent Makai Lemon to Baltimore at 14th overall. This caused the Jets to go away from the consensus with their other selection in the first round. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, all of the most popular selections at this pick are offensive players. Despite this, Yates went a different direction, avoiding any WR’s and Alabama QB Ty Simpson. The pick – Florida DT Caleb Banks.
About Caleb Banks
The man in the middle of the Florida defensive line is an intriguing prospect in this year’s draft. 2025 was Banks’ fifth season at the collegiate level. He spent two seasons at Louisville before transferring to Florida for his final three seasons. He didn’t play much at Louisville, but when he was given the chance to start at Florida, he made the most of it. Among Power 4 teams, Banks ranked top 20 in pressures in both 2023 and 2024. He also racked up 6 sacks between those two seasons. Standing at 6’6″ and 335 pounds, Banks has the ability to anchor a defensive line and absorb double teams. His 35-inch arms give him the ability to be disruptive in the run game and helped him force multiple fumbles at Florida.
Unfortunately, Banks suffered an injury in 2025 in Week 3 that knocked him out until Week 13. He played only three games total last season. Because of this, he started to go under the radar despite great production in the previous two seasons. He put himself on the map last month at the Senior Bowl, though. Banks was phenomenal in the practice drills in Mobile, proving to be a force in his three days of practice. In these clips, the depth that he creates using his strength is important stuff. He also showed off good handwork to be able to push guys aside at times. Nobody’s perfect, though, as he was stood up a few times in these reps.
Every 1 on 1 rep from former Florida DT Caleb Banks at the Senior Bowl: https://t.co/xNe3v3wed5 pic.twitter.com/9LEbH2K9kF
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) February 1, 2026
Disruptive Defensive Tackles Win Championships
One of the most underrated stories of this season was that the defensive tackle was cemented as a premium position in today’s era of football. The top teams in the league were defined by their defensive tackle play, as all four conference championship teams were comprised of elite duos at the position.
The top four defensive tackle duos by pressures this season will all play in Conference Championship games:
🔹Allen & Franklin-Myers, 98 QBP #BroncosCountry
🔹Murphy & Williams, 91 QBP #Seahawks
🔹Turner & Fiske, 88 QBP #RamsHouse
🔹Barmore & Williams, 87 QBP #NEPats pic.twitter.com/p32MtbsIYx— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 22, 2026
The Seahawks DT’s being able to both stop the run while in lighter defensive packages and create pressure is one of the main reasons the Seahawks smothered the Patriots in the Super Bowl. If the Jets wish to elevate their defense and begin competing again in the NFL, developing a DT duo of Jowon Briggs and Caleb Banks may not be a bad place to start. Briggs was one of the best parts of the Jets defense last season, finishing 23rd in the league in pressures from the DT position. He did not start a game for the Jets until Week 11. He will now get to work with legendary defensive line coach Karl Dunbar as well. If this mock draft comes true, Reese and Banks working with Karl Dunbar would be enormous for the Jets defense.Â
Main Photo: [Stephen Lew] – Imagn Images
