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The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to take Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to kick off the event, which begins on Thursday, April 23. Mendoza led the Indiana Hoosiers to the national championship, and while he may not be as highly touted as other quarterbacks to go first overall, he's the clear choice for Las Vegas.

There's more uncertainty around the No. 2 pick, which belongs to the New York Jets. The Jets have plenty of needs across the board, so they're a candidate to go in several directions or even trade down. That creates unpredictability at sportsbooks when it comes to NFL betting and specifically, prop bets on the NFL draft. We'll take a look at the latest DraftKings Sportsbook odds for who will be the No. 2 pick on Thursday and what direction we think the Jets will ultimately go.

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NFL Draft 2026 No. 2 pick odds (via DraftKings)

Reese was the favorite for much of the lead-up to the draft but the odds have tightened substantially and the Ohio State linebacker is now a slight underdog when compared to Texas Tech's Bailey. Bailey's production is impressive but it's a one-season breakout which could often be a mirage when it comes to pass rushers. Meanwhile, Reese was the more consistent overall defender and impacted the game on all fronts. It is fair to question how much Reese benefitted from having players like Styles and Downs on his team but he's had big production in Ohio State's most important games against Texas, Penn State and Illinois.

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Of the longshots, Simpson probably has the highest likelihood of being taken if the Jets really want to address the quarterback position. They've brought Geno Smith back as a placeholder with an eye on the 2027 draft class, but this is an organization that has been known to make rash decisions routinely. I don't see the Jets pushing for a receiver or running back, but Simpson could be the prospect who makes them abandon their plans. They also have the No. 16 pick, and there's a good possibility Simpson is still available when they're back on the clock.

It's between Bailey and Reese, according to the oddsmakers, and most mock draft experts would likely agree with that thinking. The mock drafts at CBS Sports are split between these two players and even with the odds shift in favor of the Red Raiders star, I'll still take Reese to be the No. 2 selection for New York.