Jets Warned by Cowboys Legend Jimmy Johnson Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

Hall of Fame head coach Jimmy Johnson cautioned the New York Jets against taking too many risks with their bounty of draft capital over the next few seasons.

"The key is not getting the picks," he told ESPN's Rich Cimini. "The key is picking the right players."

Along with their own selections, the Jets have the Dallas Cowboys' 2026 second-rounder and 2027 first-rounder. New York also has the Indianapolis Colts' first-round picks for the next two years.

The Jets took Ohio State linebacker/edge-rusher Arvell Reese and Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in the first round of Bleacher Report's most recent mock.

With this kind of flexibility, general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn might be emboldened to gamble on high-ceiling prospects. Johnson believes New York should resist that temptation.

"It's like the old saying: Money coming from gambling easily disappears," he said. "Money from hard work continually grows. So you can't be risky with those picks just because you've got extra."

The Herschel Walker trade is one of the signature achievements of Johnson's coaching career.

What made the deal so legendary isn't just that the Cowboys sold high on Walker in 1989 and got a ton of draft picks back. Through the transaction, Dallas ultimately added Emmitt Smith, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, and defensive standouts Russell Maryland, Darren Woodson and Kevin Smith.

When teams are in the Jets' present position, a common refrain is that draft picks themselves aren't actually that valuable. It's up to the front office to use those picks wisely.

Given the general dysfunction that has plagued New York in recent years, there's naturally some skepticism that Mougey and Glenn will stick the landing.

The NFL has evolved a lot since Johnson last coached in 1999. His general approach toward the draft has endured, though.

For now, the Jets are holding a strong hand. It only takes one or two bad decisions to spoil a lot of that promise.