FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey says the team recently canceling its pre-draft visit with top pass rushing prospect David Bailey isn't an indication of waning interest in the Texas Tech star.
The Jets have the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, which begins Thursday night, and New York has been most commonly linked to selecting either Bailey or Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese to boost its defense.
Per NFL rules, teams are allowed to invite up to 30 non-local, draft-eligible players to their facilities for in-depth interviews, film studies and physical evaluations to firm up their scouting reports. Mougey confirmed reports last week that the Jets canceled their visit with Bailey.
“In regards to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him,” Mougey said Tuesday at the team's pre-draft news conference. “We were just kind of juggling our 30 and how to use them and I wouldn't look too much into a cancellation because there were other ones we may have changed, as well.”
Mougey, entering his second season as the Jets' GM, said teams handle their top-30 visits in a variety of ways.
“Some don't even use the top-30s,” he said. "I would say, for us, when we do top-30s, every single player and case is different. Sometimes, I want this player to meet with our player engagement department. Sometimes, I want this player to meet with our sports performance. Sometimes, it's purely medical. Sometimes, it’s a recruiting process.
“Sometimes, it’s a smokescreen.”
The Jets, who have four picks among the first 44 selections, reportedly did have Reese at their facility for a top-30 visit.
With Las Vegas expected to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, New York will have its choice of pass rushers to help a defense that ranked among the NFL's worst in several categories last season in Aaron Glenn's first year as coach. Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks late last season and replaced him this offseason with Brian Duker, but the head coach will call the plays on defense this season.
Bailey is widely considered by scouts as the more polished player between him and Reese, but Reese is projected to have a higher production ceiling.
“So, that’s a discussion we have really about every single player, whether it’s a first-round player or a seventh-round player,” Mougey said of his philosophy on weighing immediate contributions against long-range potential. “We’re in the business of projecting these guys, what their value could be. We’re talking ceilings and floors all the time with all these prospects and how they fit here and what they could be and what they could not be based on their deficiencies or their abilities.”
It’s the fourth time in franchise history that the Jets are picking second overall and first since they took quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021. Running back Blair Thomas (1990) and wide receiver Johnny “Lam” Jones (1980) were the others. With the Raiders so heavily linked to Mendoza, it has given Mougey and the Jets an opportunity to know, barring a trade, they'll likely get the player they have at the top of their list.
“It’s a little different. It’s nice, right?” Mougey said. “Because we think we know what’s going to happen at (No. 1), so we have these pool of players, and I’m like, ‘OK, let’s dive into it. We’re going to get one of these guys.’ So, it’s been good, but it hasn’t really changed the process in terms of just diving into each guy and then stacking them and doing it, but it’s kind of nice.”
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New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey speaks with reporters during a news conference at the NFL football team's facility, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Florham Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Dennis Waszak Jr.)
VIENNA (AP) — The Eurovision Song Contest reached its sequin-drenched final on Saturday, with tight security and rainy weather failing to dent the enthusiasm of fans, or the opposition of critics who think Israel shouldn’t be invited to the party.
After a week’s buildup, acts from 25 countries took to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent’s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary event.
The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotting in protest.
The show opened with a performance by last year’s winner, the operatically trained Austrian singer JJ, and an Olympics-style flag parade of the 25 finalists. Then it was on to performances by the musicians, who had just 3 minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner.
First up was Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund, among the contest favorites for the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), followed by Germany’s Sarah Engels with the power ballad “Fire,” the first of doubtless several performances to make liberal use of jets of flame.
Israeli competitor Noam Bettan was cheered as he performed “Michelle,” a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semifinal performance. Then came “Dancing on the Ice,” a techno-ballad by Belgium's Essyla.
Ukrainian singer Leléka offered the ethereal, beautiful "Ridnym,” and Australian star Delta Goodrem showed what a diva should be like with her slick midtempo ballad “Eclipse” — and a bravura performance that sees her raised into the air above a glittery piano. A European country would likely host for Australia next year if she wins.
Serbian metal band Lavina provided a dramatic change of pace with the angsty “Kraj Mene” — the sort of head-spinning variety that is the joy of Eurovision.
Pleasant ballads like “Bella” by Aidan from Malta alternated with the five-part vocal harmonies of Croatian folk-pop group Lelek, the operatic voice of France's Monroe and British act Look Mum No Computer’s jokey oddity “Eins, Zwei, Drei.”
Newcomers looking to grasp the essence of Eurovision and its interplay of pop and politics should look no further than two of the fan favorites. Rapper Satoshi’s ebullient “Viva, Moldova” is a bouncy, pro-European song from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow’s orbit. Greek artist Akylas’ song “Ferto,” or “Bring It,” provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.
Both are likely to score highly with viewers, though national juries, which tend to be more impressed by technical excellence, may be less impressed. Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins, and their country gets to host the competition next year.
Finland is the favorite in betting odds with “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a fiery duet between the singing of pop star Pete Parkkonen and the fiddling of classical violinist Linda Lampenius.
But Eurovision often produces surprises.
“Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It’s largely been a contest for underdogs,” said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.”
Viewers around the world can vote for their favorites during and for a short time after the performances, before the results are tallied. Viewers in participating countries can vote up to 10 times but aren’t allowed to vote for their own country’s act. Viewers in the U.S. and other nonparticipating countries can vote online at www.esc.vote.
Street protests opposing Israel’s inclusion over the conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza have been smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland.
Hundreds marched near the contest arena before Saturday's final, some holding placards saying “Block Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups also staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide.”
“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.
The five-nation boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year.
Still, Eurovision is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.
Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the “brilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show.”
Vuletic says political controversy is nothing new. The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969 — ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.
“We’ve seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past,” Vuletic said. “All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues."
Associated Press writers Hilary Fox and Philipp Jenne in Vienna contributed to this report.
Delta Goodrem from Australia performs the song "Eclipse" during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Noam Bettan from Israel performs the song "Michelle" during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Delta Goodrem from Australia who will perform the song "Eclipse" walks onstage with her counties flag during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Noam Bettan from Israel walks onto the stage carrying his countries flag ahead of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Soren Torpegaard Lund from Denmark performs the song "For Vi Gar Hjem" during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Demonstrators protest against Israel ahead of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Spectators wait for the start of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Delta Goodrem from Australia performs the song "Eclipse" during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Satoshi from Moldova performs the song "Viva, Moldova!" during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Akylas from Greece performs the song "Ferto" during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen from Finland perform the song "Liekinheitin" during the first semifinal of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Aliona Moon sings "Viva Moldova" during her featured performance with Satoshi from Moldova during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. CORRECTS PERFORMERS NAME TO ALIONA MOON FROM SATOSHI. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
