The Utah Jazz hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley projects them to select Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, the consensus second-best prospect in the class. Peterson is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard whose combination of elite shot-making and disruptive two-way play has every major mock draft pointing in the same direction, giving Utah a backcourt building block who could pair immediately with ascending star Keyonte George.

There has been persistent chatter about whether the Jazz — with owner Ryan Smith, president Danny Ainge, and GM Austin Ainge all holding strong ties to BYU — might try to trade up to No. 1 to select AJ Dybantsa, who played his college ball there. Buckley acknowledges the appeal but concludes that Utah is well-served staying put. Dybantsa or Peterson represent an elite outcome either way, and the Jazz’s deep veteran and young roster allows Peterson to ease into his role as a rookie rather than immediately carrying franchise weight.

Peterson’s case for being the best prospect in the class is legitimate. He is arguably the finest shotmaker in this draft — a fluid, multi-catch scorer who excels coming off screens, in transition, and in spot-up situations. His 6-10 wingspan makes him a legitimate disruptor on defense, and his ability to switch screens and cause chaos off-ball gives him a two-way profile that translates almost immediately in the NBA.

The health concern is real but manageable. Peterson missed 11 of 35 games at Kansas and pulled himself out of others due to cramping, which he attributes to creatine use. Teams will examine this closely, and it explains why he slots at No. 2 rather than pushing Dybantsa for the top spot. Utah’s structured veteran environment and patient development timeline — the same runway that helped Ace Bailey settle in as a rookie in 2025-26 — makes the Jazz an ideal landing spot for a player who needs a clean bill of health more than he needs a new skill set.

The direct opportunity cost of taking Peterson at No. 2 is Duke forward Cameron Boozer, who Buckley projects to Memphis at No. 3. Boozer is the most polished player in the class — a 6-foot-9 power forward who scores from the post with both footwork and power, shoots 40 percent from three on high volume, and functions as a point forward capable of running an offense. A notable contingent of NBA executives surveyed believe Boozer should be the top pick. Utah choosing Peterson over him is a bet on shot-making and defensive versatility over polish and winning pedigree.

That’s a reasonable bet for a Jazz roster already stocked with a long, lanky frontcourt. What Utah lacks most is a backcourt creator who can shoot off movement and defend multiple positions — exactly what Peterson brings. Slotting him alongside George, with Utah’s loaded frontcourt doing the interior heavy lifting, gives the Jazz the offensive infrastructure of a perennial West contender.

CBS Sports’ three active mock drafts — from Adam Finkelstein, Cameron Salerno, and Gary Parrish — all project Peterson to Utah at No. 2, as does Tankathon and Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor. The unanimous projection reflects what league sources have long been signaling.

What Other Outlets Are Projecting

Outlet	Projected Player
Bleacher Report	Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas
CBS Sports	Darryn Peterson, PG, Kansas
Tankathon	Darryn Peterson, SG/PG, Kansas
Yahoo Sports	Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas

Utah’s ability to land one of the two best players in the class without trading up is a product of where they finished this season — and a reward for building through the draft rather than chasing short-term free agents. If Peterson’s body holds up, pairing him with George and Utah’s veteran-studded frontcourt creates a team capable of winning 50 games within two seasons. This draft path is smart because it doesn’t force the Jazz to overpay to move up, doesn’t compromise their cap flexibility, and delivers a franchise-changing perimeter talent who could define the next decade of Jazz basketball.