The New York Jets lost the Fernando Mendoza sweepstakes as the Las Vegas Raiders took the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
This was brutal news for the Jets, who have no specific plans for their quarterback. They tried everything. 2018 first-round pick Sam Darnold won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. 2021 first-round pick Zach Wilson is the backup quarterback. Along the way, experiments from Aaron Rodgers to Justin Fields have all backfired.
The Jets don’t have clear plans to find a franchise quarterback this offseason, but they are well-positioned to acquire talent this offseason as well.
The Jets have retained Aaron Glenn after a very disappointing first year as head coach. With the second overall pick, the Jets will likely land a defensive superstar.
And they will have many choices.
Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese can do a little bit of everything as an outside linebacker, from rushing passes to running back into coverage. Miami’s Reuben Bain Jr. was a game-changer during Miami’s run to the national championship. Texas Tech’s David Bailey isn’t a bad choice either.
Ohio State’s rapidly developing non-pass rushers include linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs. The positional value and safety of a linebacker typically doesn’t warrant a No. 2 overall selection, but there’s no doubt that these two players will help the organization reimagine its entire defense.
Needless to say, the Jets don’t win the Super Bowl next season. They hosted a total of three sales at the NFL trade deadline, moving superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams for a total of three first-round selections.
The Jets will go 16th overall, so they can take a gamble on a player they believe will turn into a defensive superstar at No. 2 overall. In the second round, the Jets will have two premium selections, Nos. 33 and 44.
Of course, they have to confirm these choices. It all sounds great on paper, but when these four premium rookies break ground, it’s all for naught.
However, the Jets could wait until the 2027 NFL Draft for their quarterback of the future. They will have three first-round picks in a class in which Arch Manning and Dante Moore will headline a much better quarterback class. Focus on rebuilding the defense this year and strengthening the offense around a franchise quarterback in 2027.
The Jets have plenty of draft capital. You should never enjoy trading again. They’ll have to rely on all the information they can get to make sure they pick the right defensive star at No. 2 overall.
From there, life gets a little easier.
