After enduring a painful 3-14 season, the Jets are searching for a franchise quarterback.
But it surely is not going to be Dante Moore.
The 20-year-old Oregon quarterback introduced on Wednesday that he was returning to high school for his redshirt junior season. This places the Jets in a conundrum for a number of causes.
The Raiders will maintain the highest choose within the 2026 NFL Draft after ending with the identical file because the Jets, based mostly on energy of schedule. They’re anticipated to pick out Indiana quarterback and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, assuming he declares for the draft following Monday’s nationwide championship.
The Jets may have the No. 2 general choose, however they discover themselves within the unenviable place. There isn’t a quarterback value choosing that top, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson could possibly be the one different quarterback drafted within the first spherical.
Even when the Jets didn’t wish to draft Moore, they may have traded the choose to a workforce that may have wished to maneuver up. As a substitute, they should take a look at different quarterback choices in a yr through which the free agent class on the place will not be nice.
The Jets had been in the identical boat final yr, which led them to signal Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract. However after his lifeless play by 9 video games, through which he was 2-7, benched, and criticized by proprietor Woody Johnson, the Jets are anticipated to launch Fields this offseason.
Let’s analyze the Jets’ choices for locating a signal-caller this offseason.
FREE AGENCY OR TRADE
There aren’t a whole lot of causes for optimism for the Jets after lacking the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons. In addition they haven’t registered a profitable file since 2015.
Marcus Mariota, Daniel Jones, Kenny Pickett, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mitchell Trubisky, and Malik Willis are among the many gamers who will probably be in free company.
Willis is essentially the most interesting identify amongst this group. However he has began simply six video games between his time with the Titans and Packers. He was excellent throughout his Week 17 loss to the Ravens after Packers starter Jordan Love suffered a concussion. The query the Jets must ask themselves is: do they danger taking an opportunity on one other quarterback who failed with one workforce and provides him an infinite contract like Fields’?
Another choice can be to commerce some draft picks for Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray. The Cardinals are anticipated to maneuver on from Murray after he performed simply 5 video games as a result of a foot damage. Different quarterback commerce choices might embrace Anthony Richardson, Jameis Winston, and Mac Jones. But it surely stays to be seen if any of these gamers, who’re backups, would drastically enhance the Jets in a yr through which many will place Aaron Glenn on the new seat.
DRAFT SIMPSON OR ANOTHER QB
If the Jets are going to draft one within the first spherical, all roads lead again to Simpson. In November, Simpson seemed to be a lock to be one of many first quarterbacks chosen within the draft. However after struggling in three of his final 5 video games, together with the Rose Bowl loss to Indiana, opinions on Simpson seem combined.
The largest fear when evaluating Simpson is his lack of a physique of labor. He began simply 15 video games this season at Alabama after sitting behind Bryce Younger and Jalen Milroe for 3 seasons. That may be a low quantity for a possible first-round choose.
Simpson, in his lone season as Alabama’s starter, threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
Different quarterbacks who’ve been drafted within the first spherical with 15 or fewer begins since 2010 embrace Cam Newton, Dwayne Haskins, Anthony Richardson, and Trubisky. Solely Newton had a profitable NFL profession and he began 12 video games in junior school at Blinn after transferring from Florida.
Simpson has glorious consciousness, fearlessness, and poise contained in the pocket. He stays calm underneath stress and has a excessive IQ, enabling him to know the place to throw the ball persistently. However his worst decision-making comes when underneath duress. He’s athletically restricted in comparison with Mendoza, who’s a pocket passer who may also escape the pocket.
The Jets gained’t doubtless use the second general choose on Simpson. However they may draft him at No. 16 and sit him behind a bridge quarterback. If the Jets aren’t followers of Simpson, Miami’s Carson Beck or Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss could possibly be Day 2 choices.
PUNT ON DRAFTING A QB THIS YEAR
A yr in the past, many appeared on the 2026 draft class and thought it could possibly be the very best in latest reminiscence. That actually wasn’t the case, however the 2027 crop of quarterbacks seems super on paper, that’s.
Moore, Texas’ Arch Manning, USC’s Jayden Maiava, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Indiana’s Josh Hoover are among the many names anticipated to be excessive draft picks. Clearly, that is probably not the case, as something can occur over the subsequent 12 months. However solely three or 4 of those gamers will doubtless be first-round alternatives.
The issue with punting on drafting a quarterback this offseason is that Glenn might not survive one other horrible season with the Jets. They misplaced their final 5 video games of the season, 188-54, with Brady Prepare dinner because the Jets’ beginning quarterback.
If the Jets don’t take a quarterback at No. 2, which is predicted at this level, they may take the very best out there participant within the draft. That will doubtless be Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese or Texas Tech go rusher David Bailey.
“We don’t expect to have another season like this,” Glenn stated at his end-of-season press convention final week.
However can he assure that? The Jets want 11 or 12 starters on each side of the ball. That doesn’t embrace working again Breece Corridor, who will probably be an unrestricted free agent in March if they don’t place the franchise tag on him.
The Jets no less than have to draft a quarterback for growth functions. It doesn’t must be in Spherical 1, however they made a mistake final yr once they didn’t draft one in any respect. After Fields and Tyrod Taylor had been injured, all they had been left with was an undrafted rookie free agent to begin video games late within the season.
The stress is on Glenn, Johnson, and common supervisor Darren Mougey to point out dramatic enchancment in 2026. In any other case, the Jets might haven’t solely a brand new quarterback in 2027 but additionally a brand new coach.
