We’re greater than six months away from the 2026 NFL Draft.
However many Jets followers have already begun to look forward as a result of they’re within the midst of a disastrous season.
If the season ended at present, the winless Jets (0-7) would have the No. 1 general decide in April’s draft. Gang Inexperienced is only one recreation forward of Miami, New Orleans, and Tennessee for the highest spot.
Regardless of the place the Jets can be drafting, they actually can be within the hunt for a brand new quarterback. Due to that, it’s honest to surprise if Aaron Glenn and normal supervisor Darren Mougey’s regime are the appropriate individuals to make that call, which might alter the franchise totally.
Of the final eight quarterbacks drafted No. 1 general, six of them went by a training change throughout their rookie season. The newest instance got here after the Titans fired Brian Callahan after a 4-19 document in 23 video games, simply six months after they chose Cam Ward No. 1 general. It additionally occurred a yr earlier, after the Bears fired Matt Eberflus, after they drafted Caleb Williams No. 1 general, and with the Panthers in 2023 with Frank Reich and Bryce Younger.
Whenever you’re deciding on any quarterback, it’s important to ensure he’s surrounded by an excellent assist system and training workers that may maximize his skills. Groups additionally need younger quarterbacks to not endure a number of workers modifications early of their careers, which might hinder their progress at an important place in sports activities.
Can Jets proprietor Woody Johnson entrust Glenn and Mougey to pick the appropriate quarterback, who can get them out of this darkish abyss they’re at present in? Glenn and Mougey are already on strike one when it comes to selecting quarterbacks after the failed Justin Fields experiment.
Not solely has the Fields signing been an absolute catastrophe, however the quarterback they launched to signal him is flourishing in a brand new location. In February, Glenn and Mougey determined to launch Aaron Rodgers after two seasons. In six video games with the Steelers this season, Rodgers has handed for 1,270 yards with 14 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Additionally, Rodgers has led the Steelers to a 4-2 document, which is tops within the AFC North.
Glenn and Mougey gave Fields a two-year, $40 million contract, hoping he could possibly be the most recent quarterback to revive his profession in a special zip code. In his Jets’ opener, Fields regarded promising after passing for 218 yards and accumulating three whole touchdowns. However since Week 1, Fields has regressed.
In six begins, Fields is averaging 140.8 yards per recreation and has 4 touchdowns and nil interceptions. Whereas Fields hasn’t turned the ball over a ton, the Jets have scored 17 factors up to now two video games. Additionally they haven’t registered a landing in eight quarters.
That’s the reason Glenn lastly had sufficient and benched Fields following a dreadful 6-of-12 for 46 yards first-half efficiency in the course of the 13-6 loss to the Panthers. Fields was additionally sacked 3 times earlier than Tyrod Taylor changed him within the third quarter. Taylor moved the offense some, however two interceptions, each to Jaycee Horn, killed all hopes of a potential comeback.
Glenn hasn’t introduced a beginning quarterback for the Jets Week 8 recreation at Cincinnati, however Glenn says there are a number of causes the Fields signing hasn’t labored.
“There’s blame to go around on a number of things,” Glenn stated. “We have now to proceed to determine tips on how to put him in the perfect place to achieve success. We even have to take a look at, Justin has to execute.
“There’s a number of things that need to go into that. We are not going to point the finger and blame just one person at all. We are not just going to say, it is Justin’s fault, we are not just going to say it is the coaching. That’s a situation that we are going to come together and be the best that we can as far as put guys in position and guys executing.”
Regardless of how poorly it has regarded by seven video games, it’s unlikely Glenn can be one-and-done with the Jets. However it’s important to think about Johnson desires to see progress all through the ultimate 10 video games of the season. The Jets have winnable video games after their bye towards the Browns, Dolphins, and Saints in hopes of avoiding the league’s first 0-17 season.
Much more than the outcomes, they should see if the locker room continues to again Glenn all through these struggles.
“It’s hard, you know,” Breece Corridor stated about staying motivated after beginning the season 0-7. “We’ve been type of on this for – occurring 4 years now being on this group and, you recognize, you’re feeling it from the followers, you’re feeling it across the constructing, you’re feeling it all over the place, you’re feeling it as quickly as you allow the locker room.
“But at the end of the day we all have something to play for, whether it’s family, whether it’s a self-motivated thing. I feel like if you’re not motivated to come to work every day and get better and, you know, play for your teammates, your coaches, play for your family, or even for other reasons other than that, then you shouldn’t be in this league.”
Regardless of how the remainder of the season goes, it’s painfully apparent that the Fields is just not the Jets’ long-term resolution at quarterback. However regardless of if it’s Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore, or Alabama’s Ty Simpson, the Jets know from previous expertise that they must get this quarterback choice in 2026 appropriate.
They gave up on Sam Darnold after three seasons and a training change. The Jets chosen Zach Wilson in 2021, which is an enormous motive they’re nonetheless on this steady hamster wheel of lacking the playoffs for the earlier 14 years and counting.
Selecting a quarterback isn’t about 2026, it’s about what might probably occur the subsequent decade for the Jets. If Glenn and Mougey make the mistaken alternative, the Jets could possibly be searching for a brand new coach, normal supervisor and quarterback in three years.
