The New York Jets are currently sitting on a gold mine. Or a ticking time bomb. It really depends on who you ask at the local Florham Park diner. After a 3-14 season that felt like a slow-motion car crash, they have the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But there's a problem. A massive, Oregon-shaped problem.
Just a few days ago, the draft community assumed the Jets were locked into a quarterback at No. 2. Then, Dante Moore decided to head back to school. He’s staying in Eugene. Suddenly, the "sure thing" plan to grab a franchise savior has evaporated into the cold Jersey air.
If Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza—the Heisman winner and current darling of the scouting world—goes No. 1 to the Raiders, the Jets are left holding the second pick in a draft where the QB shelf looks surprisingly bare.
The No. 2 Pick Dilemma: To Reach or To Pivot?
Honestly, the Jets are in a weird spot. You've got the No. 2 pick and a roster that needs a signal-caller more than I need coffee on a Monday morning. But reaching for a guy just because of the "QB" tag next to his name is how you end up with another Zach Wilson situation. We've seen that movie. Nobody wants a sequel.
With Moore out of the picture, the names left at the top of the board are... complicated.
- Ty Simpson (Alabama): He’s got the pedigree. He’s accurate. He set an Alabama record for the lowest interception percentage. But is he a "Take him at No. 2 and bet your job on it" kind of guy? Some scouts aren't sure.
- Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): If the Raiders pass on him (unlikely), the Jets sprint to the podium. He’s the closest thing to a "can't-miss" prospect this year.
- Carnell Tate (Ohio State): This is where things get interesting. Tate is a 6-foot-3 monster of a wide receiver.
If the Jets decide the remaining QBs aren't worth the second pick, taking Tate to pair with Garrett Wilson is a legitimate move. It gives whatever quarterback they eventually get a pair of elite weapons. Imagine trying to cover both of those guys. Defensive coordinators would have nightmares.
Why the Sauce Gardner Trade Still Matters
You remember the Sauce Gardner trade, right? It was a "heart-ripper" for fans to see a generational talent leave, but it’s the reason the Jets are even in the conversation at No. 16. That pick, acquired from the Colts, is the Jets' second bite at the apple in the first round.
Current projections for the 16th pick are all over the place. Some have the Jets looking at Jermod McCoy, the cornerback from Tennessee. It’s poetic, in a way. Using the pick you got for a shutdown corner to draft the next potential shutdown corner.
McCoy has been a revelation, showing the kind of ball skills that make scouts drool. But the Jets also have massive holes on the offensive line. Utah’s Spencer Fano or Miami’s Francis Mauigoa might be on the board here. If the Jets want to keep their next quarterback upright, they basically have to address the tackle position.
Real Talk: The Quarterback "Analytics" Trap
There is a lot of buzz around a recent study by Jets X-Factor that looked at how college stats predict NFL success. They found three "golden metrics": a deep pass attempt rate over 15%, a scramble rate over 7%, and a turnover-worthy throw rate over 3%.
Here is the kicker: none of the top 2026 prospects hit all three.
Mendoza only hit one. Simpson only hit one. Dante Moore? Zero.
This is why you're seeing some experts suggest the Jets might wait. What if they take the best player available at No. 2—say, an EDGE rusher like Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami—and then look for a quarterback in the second or third round?
Names like Taylen Green (Arkansas) or Jalon Daniels (Kansas) are being whispered as Day 2 or Day 3 steals. Green is 6-foot-6 and runs like a deer. He’s raw, sure. But in the third round? That’s a gamble you can live with.
The Mock Draft Reality
Let’s look at how a realistic Jets NFL mock draft might actually play out right now, given the current landscape and Moore’s departure.
Round 1, Pick 2: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Jets pivot. They decide not to force a QB and instead take the best offensive playmaker on the board. Tate provides elite contested-catch ability and gives the offense a dimension it hasn't had in years.
Round 1, Pick 16: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
They fill the "Sauce-sized" hole in the secondary. McCoy is a plug-and-play starter with a Pro Bowl ceiling.
Round 2, Pick 33: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
This is the dream scenario. Simpson slides because of the lack of "elite" traits, and the Jets snag him at the top of the second. No pressure of being the No. 2 pick, but all the talent of a first-rounder.
Round 2, Pick 44: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Jets use the extra second-rounder from the Cowboys (via the Quinnen Williams trade) to finally fix the line. Fano is technically sound and ready to start Day 1.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Draft
People think the Jets have to take a QB at No. 2. They don't.
Actually, the worst thing they could do is take the third-best QB at the second-best spot. The roster is gutted. They need talent everywhere. If the board falls a certain way, trading down from No. 2 to stockpile even more picks for 2027 might be the smartest move they could make.
The fan base would hate it. The headlines would be brutal. But rebuilding from the "studs up," as some analysts have put it, requires discipline.
Actionable Next Steps for Jets Fans
The draft isn't until April in Pittsburgh, but the next few weeks are critical. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you should be watching:
- The Senior Bowl: Keep an eye on quarterbacks like Taylen Green. If he performs well in Mobile, his stock will skyrocket, and he won't be a Day 3 option anymore.
- The Combine: Watch the 40-yard dash for the offensive tackles. The Jets need athleticism on the edge to deal with the speed rushers in the AFC East.
- Pro Days: Specifically, Indiana and Alabama. If the Jets are going to take a QB early, these are the days that will decide it.
The Moore news changed the math. The Jets are no longer in a "pick your savior" draft. They are in a "build a foundation" draft. It might not be as sexy as a Top-2 QB, but it might be exactly what this franchise needs to finally stop the cycle of 3-14 seasons.