An entire lot can occur in a 12 months. It was only a 12 months in the past that Robert Saleh was teaching the New York Jets. The group had excessive hopes for a playoff run with Aaron Rodgers getting back from his Achilles harm. A 12 months later issues look fairly completely different. Saleh and GM Joe Douglas are out, changed by Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. And Rodgers is gone too as New York turned quarterbacking duties over to Justin Fields.
So, predicting how the Jets will method subsequent 12 months’s draft is difficult. There are clearly a variety of variables that might affect the group’s choice making. However based mostly on New York’s present wants and tendencies, there are three 2026 NFL draft prospects the Jets ought to regulate.
At the beginning the Jets want a long run resolution to the quarterback query that’s plagued the group since Joe Namath’s run ended within the late ‘70s. Sure, New York signed Fields to a two-year deal this offseason. However solely $30 million is assured so the contract alone gained’t stop the Jets from drafting a quarterback in 2026.
The contract didn’t even prohibit New York from taking a passer within the 2025 draft. However the group did not as a result of it believes/hopes it has one thing in Fields and desires to provide him a season to indicate what he can do with no potential alternative on the sideline complicating issues.
Glenn stated he believes Fields is on the verge of a breakout. Which might be nice. But when the 26-year-old QB doesn’t elevate his play in his New York debut, the Jets will undoubtedly look to deal with the place within the draft. And if the Fields experiment fails, the group will in all probability be selecting close to the highest of the primary spherical.
All in on Allar?
Assuming Arch Manning returns to Texas for one more 12 months of faculty ball, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik could be a simple choose for the Jets. The electrical, dual-threat quarterback was excellent for the Tigers in 2024, amassing 4,102 complete yards and 43 scores.
Klubnik would nearly actually be the primary general choose if the 2026 draft have been held right this moment. However the prospect the Jets ought to monitor is Penn State’s Drew Allar.
The considered deciding on a Penn State passer may give Jets followers nightmares after the group burned a second-round choose on notorious draft bust Christian Hackenberg in 2016. However Allar is value watching after a powerful junior season with the Nittany Lions.
Allar accomplished 66.5 % of his passes for 3,327 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2024. He throws an impressive deep ball that appears easy from his large arm. Nevertheless he’s additionally able to slinging the ball into tight home windows and throwing passes with contact and timing.
Along with his passing prowess, Allar brings a speeding part to his sport. Whereas he’s not essentially a dual-threat QB, he demonstrated his athleticism and elusiveness by racking up 302 speeding yards and 6 scores final season.
The 6’5”, 238-pound Allar has tantalizing measurement and arm power. After making a powerful leap in his junior 12 months New York – and the remainder of the league – shall be watching to see if he takes his sport to a different degree as a senior.
In a division that’s house to Josh Allen, Drake Maye and Tua Tagovailoa, New York wants a dynamic sign caller to compete. Maybe Allar would be the reply to the Jets’ age-old quarterback query.
The Jets ought to get Elijah Sarratt
With QB out of the way in which, it’s time to deal with New York’s different urgent offensive want. The Jets’ broad receiver room is a multitude. Exterior of budding famous person Garrett Wilson – the one participant in franchise historical past with three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start out his profession – the group is severely missing pass-catching expertise.
Behind Wilson, the Jets have Allen Lazard, Josh Reynolds, Malachi Corley and rookie Arian Smith. Not precisely a murders’ row of wideouts.
Assuming New York doesn’t improve via a commerce or in free company, it is going to be crucial so as to add a wideout within the 2026 draft. However the Jets don’t want to interrupt the financial institution on the place. They have already got a WR1. The group must be in search of a complement to Wilson within the 2026 class, ideally within the second spherical.
The prospect to observe is Indiana wideout Elijah Sarratt. After a 1,000-yard season at James Madison in 2023, Sarratt transferred to the Hoosiers. Regardless of going through stiffer competitors, he had a powerful debut with Indiana, racking up 53 receptions for 957 yards and eight touchdowns.
The 6’2”, 209-pound receiver has demonstrated glorious contested catch abilities and the power to maneuver the chains, whereas shelling out punishment to would-be tacklers. Sarratt’s mixture of robust palms, physicality and YAC potential is a bit harking back to a younger Deebo Samuel, with out the speeding part.
To this point, Sarratt has flown a bit underneath the radar as most analysts venture him as a Day 2 choose. That will be a boon for the Jets as Sarratt could possibly be an excellent slot in New York, beginning reverse Wilson.
Nevertheless, after a powerful first season with Indiana, Sarratt may escape in 2025, forcing his means up draft boards in a comparatively mild receiver class. The Jets want to watch the scenario, given the wideout’s immense potential and complementary talent set.
Christen Miller is within the highlight
Clearly, New York’s focus within the upcoming draft – as issues stand at current – must be on the offense. The group has been unbalanced for a while, with the protection rating third general within the NFL final season and the offense rating twenty fourth. However that doesn’t imply the Jets don’t have any holes on the defensive facet of the ball.
It’s attainable New York pursues standout Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. – a flexible defender who’s able to taking part in elite protection and lining up on the sting to get after the quarterback. Former first-team All-Professional and fan favourite Quincy Williams is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract in 2025. Ideally, the Jets would prolong Williams however with the group needing to shell out large bucks to Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, New York may determine to exchange him with a less expensive choice within the draft. And Hill could be the most effective wager in that situation.
Nevertheless, the Jets’ inside protection is the extra urgent want for the time being and New York must be specializing in defensive sort out within the draft. The prospect to observe is Georgia’s Christen Miller.
Miller made an affect in his sophomore season with the Bulldogs. He acquired glorious grades general however he was notably efficient as a run defender, making him a great candidate for a porous Jets defensive position.
Quinnen Williams has lengthy been among the finest defensive tackles in soccer. However he wants assistance on the inside. Though protection has been the Jets’ largest power, they’re much better in opposition to the go than the push. New York wants so as to add a run-stuffer in the course of the road who can be able to releasing up Williams from fixed double groups by drawing blockers in passing conditions.
Miller could possibly be that participant. He boasts ideally suited size at 6’4” and he holds his floor in opposition to the run at 305 kilos. However Miller additionally has the quickness and energy to wreak havoc in the course of the road and wreck video games for opposing quarterbacks.
With former Georgia linemen Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams and Warren Brinson all leaving the Bulldogs for the NFL, Miller may have the highlight in his junior season. The Jets ought to watch his progress carefully as he may show to be the lacking piece of the puzzle for New York’s protection.