The New York Jets will make roster changes for the 2026 NFL season, in part hoping they can perform better than they did in the 2025 season.
New York has the No. 2 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft, but they may have to wait until 2027 to draft their quarterback of the future. Bleacher Report notes that this could be the path the Jets will take next season.
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“Many fans may be wondering why teams would be willing to bet on the 2026 season and build their roster with 2027 in mind,” Christopher Knox wrote for B/R when discussing a team like the Jets. While New York, at least as far as head coach Aaron Glenn and the players are concerned, wants to win as many games as possible in 2026, there is a way for Madness to use this season to develop.
“The simple answer is that next year’s draft class is projected to be loaded with multiple franchise-level quarterback prospects, while the 2026 draft class is shallow at the quarterback position,” Knox continued. “Next year’s class, on the other hand, could feature the likes of Texas star Archie Manning, Oregon standout Dante Moore, Ohio State quarterback Julian Saine, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Baylor signal-caller DJ Lagerway.”
It’s worth mentioning that the Jets were originally expected to select their quarterback in the upcoming draft before Moore returned to Oregon State. Moore and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza are projected to be top-5 picks in the 2026 draft, but with Moore out, the next quarterback in line is expected to be Alabama’s Ty Simpson, who will likely play for the Jets at No. 16.
Regardless, New York will enter the season with players like quarterback Geno Smith and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, but they likely won’t significantly change the team’s fortunes in 2026.
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Assuming that’s the case, the Jets can use the upcoming season to see which players fit the ethos of the franchise while hopefully drafting their next franchise quarterback in 2027.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Can the Jets use the 2026 NFL season to land a 2027 quarterback of the future?
