The New York Jets look set to be in for a quarterback once again this offseason with Justin Fields struggling while having a contract that incentivizes them to get out of heading into 2026
12:48 ET, 15 Nov 2025
Arch Manning is not likely to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, but has not yet made that decision
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Arch Manning is not likely to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, but has not yet made that decision
The New York Jets might have their pick of quarterbacks from the 2026 NFL Draft class with a number of players at the position likely to go in the first-round. However, Kirk Herbstreit believes that they should wait a year before selecting one.
Heading into the season, Texas quarterback Arch Manning was seen as the hot favorite to be the first overall draft pick and win the Heisman Trophy. But he has not had the year that he would have hoped for, struggling mightily early on before improving throughout the latter half of the season. He is now unlikely to enter the draft this year and instead return to Texas to improve on his play in 2026.
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That leaves a number of other quarterbacks to the Jets to consider, including Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Dante Moore (Oregon) and LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina).
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However, Herbstreit is not convinced by those four, as well as the rest of the quarterbacks in the draft. He has stated that the Jets should target Manning in 2027.
Speaking on Thursday Night Football about the Jets' future at the quarterback position, Herbstreit said: "To be candid, covering college football, this was supposed to be a monster year for quarterbacks. Turns out, a lot of them flopped.
Kirk Herbstreit believes the Jets should wait for Arch Manning
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Kirk Herbstreit believes the Jets should wait for Arch Manning
"And so, you’re looking at the following year being a huge year. So, do you go for a stopgap Kirk Cousins-type of guy for ’26 and use that draft capital in other areas to get stronger? And then go for the home run potential in ’27. That’s probably the direction I would go."
He added: "A lot of people are thinking Arch Manning, he was supposed to be a guy that maybe was going to come out this year.
"He hasn’t announced anything. My guess would be he’ll come back to college for one more year. So, he might be the guy in ’27 that maybe the Jets could possibly hold out and maybe get him the following year."
Intriguingly, the 2027 draft class could be even stronger than many initially projected due to recent news on two of the aforementioned quarterbacks.
Fernando Mendoza is the current favorite to be the first overall draft pick after an impressive year at Indiana
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Fernando Mendoza is the current favorite to be the first overall draft pick after an impressive year at Indiana
As well as Arch Manning, Sellers and Moore are reportedly strongly considering returning to college football for another year in 2026, Todd McShay reported.
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That would leave Mendoza, Simpson and potentially John Mateer as the only quarterbacks likely first round options for the Jets, as well as the likes of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and even the Los Angeles Rams who could be looking for a quarterback.
The 2027 draft class is seen as one of the best in recent years, with Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams, DJ Lagway, Dylan Raiola and Julian Sayin all alongside Arch Manning likely to be available.
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