Many experts, analysts and fans expect the Jets to select a "developmental" quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh at the end of April.
Fernando Mendoza is a near shoe-in to go to Las Vegas with the first overall pick. Who could be the next QB selected? The Jets have two first-round selections (Nos. 2 and 16) and a pair in the second round (Nos. 33 and 44). In their recent tour of several pro days, Jets GM Darren Mougey, HC Aaron Glenn, OC Frank Reich and QB coach Bill Musgrave worked out Ty Simpson, Drew Allar, Carson Beck and Garrett Nussmeier.
Mougey, speaking at the recent NFL Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, said: "Yeah, we feel good about the quarterback room., but could potentially add another guy to the room before the draft. We'll see where that goes, but we'll monitor the quarterback markets and just see where we end up."
After trading for veteran Geno Smith, who Glenn said is his QB1, the other players in the room are Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. With the clock ticking toward the draft (April 23-25) the available options include free agent Tyrod Taylor (who spent the past two seasons with the Jets), Cooper Rush (another free agent), or trading for either Tanner McKee, Will Levis, Jarrett Stidham or Spencer Rattler.
In a recent "Now Boarding" draft show, team reporter Eric Allen spoke with NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein about who might be the right fit for the Jets in the NFL Draft. In Zierlein's view, Ty Simpson, a one-season starter at Alabama, makes the most sense -- perhaps not with the No. 16 pick, more likely at No. 33 (the first selection in the second round), providing he doesn't land with another team first. As with so much in the draft, it's a fluid situation: move up, move down, stand pat. In other words ... stay tuned.
"Mac Jones was a one-year starter at Alabama, Ty Simpson's a one-year starter," Zierlein said. "They both have some things that they do in the pocket that's a positive in terms of their pocket mobility. The way they read a defense is going through a pro style passing attack. So there's actually a lot of similarities there between the two players.