The Jets are deep into another season that looks lost, but there is one sliver of good news buried in the wreckage: their draft position is getting better by the week, and not just because of their own record.
After Sunday’s 38-33 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, New York sits at 2-6 and is almost certainly headed toward a 16th straight playoff miss. That alone would be enough to send fans back into draft-watch mode. But the real twist is that the Jets have reason to keep an eye on two other teams, too.
It traces back to the 2025 season, when the Jets traded cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, then dealt defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a package that included the better of Dallas’ two 2027 first-round picks. The Cowboys also have a pick from the Green Bay Packers as part of the Micah Parsons trade.
That setup is starting to look favorable for New York. The Colts, who already owe the Jets the No. 16 overall pick in 2026 from the Gardner trade, fell to 2-6 on Sunday after a blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
They are also tearing down parts of the roster. Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and guard Quenton Nelson are already gone, and wide receiver Josh Downs and running back Jonathan Taylor could be next.
Dallas is not exactly helping its own cause, either. After losing to the Arizona Cardinals, the Cowboys are 3-5 and struggling badly on defense.
If the season ended right now, the Jets would own three of the top 10 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, including two in the top five. The Colts’ pick would land at No. 4 overall, the Jets’ own pick would be No. 5, and the Dallas selection would come in at No. 10.
Of course, the Jets still have to make those picks count, and that has not always been a sure thing. But the setup gives them a real chance to reshape the roster, and possibly take another shot at a top quarterback prospect.
For Jets fans, draft positioning is familiar territory. This time, though, it is not just their own losses that are driving the conversation. It is the failures of the Colts and Cowboys, too.
In Other News...
Jets Fans Had One Immediate Question Watching Ashton Jeanty
Watching the Raiders-Jets game in Week 8, the immediate wrinkle for New York fans was Ashton Jeantys role, or lack of one. He was on the field for third downs, but he did not get a touch in the first quarter while backup Mike Washington handled six carries in that stretch, a usage pattern that stood out in a game where the Jets were already trying to sort through plenty of moving parts.
Jeanty eventually got his first touch early in the second quarter, but the opening frame still raised the obvious question about why the Raiders were leaning elsewhere. His recent struggles and his comments about the Jets defense were part of the conversation, yet there was no clear explanation for the early-game deployment, leaving the situation a little murky for anyone trying to read into it. [Read more 🡒]
Braelon Allen Is Forcing A Jets Debate They Didnt Expect
The Jets are getting close to having their offense back in one piece, with Breece Hall and left guard Dylan Parham both nearing returns. But Braelon Allens run as the lead back has complicated what once looked like a simple handoff back to the starter. Allen has handled the job well enough to turn a temporary absence into a real conversation about roles, workload and how much the Jets want to lean on the rookie once the backfield is whole again.
For a team trying to stabilize its offense, the timing makes this more than a routine depth-chart question. Hall remains the more established name, and the front office now has to weigh whether a crowded backfield is a strength or a chance to turn a valuable asset into help elsewhere before the trade deadline. For now, the safer play is to keep both backs in the building and sort out the carries later, but Allens emergence has made that decision far less tidy than the Jets probably expected. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Need Their Offense To Wake Up Before Skid Gets Worse
The Jets are trying to stop the slide before it turns into something bigger, and the timing of Sundays meeting with the Raiders gives them a chance to do it at home. New York is 2-5 after back-to-back losses, while Las Vegas arrives at 3-4 and also trying to snap a four-game skid, so this one has the feel of a team that badly needs a clean offensive showing to steady itself.
For the Jets, the path is pretty clear: get Garrett Wilson more involved, protect the football and hope Omar Cooper Jr. can keep giving the passing game a lift. The offense has been uneven enough that every possession matters, and with both teams searching for answers, New York cannot afford another sluggish start if it wants to keep the season from drifting further off course. [Read more 🡒]