The Jets have already drifted into mock-draft season at 2-7, and the quarterback picture is starting to narrow in a way that should have New York fans paying close attention. Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr sit at the top of the wish list, but the bigger problem may be that the 1-7 Miami Dolphins are making a serious run at the same prize.
Miami’s latest move only sharpens that reality. Ahead of its game against the 2-7 Indianapolis Colts, the Dolphins are placing quarterback Malik Willis on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least four games. That opens the door for Kyle McCord to make his first NFL start in Week 10 against Indianapolis.
For the Jets, the fallout is obvious: Miami’s path is suddenly looking even more like a direct threat to New York’s draft hopes. The Dolphins have the kind of record that keeps them in the race for a top pick, and this move makes it easier to picture them continuing to lose. Every Miami win pushes them farther from the top quarterback tier, while every loss brings the Jets a little closer to the kind of draft position they need.
Right now, the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans hold the top two picks in the 2027 NFL Draft. Miami sits at No. 3, while the Jets are at No. 4 and No. 6, with the first of those selections coming from the Sauce Gardner trade. Even after the Jets’ teardown, the Colts’ pick may still be their best shot at landing one of the premium spots.
If Miami keeps sliding, that could matter in a big way. The Dolphins’ decision on Willis makes it more likely they stay in the loss column, and that only increases the odds that Jeff Hafley ends up in position to chase a franchise quarterback of his own. If that happens at the same time the Jets are looking for their next young passer, it would be a brutal twist for a division rival to land the same kind of answer New York is hunting.
That’s why the Colts game looms so large for the Jets, even if they aren’t the ones on the field. A Miami loss would help keep the Colts’ pick from falling too far down the board. A Colts win would do the opposite, and from the Jets’ perspective, every Indianapolis victory chips away at their long-term future.
As for New York’s quarterback search, Mestemaker and Carr have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the class. Carr brings pinpoint accuracy from the pocket and a knack for squeezing throws into tight windows. Mestemaker offers the bigger arm and the willingness to attack deep down the field.
Miss on both, and the Jets could be left sorting through a less appealing group. Miami’s Darian Mensah does not have the same high-end arm as some of the other quarterbacks in the class.
Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss is a size outlier, has regressed this season and will be 25 as a rookie. Texas’ Arch Manning has also been up and down all season.
For a Jets fan base already worn down by years of quarterback frustration, the possibility of losing one of the top options to a division rival - and then having to face him twice - would be another heavy blow.
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For a team trying to find any kind of stability, the concern is not just the production on the field but the sense that both sides may already be thinking beyond the present. Smith and Reich are each being judged on what happens now, yet the bigger question hanging over the Jets is whether either one is fully invested in fixing this partnership before the season slips further away. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Jets, keeping Wilson was about more than just avoiding a splashy trade. He remains a foundational player in what the organization hopes will be its next phase, especially as the team looks to stabilize the offense and build around a new quarterback plan. In a season full of uncertainty, retaining a receiver of Wilsons caliber sends a clear signal about where the franchise wants to go next. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Hold A Draft Debate That Could Define Darren Mougey
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The names in the discussion tell the story of where the franchise wants to go, with defensive prospects Leonard Moore, Chris Cole, Clev Lubin and Tavion Gadson all drawing attention as possible foundation pieces. The bigger question is how aggressively the Jets will chase a new franchise passer, and whether the front office sees enough in the current college crop to make that the defining move of the class. [Read more 🡒]