The New York Jets find themselves at yet another crossroads - and this one’s not just about 2026. After another disappointing season, a new head coach in Aaron Glenn, and no clear answer at quarterback, the Jets are staring down a familiar question: How long until this team finally turns the corner?
The truth? It might take longer than fans want to hear.
Glenn steps into a tough situation. The roster has talent in spots, but the most important position in football remains a major question mark. And while Jets fans are understandably eager for a quick fix - especially after so many years of underwhelming quarterback play - the reality is that the long-term solution may not be in this year’s draft at all.
Former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason put it plainly: don’t expect the franchise quarterback to arrive in 2026. In his view, the Jets may be looking further ahead - possibly to the 2027 draft - to find their guy.
“Maybe they will be in a better situation to draft one of those guys next year,” Esiason said, via FOX. “Realistically, you look at it - if you want one of those young quarterbacks that is going to change your franchise like Jaxson Dart is doing here for the Giants, you’re going to have another bad year next year to be at the top of that draft to be able to select that guy.”
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a fanbase that’s already endured more than its share of rough seasons. But Esiason’s logic tracks.
The 2026 quarterback class took a hit when Dante Moore announced he’s staying in school, thinning out a group that already had question marks. For a team like the Jets - who need a true franchise cornerstone, not just a stopgap - reaching for a QB in a weaker class could do more harm than good.
That puts the Jets in a tricky position. They don’t have a long-term solution under center, but they also can’t afford to force a pick just to say they did something.
Glenn, meanwhile, knows how this works. If the team stumbles again in 2026, his seat could get hot in a hurry.
It’s the nature of the job - especially in New York.
But if the Jets truly believe Glenn is the right guy to lead this rebuild, they may need to play the long game. That means giving him time.
That means resisting the urge to chase six or seven wins next season just to show progress. And yes, that might mean enduring another tough year - but with a clear plan in place.
Because if you’re going to rebuild, do it right. Don’t rush the quarterback decision.
Don’t mortgage the future for a short-term fix. If the payoff is a real franchise quarterback in 2027 - one who can finally stabilize this team and give it a true identity - then it might be worth one more year of growing pains.
Jets fans have been patient for a long time. But if one more bad season means finally getting it right at the most important position in sports, that patience could finally pay off.