The Jets may still be sorting out 2026, but the conversation has already jumped ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft. With three first-round picks currently sitting in the top 10 - No.
4, No. 6 and No. 10 - New York has a chance to reshape the roster in a big way, and quarterback is almost certainly part of that plan.
The only real mystery is which passer ends up being the one. There are several names worth tracking, and the board could shift depending on who declares and who decides to stay in school. For now, though, the Jets are in position to land a quarterback with real upside.
Drew Mestemaker is the name that jumps off the page first. His path is unusual enough to make the rise feel even bigger: he began high school as a punter, then walked on at North Texas and eventually fought his way into the starting job.
Once he got there, he took off. In 2025, he led the FBS with 4,379 passing yards and threw a conference-high 34 touchdown passes before transferring to Oklahoma State, where the production has kept rolling.
Mestemaker checks a lot of boxes. He reads the field well, has the arm strength to hit every part of it, and owns the most completions in the FBS on throws of 20-plus yards with 44.
His mobility also gets overlooked. Because this is only his second year as a starter, there’s no guarantee he even enters the draft, but if he does, the source material makes one thing clear: he’d be a Top-3 pick and likely the first quarterback selected.
If he’s in the class, the Jets will be paying close attention.
Darian Mensah brings a different profile. Now at Miami after stops at Tulane and Duke, he’s already logged 35 starts, and that experience shows up in how calm he looks in the pocket.
He’s comfortable on touch throws, plays with anticipation, and can buy time with his legs without drifting away from the play. In eight games for the Hurricanes, he leads the nation in completion percentage at 80.7, while also piling up 2,425 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.
Scouts will have questions about his arm strength, but there’s plenty else to like. His accuracy, football IQ and smooth delivery all stand out, and that combination keeps him firmly in the mix.
C.J. Carr is another quarterback the Jets have already spent time studying.
The Notre Dame passer is a two-year starter who operates like a polished pocket quarterback. He handles protections, makes audibles and processes pre-snap and post-snap information quickly.
That helps him avoid pressure, and he has enough arm talent and a quick release to get the ball out on time.
There are moments when he tries to extend plays that probably should be over, but the overall package is appealing. The competition level will come up in the evaluation, though Notre Dame’s playoff path could put more of those matchups in front of him.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported in October that New York and Carr have been connected during the scouting process, and Glenn Naughton of JetNation.com said Mougey has flown out to watch Carr play at least three times. The Jets are clearly getting comfortable with him.
Trinidad Chambliss brings a different kind of intrigue. At 6-foot and 205 pounds, and with the fact that he’ll be 25 before the draft, there are obvious talking points around his size and age.
But he’s also a lively quarterback who spreads the ball around, throws with zip and can attack every area of the field. His pocket presence and mobility help him create extra time, and if nothing is there, he’s willing to take off and run.
What stands out most is how he handles the biggest moments. Rather than shrinking, he seems to rise when the stakes climb. That will fuel plenty of draft debate, but the talent is there.
Arch Manning remains one of the biggest wild cards on the board. His 2026 season has been uneven, with decision-making and accuracy both coming and going. There have been games where he’s struggled for long stretches before suddenly uncorking a throw that reminds everyone why he draws so much attention.
The tools still pop. He’s 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, can hurt defenses as a runner and has the arm strength to make difficult throws.
At the same time, he still needs to sharpen his field vision, and there’s a real chance he goes back to school for another year. With Texas still in the College Football Playoff conversation, there could be more high-profile games ahead for him.
Dante Moore fits into that same uncertain tier. He returned to Oregon for the 2026 season hoping for more starts and a shot at a national title, but neither has played out that way.
The Ducks are sitting at 5-3, and Moore’s season ended after four games when he suffered a concussion against USC. That leaves open the possibility that he returns again in 2027.
When he’s healthy, Moore has the kind of passing ability that gets scouts interested. He can vary arm angles and has easy arm strength to all levels of the field. The issues are still there, especially against interior pressure and top competition, but the talent is obvious enough to keep him in the conversation as a potential starter.
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