With five weeks left in the 2025 NFL regular season, the New York Jets are sitting at 3-9 and staring down another long offseason. At this point, the playoffs aren’t even a whisper-they’re a memory. The focus has shifted squarely to the 2026 NFL Draft, and with two first-round picks in hand, the Jets are in position to make some serious noise come April.
Now, it’s easy to assume that quarterback would be the obvious target-especially with the team’s ongoing carousel at the position. But recent reports suggest that general manager Darren Mougey might take a different route.
Instead of forcing a quarterback pick this year, the Jets could opt to build out the roster and create a more stable foundation for a future franchise QB. Think of it as playing the long game-stack talent now, solve quarterback later.
If that’s the direction the Jets go, here are three names to watch as the draft board starts to take shape.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Let’s start with a simple truth: Garrett Wilson needs help.
Outside of the former Offensive Rookie of the Year, the Jets’ wide receiver room is paper-thin. John Metchie III and AD Mitchell have flashed at times, but neither has emerged as a consistent threat. That’s where Carnell Tate comes in.
Tate might not be the flashiest prospect in this class, but he’s been one of the most productive. In just nine games this season, the Ohio State junior has racked up 793 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
He’s polished, reliable, and plays with a quiet confidence that shows up on tape. He doesn’t have that one elite trait that jumps off the screen-but he does everything well.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Pairing Tate with Wilson would give the Jets a legitimate one-two punch on the outside, setting the stage for whoever takes over under center in the future. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where a young quarterback walks into a situation with two dynamic receivers and a solid offensive line-suddenly, the learning curve doesn’t look so steep.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Flip to the defensive side, and there’s another name worth circling: Mansoor Delane.
After transferring from Virginia Tech to LSU, Delane wasted no time making his presence felt. He wrapped up the regular season with 34 tackles, nine pass breakups, and two interceptions-numbers that only tell part of the story. What really stands out is how well he fits into today’s NFL: smart, physical, and versatile.
Delane’s not the fastest corner in the class, but he makes up for it with instincts and technique. He’s comfortable in both man and zone, and he plays with the kind of edge that head coach Aaron Glenn loves in his defensive backs. With Sauce Gardner no longer in the picture, the Jets have a glaring need at corner-and Delane has the tools to step in and become a long-term solution.
Projected as a top-15 pick, Delane could be a cornerstone piece on a defense that’s still trying to find its identity post-Gardner.
Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State
Let’s talk trenches.
After trading away Quinnen Williams at the deadline, the Jets lost their most disruptive force on the interior. That void hasn’t gone unnoticed, and it’s exactly why Kayden McDonald is a name to watch with New York’s second first-round pick.
McDonald was part of Ohio State’s national title run last season, contributing as a rotational piece. But with the Buckeyes’ starting defensive line heading to the NFL, McDonald stepped into a bigger role this year-and he delivered.
Through 12 games, he’s posted 34 tackles, eight quarterback hurries, and two sacks. He’s not just filling space; he’s creating chaos.
He’s a strong, compact interior lineman who wins with leverage and motor. He may not be as flashy as some of the other defensive tackles in this class, but he’s the kind of player who fits perfectly in a rotational front that values toughness and pressure up the middle.
For a Jets team that’s trying to re-establish its defensive identity, McDonald could be a foundational piece-someone who helps bring back that edge they had when Williams was anchoring the line.
The Bigger Picture
The Jets have options.
And while quarterback remains the elephant in the room, there’s a real case to be made for building the roster first and solving that puzzle later. Whether it’s giving Garrett Wilson a running mate like Carnell Tate, shoring up the secondary with Mansoor Delane, or reinforcing the trenches with Kayden McDonald, the 2026 draft could be less about the next QB and more about creating the right environment for him to thrive.
Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned in today’s NFL, it’s this: talent wins. And the Jets have a rare opportunity to stack it.