The New York Jets are heading into a pivotal offseason, and their quarterback situation remains front and center. After a tough 2025 campaign that landed them the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets find themselves in a tricky spot. This year’s draft class is widely considered to be light on elite quarterback talent, and with the expectation that Las Vegas will grab Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, the Jets may have to look elsewhere-or get creative.
One name that had been on the Jets’ radar as a potential mid-round gem was Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. A strong-armed, athletic passer with intriguing upside, Chambliss checked a lot of boxes for a team looking to develop a future starter behind a veteran presence. But any plans involving Chambliss will have to wait.
On Thursday, a state court judge in Mississippi granted Chambliss a sixth year of college eligibility, effectively pulling him out of the 2026 draft pool. Rather than making the jump to the NFL, Chambliss is opting to return to Ole Miss, where he’s expected to cash in on a lucrative NIL deal. It’s a move that makes sense for both the player and the program-Chambliss gets another year to refine his game, and Ole Miss gets to keep its leader under center.
For the Jets, though, it means pivoting once again in their quarterback search. With Chambliss off the board, the mid-round market still offers some interesting possibilities. Names like Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, and Carson Beck could draw interest as developmental prospects-guys who might not be ready to start Week 1, but could grow into the role with the right coaching and support.
That’s where the Jets' front office, led by GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, will have to make some key decisions. Pairing a mid-round rookie with a proven veteran could be the most balanced approach-giving the team a steady hand in the short term while grooming a potential long-term answer.
The bottom line? Trinidad Chambliss won’t be part of the Jets’ 2026 plans. But with a little strategy and the right combination of experience and upside, New York still has a path forward at the game’s most important position.