The Jets have the draft capital to chase a quarterback any way they want, but the path ESPN laid out comes with plenty of risk.
New York owns three first-round picks in the upcoming class, which puts it in a stronger position than any other team in the league to go after the quarterback it prefers. The problem is that the 2027 quarterback crop doesn’t exactly feature a clear-cut star. Arch Manning, Dante Moore and CJ Carr are all in the conversation, but none has put together a flawless season.
Still, if the Jets decide quarterback is the priority, they have the ammo to move up or simply take the best option available when their picks come around. ESPN’s latest mock draft chose the former approach, linking New York to Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr with the No. 7 pick, which would come via the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas has struggled through the first six weeks of the season, opening the door for that selection to land in a spot that could interest the Jets.
Field Yates wrote: “CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
“The early returns suggest the Jets went 3-for-3 with their trio of first-rounders in 2026 (edge rusher David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and receiver Omar Cooper Jr.), allowing those players to take a massive step forward in 2027. Carr would be their attempt to solve the biggest long-term problem, which is finding a solution under center -- 36-year-old Geno Smith is currently on a one-year deal.
“In two seasons at Notre Dame, Carr has shown a strong ability to handle pre-snap duties and process quickly, while also being a mechanically sound and talented thrower. He's at his best operating from the pocket, but he's dangerous enough with his legs to keep a defense honest (six rushing touchdowns since the start of last season),” Field Yates wrote.
Carr has clearly done enough at Notre Dame to get attention, but he doesn’t come across as a perfect prospect. If New York went that route, it would still be dealing with the same questions that have followed several quarterbacks in recent drafts.
And that’s the bigger issue for the Jets: wherever they turn, development matters. They haven’t exactly made a habit of getting that part right over the past few decades.
There’s also a real chance they use those first-round assets somewhere else entirely. Instead of drafting a quarterback, the Jets could try to package the picks for a player who has already shown he can do it in the NFL. They may use the draft capital on a quarterback trade, or they may choose to head in a different direction altogether.
In Other News...
Jets Face A Three-Game Stretch That Could Reshape Their Deadline Plans
A three-game stretch is now looming over the Jets deadline thinking, and it has pushed Will McDonald back into the conversation even after the team exercised his fifth-year option. Daniel Popper of The Athletic placed the edge rusher at No. 20 on his 2026 NFL trade deadline big board, a reminder that the Jets could have a meaningful asset on their hands if the season starts to tilt in one direction or another.
What happens before Nov. 10 may matter as much as McDonalds own value. If the Jets are sitting at 2-7, the logic could shift toward selling, while a 4-5 mark would make it far easier to justify keeping him in the fold, and that makes the next few weeks feel like more than just another midseason run of games. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Pass Rush Problems Make One Darren Mougey Move Hurt Again
The Jets pass rush has become one of the sharper reminders of how thin the margin is between a bold roster move and a decision that lingers all season. A year after Darren Mougey sent defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to Dallas in November 2025, the interior pressure issue that Williams once helped stabilize is still part of the conversation around New Yorks 2026 defense, even as the deal brought back meaningful draft capital for the future.
Williams play in Dallas has not looked as disruptive as it did in previous seasons, according to Pro Football Focus, which adds another layer to how the Jets evaluate the move now. New York used the second-rounder from that trade to land cornerback DAngelo Ponds, a reminder that the return was always going to be measured over time rather than by one immediate fix, and the pass rush problems only make that balancing act look more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Face A Costly Colts Debate They Can't Ignore
With the Colts dealing with a difficult season and a recent front-office shakeup, the trade market around their roster is already starting to take shape. One name drawing attention is All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, a player the Jets know well as they continue to think about how to build around a roster that has already been part of another major deal with Indianapolis in the Sauce Gardner trade.
For New York, the fit is obvious in the abstract and tricky in the details. The Jets could use another high-end piece in front of their quarterback, but any pursuit would have to balance draft capital against the reality of Nelsons contract situation, which adds another layer of uncertainty to an already expensive decision. It is the kind of conversation that can get loud quickly, even if the path from interest to actual movement is far from simple. [Read more 🡒]