The Jets have already spent the 2026 NFL trade deadline reshaping the roster, and now the attention turns to the 2027 NFL Draft. With Darren Mougey holding three first-round picks, New York has a real chance to attack both ends of the roster - the defense and the quarterback spot - in one sweep.
The first move in this mock lands at No. 4 overall, where Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore gives the Jets a chance to replace Sauce Gardner, who was dealt at the previous NFL trade deadline. Moore checks every box New York would want in a corner.
His athleticism and I.Q. stand out, and he has already been targeted 18 times this season, with four of those throws ending in pass breakups. For a team looking for a true shutdown presence, Moore fits the bill.
At No. 6, the Jets stay on defense rather than forcing a quarterback pick. Georgia linebacker Chris Cole has emerged as one of the fastest risers in the class after putting together 58 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, and three pass deflections in nine games.
He plays with length, speed, and aggression, and while he is still a raw prospect, his upside is obvious. The comparison to New York Giants 2026 first-round pick Arvell Reese is part of the appeal, especially given how much Reese has already mattered on defense.
The quarterback decision comes with the final first-rounder at No. 16, and the selection is Notre Dame’s CJ Carr. The grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr has been one of college football’s most efficient passers this season, throwing for 2,168 yards and 21 touchdowns against one interception while completing 67.6 percent of his passes through nine games.
His ability to distribute the ball fits the system of offensive coordinator Frank Reich, especially with the playmakers New York added in the 2026 draft. He may not be the top quarterback on every board, but the Jets’ repeated trips to South Bend suggest he is very much in play for Mougey.
Round two keeps the pressure on opposing quarterbacks with Louisville edge Clev Lubin at No. 37.
Lubin would pair nicely with 2026 first-round pick David Bailey, giving New York another disruptive pass rusher off the edge. In nine games, Lubin has posted 44 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles.
At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, he brings the kind of burst the Jets need opposite Bailey.
The final pick in this mock comes at No. 68, where Kentucky defensive tackle Tavion Gadson adds more muscle to the interior. Gadson measures 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds and brings burst and footwork that help him get into the backfield. He is still raw as a run stopper and may start out in a rotational role, but the upside is there if the Jets want a true space eater in the trenches.
With Moore, Cole, Carr, Lubin, and Gadson, New York would be leaning hard into a defensive overhaul while still taking a swing on a franchise quarterback. That’s the kind of draft that can change the shape of a roster fast.
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