The New York Jets are on the hunt for a quarterback solution. They've brought in Geno Smith for the 2026 season, but he's not the long-term answer. The Jets need to think ahead, and the NFL Draft is the ideal place to find their future leader on the field.
While the upcoming draft class doesn't boast a plethora of can't-miss QB prospects beyond Fernando Mendoza, who seems destined for the Raiders, the Jets have a strategy. They’re likely to take a chance on a mid-to-late round quarterback, someone they can mold into a future starter or at least a reliable backup. With three first-round picks lined up for the 2027 NFL Draft, they’re poised to make a significant move then.
For now, the Jets are focusing on the 2026 NFL Draft and have shown interest in Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. According to Connor Hughes from SNY's Jets Final Drive podcast, the Jets were impressed after hosting Allar and several of his Penn State teammates for a private workout.
"They had something like a dozen Penn Staters in for a private workout. Among those players, the big name there was Drew Allar.
And among the reasons why the Jets chose to bring everybody with Drew Allar...is when they put him through a workout, he was throwing to his guys. I was told they came away pretty impressed.
He's a big dude, strong arm, great build, a lot of attributes there that you love."
Connor Hughes
While Allar has the physical tools that catch the eye-size, arm strength, and build-there's still work to be done on the mental side of the game. This doesn’t make him undraftable, but it does mean he needs time to develop. Throwing him into a starting role too soon could spell trouble for any GM or coach.
If Allar lands with the Jets, he’d have the chance to develop behind Smith and potentially another veteran quarterback the team plans to bring in. The Jets should consider Allar in the later rounds, perhaps the fifth or sixth, as a developmental project. Reaching for him earlier could mean missing out on immediate help the team needs elsewhere.