The 2027 NFL Draft is already being framed as a quarterback avalanche, and one projection has the New York Jets right in the middle of it.
Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo went with quarterbacks at the first four spots in his mock, a setup that would be unprecedented. In that scenario, Arch Manning is projected to go No. 1 to Arizona, Oregon’s Dante Moore lands with the Dolphins at No. 2, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin goes to the Browns at No.
- That leaves the Jets at No. 4, where Melo has them selecting Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr.
“Carr needs to play within structure more frequently and limit the chaotic plays, with more reps hopefully leading to a calmer demeanor,” Melo wrote.
For Jets fans, the idea of another first-round quarterback naturally brings back memories of Zach Wilson, who was part of the 2021 draft that opened with three straight quarterbacks. This version would push that trend even further.
Carr was born in 2005, a detail that lands a little too hard when you remember that Herm Edwards was still coaching the Jets then, Curtis Martin was in his final season, and the league’s notable starting quarterbacks included Trent Dilfer, Kyle Boller, and Gus Frerotte. He was a four-star prospect out of Michigan and posted a 66.6% completion percentage, 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions for Notre Dame. He also ran for three touchdowns as a redshirt freshman, though he’s not the kind of quarterback who wins with his legs.
The Notre Dame pipeline doesn’t exactly offer comfort to Jets fans, either. Brady Quinn never stuck with the Browns, Jimmy Clausen lasted 21 games across six seasons, Riley Leonard is currently battling Anthony Richardson Sr. for the Colts’ backup job, and DeShone Kizer is still the cautionary tale everyone remembers. The school’s old quarterback glory days with Joe Montana and Joe Theismann are a long way off.
Still, the recent history of Notre Dame quarterbacks wouldn’t necessarily stop a team from taking Carr. The source points to the way Alabama’s offensive linemen have had their own NFL misses, yet that hasn’t kept teams from betting on talent like Kadyn Proctor after the failures of Evan Neal and Alex Leatherwood.
The Jets also have three first-round picks, which gives them plenty of flexibility if they decide to chase a franchise quarterback through a trade instead. And with Baker Mayfield’s contract situation raising more questions about his future in Tampa Bay, the quarterback market could keep shifting.
One more name to watch: Cade Klubnik. He’ll be entering his sophomore season, and the idea of his hype building alongside Carr’s is already enough to get the fan base talking. Maybe next summer brings the Cade Klubnik Hype Train against the CJ Carr Fan Club.
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