The New York Jets already have plenty to look forward to in 2026 after Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey spent the offseason reshaping much of the roster with a mix of young and veteran additions in the draft and free agency.
Still, the real runway for this franchise may come a little later. The 2027 NFL Draft class is expected to be a special one, and the Jets are positioned better than anyone else in football with three first-round picks scheduled for next April.
That kind of draft capital opens the door to just about anything, especially at quarterback. The winter chatter will be relentless, and it makes sense: unless Cade Klubnik gets on the field in 2026 and tears the league apart, the Jets are close to a lock to take a swing at a college passer in 2027.
But quarterback won’t be the only conversation. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is also expected to be one of the biggest names in that class, and the buzz around him is already coming from people who know NFL talent when they see it.
In an interview with NFL insider Jordan Schultz and ex-Jet Keyshawn Johnson, Geno Smith and Garrett Wilson were asked about Jeremiah Smith and what he could become at the next level.
Both men bring obvious perspective, even if they’re a little biased. Wilson is the Jets’ current WR1 and an Ohio State alum, while Geno Smith is Jeremiah’s cousin.
"I said it before he ever played a snap in college football that he was going to be the best ever, and I really believe that. I watched him play since he was 9-10 years old.
I watched him grow up." Smith told Schultz and Johnson."
I just remember my grandma telling me, like, 'He's just like you. He's determined.'
And to me, I know he's got the physical tools and all the gifts, but his work ethic and the way that he goes about his business is phenomenal, man."
Wilson added his own strong endorsement, describing the Ohio State standout as a "man among boys" when he’s on the field for the Buckeyes.
That kind of praise carries weight coming from players who have seen elite football talent up close. And with three first-round picks in hand, the Jets will have options next April - enough to move around the board or simply take their shots at the prospects they like most.
If Jeremiah Smith keeps building on what should be another huge season at Ohio State, he’ll be one of the first names discussed in 2027. And if he somehow ends up within reach for New York, the Jets should be ready to seriously consider him.
In Other News...
Jets Fans Suddenly Have A Real Week 1 QB Watch List
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For a team still trying to line up its next long-term answer under center, these are the kinds of September games that can quietly shape later conversations. Matchups against notable opponents will give Jets evaluators a chance to see how each quarterback handles pressure, decision-making and the bigger stage, even if the picture is still far from complete this early in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Carroll Just Reopened The Geno Smith Debate For Jets Fans
Pete Carrolls latest comments have a way of tugging Jets fans right back into an old conversation they thought was long settled. The veteran coach, who knows Geno Smith from their Seahawks years and now oversees him again with the Raiders, said he still sees a quarterback who can bounce back, even after a rough 2025 season in Las Vegas. His explanation leaned less on Smiths ability and more on the support around him, from the quality of the roster to the coaching structure.
For Jets followers, the timing makes the remark land with extra force, because Smiths name still carries that familiar what-if energy in New York. Carrolls view is that the talent has not gone anywhere and that the right environment could help Smith perform at a high level again, which is exactly the kind of reassurance that keeps a debate alive rather than ending it. Even if the Jets are not in the middle of the discussion now, a comment like this is enough to remind everyone how much the situation has always been about context as much as quarterback play. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Face An Unsettling Week 1 Kicker Decision
The Jets head into Week 1 with an unusual special-teams question hanging over the roster, after bringing in Blake Grupe to compete following Jason Sanders rough preseason. It is not the kind of issue teams usually want lingering on the first weekend of the season, but New York has made it clear it is still sorting through options while trying to settle on a reliable leg.
Among the kickers the Jets have recently brought in for workouts is Justin Tucker, a name that once would have hardly needed an introduction. Tucker has not played in the 2025 season after a difficult 2024 and allegations of inappropriate behavior, and his recent play has declined enough that no other team has handed him a roster spot this year. For the Jets, the situation underscores just how unsettled the position remains as the opener approaches. [Read more 🡒]