A lack of stability at the all-important quarterback spot has been a major factor in the New York Jets’ lack of NFL success over the last decade-plus. Ever since quarterback Mark Sanchez led the team to back-to-back AFC title games, the Jets have employed a litany of signal-callers, and for the most part, the team hasn’t enjoyed a ton of production at the position.
With the Jets still needing an answer at quarterback, people supposedly think they are determined to find a long-term solution in the next pair of drafts.
“New York’s deadline deals leave it with two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the 2026 draft and three first-round picks in 2027,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote. “The way this is being perceived by people I’ve talked to is that the Jets are determined to do whatever it takes to resolve their long-term quarterback situation in one of the next two drafts. Having five first-round picks in the next two years will enable the Jets to trade up if that is what’s needed to finally find their franchise QB.”
Justin Fields has been New York’s starting quarterback for the lion’s share of this season, and in all fairness, he’s at least taken care of the ball. He has yet to throw an interception across seven starts. Fields has been decently precise with his passes as well, considering he’s completed 64.1 percent of them. He’s thrown for five touchdowns while also making an impact with his legs.
However, folks should be taking his lack of interceptions on the season with a grain of salt, as his passing volume has been low. He’s thrown just 167 passes on the season, and 28 signal-callers around the league have him beat in that category. Meanwhile, he’s averaging just 155.6 passing yards per game (though his rushing yardage does help a bit) and taking too many sacks.
Plus, with the Jets (who are 1-7 overall) having just a 1-6 record with him at the helm so far this season, he hasn’t given them any indication that he has what it takes to be their franchise quarterback. His status as their starter has even become murky at times this year. Thus, it only makes sense that they seem to have a sense of urgency to improve in that position sooner rather than later.
But fortunately for New York, it just might be able to draft the star quarterback it’s long been looking for in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jets could very well end up with the No. 1 overall pick, as they have one of the worst records in all of football and might stack up plenty more losses before the conclusion of the campaign.
Perhaps Lady Luck will be on New York’s side and it will draft a signal-caller with the top pick in the not-so-distant future. The Jets have picked with the No. 1 overall choice just once in franchise history, and that was all the way back in the 1996 NFL Draft.
