Yeah, with a different DC and a better QB we can easily win 7-8 games next year and not even be in position to draft a good QB. It seems like the time to draft the top QB is now. I am just hoping the guys who are thinking of declaring will do well the rest of the way and declare this year.
You keep talking about a QB in 2026. Would you mind telling me what makes you think any of these kids is worth drafting at FIVE, let alone blowing 2 years worth of draft capital to trade UP to get one of these 2nd round worthy QB's? Also, who is going to develop them? None, from what I can see, are close to NFL ready so.....?? Just wondering.
I didn't watch much yet, but I did see 2 games of Mendoza and 1 of Simpson. I liked Mendoza, I think he seems to be processing fairly quickly and was more mobile than I thought. The arm also seemed to be NFL level, though probably average, but saw a few 47+ yards bombs pretty effortlessly. I was not thrilled with the INT had had against Penn State. It feels like he lost track of his reads, saw a guy running and just threw it that way, didn't see safety at all. I don't know if this is a pattern with him yet or not. Simpson in the game I saw did not look great, but looks like it was his worst game of the year, need to see much more there. However, in general, I don't think anyone really can make a perfect evaluation, certainly not me, but not even the NFL GMs. But as a consensus I already showed that QBs picked in the 1st round recently had 10 times more success than in later rounds. So, when you look at this QB class, I am trying to see what the consensus is right now. And it is early, but so far I see 3 guys in top 6: https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2026/consensus-big-board-2026 If you compare that with Kenny Pickett class, you had one top 10 and that was #10. And this was AFTER all the process, where you know QBs get pushed up. 2024 draft had 4 guys top 10, all top 5, but that was one of the best QB drafts. So, as of now so far it does look much better than 2022 draft, not as good as 2024, but a lot closer to 2024 than 2022. And again this is with early data. Let's see how it plays out from here on out, but so far there is some hope for 2026.
You're not factoring in trading up.. What we have is draft capital. Mougey is pretty savvy considering he's a rookie GM so if a trade up is necessary in '27, I'm pretty sure Mougey and all these picks can get us back in the mix. If we do luck up and win 5-7 games in '26, what that tells me is that we have a foundation to build on. NOW, we can get cute and talk trading up or down depending on the need. Insstead of BPA, this draft should be for need. If you don't have any food in the cupboard, you don't buy shoes and socks. We have 18 picks overall over the next 2 years AND a ton of cap space sooo, we don't have to rush anything. Mougey and the Jets need to take their time and do shit right for once. No need to rush. No need for the splash. No need to win the back pages. We need to build this team up brick by brick until we get back to being a legit NFL roster.
Why do you think picking up a QB next year is rushing? It is a big part of building brick by brick. The most important part actually. We have OL to protect him and some good weapons too, which we can further enhance this offseason. It's a good env for a QB. I am not sure why it would be a rush to take one now. According to the consensus at least so far there are 3 top 6 QBs in this draft: https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2026/consensus-big-board-2026 . What's wrong with drafting one? Also, Mooge is definitely savvy but he is not a magician. If there is a great QB in 2027, he is going #1, and no one will be able to get him aside from the team that tanked the best next year. We just don't know about 2027. Why not start building QB room with a top draft pick in 2026?
Because there's only 2 candidates to choose from. Its either Mendoza OR Simpson. We only have 1 WR that we know of and honestly, he's not built to take much of a pounding and in fact, would be a great #2. We have a RB room second to none and an OL that's starting to gel. Our defense otoh, has holes. Major ones that need high level filling. A rookie QB that can't run (Mendoza) or not more than a 1 year starter (Simpson) will only keep that defense on the field too long. We've seen every Sunday what that looks like and its painful to watch. We also don't have anyone in the bldg. to groom and coach a young QB. Our QBC is a former RBC. Serious oversight by Glenn and it may have cost Fields in that there was no one to really help him on the sidelines. If we do draft a QB, we run the risk of ruining him like we've done every other QB we've drafted since Pennington. Who's to say there won't be plenty of quality QB's in the '27 draft to choose from. MAYBE Glenn actually hires a QBC that knows what a QB does and has experience. McCown would be a pretty good choice. Mike White would work too as he's been in the bldg. before. No real need to reach for one of two QB's coming out. If one falls to us? fine. We would be far better off, IMO, with a dominant pass rush, a defensive line that can stop runs and a secondary that doesn't get torched regularly. Once in place, then we can trade up for a FQB in '27 if we're out of the top 5-10. Maybe our scouts can earn their money and find the diamond in the rough late in the 1st. At least a kid QB will be coming into a far better and stable situation in '27 than what will be in place in '26.
I hear you, but let's see how the rest of the College season plays out, who declares, what pick we will get, etc... Ideal scenario is that these kids step up in the play-offs and show us something, Moore and Sellers declare, and we have a very high pick. I am also not eager to trade away major capital, but if there is someone we like and the price is not too high, I would consider. Hopefully we won't need to do it though.
I agree with your plan BUT only if they go in whole heartedly. Job 1 is find a QB. So, you get the best one you canin the draft. Not the best one at your spot. Not the best value. Identify your top 1 or 2 targets. Then trade up to get one of them.
You just described the 2025 Cleveland Browns. How has that gone for them? If you hit on the QB in 26, plenty of time to go get those pieces in 27. Almost every team turnaround started with the right QB. Again with buying the lottery tickets that's no way to live. Nobody has good odds of finding late pick QBs. Your odds of picking a super bowl QB are literally higher at Mr Irrelevant (Brock Purdy) than they are at #32 (Lamar Jackson). We need to pick the best QB, and ideally in the top 10. At least living through this craptastic season means that will not be a problem. And it's not like the Jets are short of draft capital. Spend it on the best candidate at the most important position. Also about bringing into a good situation? Easiest way to fix the situation is to find a good coach. Patsies drafted Drake Maye to a 4-13 first year with a rookie ex-DC head coach and atruly pathetic offensive line. Doesn't seem to have destroyed his career.
Ryan Williams can't catch. I don't know what has happened to him, but he catches with his body now and not his hands. He is also 6'0 175 pounds. We don't need another WR with the build of Garrett Wilson.
What worked for the Pats probably won't work for the Jets. They hired Vrabel who was an HC and knows what he's doing staff wise. We hired Glenn and the story is telling itself. Even if we luck up and draft the "right" QB, who is gonna groom him? Who is his coach gonna be as the existing QBC was the RBC. You're depending on the runningbacks coach to mentor our new FQB? You don't consider that risky??? Its not like Glenn knows what works and what doesn't staff wise as this is his first rodeo as the boss. Justin Fields had no one to turn to in the bldg. as a mentor. I think that could have helped the kid. I wouldn't want to drop a kid fresh out of college into a situation where a former running backs coach is telling him how to be successful unless of course we're trying to ruin another QB career before it begins. At best, we improve to... 5-12 next year if we're lucky and Wilks is gone. Mougey can still parley that into a trade up if necessary as there should be more than 2 QB's coming out of college in '27. This year, there's only 2 and neither one is the total package. We don't need to rush into a QB in '26 unless one drops to us by chance. We DO need to upgrade the roster especially the defense. We also need to upgrade the WR room as well. We can do that and have it all in place in '27, along with a real QBC to mentor our FQB. Use the cash on a Vet QB to hold the fort for a year or two. Backfill our weak spots as well. Give Glenn and his Staff another year to settle in. We already know how this movie ends if we rush into a QB situation draft wise.
My only suggestion is don't use the "pro day" to make the decision. Nitwits McCagnan (Hackenberg) and Douglas (Zach Wilson) , as I understand it, were so impressed by their pro day throws they drafted them. Throwing an accurate pass on an empty field w no defense and no pass rush to a guy running around alone in shorts is NOT like playing QB in the NFL. Good grief.
1000% this!!! I posted above somewhere how I REALLY hate those late risers after the season. I think you make your evaluation at season’s end based on, you know, actual GAMES PLAYED. Fuck all the workout / combine shit…for a QB it’s pretty meaningless. I get it if you want to assess a WR or a CB speed, or a DL strength and speed, etc. But a QB? Tells you nothing outside the interviews I firmly believe that given a set benchmark of physical attributes, say height, weight, arm strength, the REAL things that make or break a QB are between the ears. I think a QB needs to be football-smart, understand defenses and how to read them quickly, understand route concepts, have an innate feel for the pocket and pass rush, having the ability to throw with anticipation and lead receivers open, etc. None of those things are proven in a post season workout…you just can’t simulate in-game activity well enough, the pressure of a pocket collapsing, the disguised coverages of a real defense, the crowd noise, the pressure, etc. The player either shows those in games or doesn’t. I could give two shits if he has a cannon arm throwing to receivers in shorts with no coverage like Zach did. I don’t care if he can run a 4.3 forty…again, not critical to success at the QB position. I’m not saying don’t go to these workouts, but I am saying that if the guy didn’t show up in games, then I don’t care how well the workouts go, I wouldn’t draft him.
Again, from your keyboard to these supposed professional talent evaluator's ears. Probably the single most frustrating thing to watch, draft in and draft out, is some kid absolutely explodes at the combine/pro day and they climb the board. Forget the fact they missed half their tackles or had 80% completion percentage against lower tier competition. Then some team, let's use the Jets for example, thinks they can "develop" them because they have that raw talent and all the physical traits. With the right COACHING they'll be a formidable player! Forgetting that they are one of the worst teams in the league at developing certain positions. All the teams have the areas they do well and others they do not. It's not just the Jets. The Jets usually do very well on the defensive side of the ball, organizationally, and have for years. Long before Woody. Is all I'm saying. It's amazing the pushback from some about these QB's coming out knowing full well the team has never developed a QB and, from all intents and purposes, doesn't have someone on staff to do the task now. It's also highly debatable that Glenn has any idea of whom to hire considering his whiz bang job of picking a DC. The jury is still out on Tanner being an OC, let alone a QBC. Is Josh McCown signed anywhere long term? What about Brian Hoyer? He sounds like an intelligent man on the radio. Regardless, doesn't matter if we draft a kid upcoming or in 2027, NONE of these kids, including the Peyton Manning types of the world, come fully prepared. They all have to be shown some stuff if not all! Not everyone can call up his dad (Archie) and ask how to prepare. Musing a little...how sad is it, an organization that is QB starved, they've managed the position so poorly, over the years, that even the fans are "gun shy" about drafting a kid. I'm flapping my fingers, "they've got to be as close to Manning or Luck as you can get or you don't draft them!" Along with all the other arguments. For my part, NOT very realistic! You got @Jonathan_Vilma making valid points, we HAVE to draft someone! A "ghost" can't play the position and, let's face it, the Jets ole' standby, veteran QB's are far and few between. At least the kind that could come in and keep a seat "warm" until either a 2026 draft pick is ready or a 2027 draft pick is drafted. All are true. And, realistically, even the most complete of products can be fucked up. Look at Lawrence in Jacksonville. That kid had/has all the massive football talent in the world! Spent the first 2 or 3 years of his career getting jacked up, screwed over and basically hung out to dry by his organization while they got their collective shit together and he's still not fully fixed. In fact, he may never be all he can, now, unless he gets under the wing of someone like Shanahan, McVey etc... Which, unless Jacksonville hires one of those guys somehow, will never happen. THAT is how important coaching is, especially to that position. Anyone drafted at that position, this year, is going to need a ton of coaching. I do agree with @Borat and others, it is early. WAAAYYYY early to be tossing this current QB crop on the trash heap but, unfortunately thanks to yet another year of horrible play, here we are able to talk about the 2026 draft as if it were "tomorrow." Nothing better to do football wise than your fantasy teams. (thanks for shitting the bed last night Josh Allen!) Heck, even the all star games and championship game are months away. A LOT can change. This is one of my issues with the NIL. USUALLY, in years past, you could look at a kid's tenure with ONE team and get some kind of indicator. These days it really waters down what a kid has done or his impact on a program unless the total package is so phenomenal that it jumps off the page. Think a guy like Jayden Daniels. How anyone missed that he would be a good NFL prospect is beyond me and that includes Chicago. Played nearly 5 full years for only two programs. I digress... We'll see how Mendoza shakes out. To be very honest, the ONLY real knock I have on him is the arm talent. Face it, the Jets play in the AFC East and, outside Miami, all the teams play in open air stadiums in an area of the country with some of the worst football weather imaginable, and I'm not talking about the cold. That wind...that WIND!! Oh, I'm also so not a fan of "Jesus freaks" but, at this point, he could worship a snail and talk unicorns and hummingbirds, if he can put the team on his back and win games, who cares. I don't have to live with the kid but I do worry what a guy like that does to a fragile ass organization, like the Jets, unless there is a very good support system, coaching and the arrow is pointing north. Preachy guys get old real quick when a team is losing. I wish I had the answer. I also wish I wasn't so "football bored" that I, along with most of you, keep yapping about the same ole' stuff while the college football season isn't but only 2/3's over. Lot of football to be played. I AM going to go and find these Indiana games, seeing as if the Jets really want him, they most certainly have the ammunition to get him. I want to watch these games, start to finish, to get a solid opinion instead of relying on highlights. For as much as I want to convince myself otherwise, every one of us knows for a damn FACT Moogs is drafting a QB1 in 2026. May not be the most popular opinion among the fans but it IS going to happen. You will have to pick me off the floor if they DON'T draft a QB1 next April. I'll be that shocked. Like all of you, if it is Mendoza, I'll be pulling for the kid. What I AM HOPING, for right now, is Glenn, Moogs and whomever else in the conversation is scouring, hunting or whatever it is they have to do to find someone to come in and be that QB whisperer to the next kid drafted for that QB spot.
So agree! For me, personally, I think the ONLY thing a QB should do during the combine and pro-days is to be there to throw to the other kids. Period. Finito.
Fun fact! Did anyone know that Indiana's backup QB is Mendoza's little brother, Alberto? Never seen that one before!
Excellent post and a good point of view…especially regarding “late bloomers”…. How different could the Saleh era have been had the Jets stuck with Darnold just a little longer and traded that #2 pick for a bounty? We’ll never know …. But I think it’s safe to say the playoff drought most likely would have ended.
