The New York Jets are keeping their quarterback options wide open as they look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, and that could be a good or bad thing.
According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, Jets general manager Darren Mougey addressed the team’s quarterback outlook during his end-of-season news conference, making it known that he hasn’t decided between the likes of Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore, and others.
“There’s still several games to be played, and I think these games will be big and have an impact [on draft evaluation],” Mougey said. “I can tell you this,” he added, “we will exhaust every option: Free agency, [trades], obviously the draft. We will exhaust that and have a good solution for the New York Jets.”
That shows that the front office doesn’t want to rush into another quarterback decision without gathering as much information as possible.
With college prospects still competing in meaningful games and still needing the combines and meetings to take place, the Jets are allowing the process to play out rather than making a decision now.
Instead of the Jets locking themselves into a first-round quarterback or publicly committing to a veteran route, the Jets appear focused on keeping leverage. Free agency, trades, and the draft are all on the table, and the final decision might depend on how the board falls and how the market develops.
Postseason games and pre-draft workouts can shift quarterback decisions, but Mendoza seems to be the best one as of now. The Jets want to see how prospects handle pressure, respond to adversity, and finish the year before making a decision that could shape the franchise for years.
A veteran bridge option could make sense if the right opportunity presents itself, but so could drafting a quarterback if the right player is there.
For now, the Jets aren’t decided, and they don’t need to be. With months left in the evaluation process, their quarterback plan remains an ongoing one. Hopefully, it’ll work out much better than it ever has.
If the Jets can’t get it right over the next few months, it feels safe to say major changes will be coming once again.