The New York Jets have been linked to a pair of quarterbacks following Dante Moore's shocking NFL Draft decision.
The New York Jets were dealt a crushing blow on Wednesday afternoon, as Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore announced his surprising decision to return to school.
The Jets have the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft and were expected to select Moore this April, but now, New York has to explore other options.
One thing is for sure: the Jets will almost certainly have a new starting quarterback in 2026. Justin Fields is a cut candidate, and neither Tyrod Taylor nor Brady Cook are starter material.
But will New York pursue a veteran via trade or free agency this offseason? Or will it just take a different signal-caller in the draft?
ESPN's Rich Cimini has offered a pair of potential options for the Jets, noting they could pivot to Alabama's Ty Simpson or Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss later on in the draft.
Cimini specifically specifically cited Simpson as a possibility at No. 16 and then Chambliss as someone the Jets could explore with their top second-round pick at No. 33.
Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Simpson is now the consensus No. 2 quarterback in this year's draft class following Moore's decision. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is the top dog at the position, but he is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Simpson had a strong first half of 2025 but struggled down the stretch, and injuries certainly seemed to play a role.
Meanwhile, Chambliss quietly led the SEC with 3,937 passing yards to go along with 22 passing touchdowns and three interceptions. He also added 527 yards and eight scores as a rusher.
The Jets might be better off trading down from No. 2, picking up more draft capital to fill out the rest of the roster and then proceeding to nab one of Simpson or Chambliss.
Chambliss may very well be one of the most underrated prospects in this year's draft class and was pretty consistent all season long, although his rushing numbers definitely decreased during the latter half of the campaign.
New York owns five first-round picks over the next two years, so adding to its stash of draft choices would definitely be a wise avenue for general manager Darren Mougey to pursue.
We'll see what the Jets do in the coming months.