The 2026 NFL trade deadline has officially come and gone, which means it’s time to examine the New York Jets’ plans in the 2027 NFL Draft.

General manager Darren Mougey did an outstanding job in last year’s draft by selecting multiple playmakers that are already making an impact, including EDGE David Bailey and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. Now, with half a season left, the front office must begin dissecting the newest crop of prospects.

Here’s what the first three rounds of the upcoming draft could look like for the Jets.

If the Jets land Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, the organization can finally replace former 2022 first-round pick Sauce Gardner after trading him at the previous NFL trade deadline.

Moore is everything an NFL franchise could want in a cornerback. His athleticism and I.Q. make him the perfect fit for the Jets, who desperately need an elite, shutdown cornerback. The talented defensive playmaker out of South Bend has been targeted a total of 18 times this season, with four of the attempts resulting in a pass breakup.

Adding a star like Moore to New York’s secondary unit will be a terrific way to tie the room together ahead of the 2027-28 season.

Instead of reaching for a quarterback with the team’s second first-round pick, the Jets can continue to build the defense by selecting Georgia linebacker Chris Cole.

The highly-regarded SEC defender has quickly become one of the biggest risers in the upcoming draft class after recording 58 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, and three pass deflections through nine games this season. Cole is a hyper-aggressive linebacker who wins with his length and athleticism, as his traits allow him to fly around the field and make plays.

Similar to New York Giants’ 2026 first-round pick Arvell Reese, Cole is a raw prospect. But knowing how much of a difference Reese makes on defense, it’s clear that the Jets should not pass on Cole.

With New York’s final first-round pick, it only makes sense for the front office to dip their toes into the Notre Dame pipeline for their franchise quarterback, CJ Carr.

As the grandson of former legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, the Fighting Irish’s leader on offense has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in all of college football this season. Through nine games, Carr recorded 2,168 passing yards and 21 touchdowns to one interception, while maintaining a 67.6-percent completion rate. His ability to be an elite distributor is an ideal fit for offensive coordinator Frank Reich’s system with all the playmakers acquired in the 2026 draft class.

Would Carr be my first choice for the Jets’ next quarterback? Probably not. But the front office and the scouting department have made plenty of trips to South Bend this season, which makes me believe that Carr is on Mougey’s radar.

Switching back to the defensive side of the ball, Louisville edge Clev Lubin would be an excellent pass rusher to put opposite of 2026 first-round pick David Bailey.

The underrated defensive end has been a productive part of the Cardinals’ defense this year, tallying 44 tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles in nine games. Lubin, despite standing at 6-foot-3, 260 lbs., offers plenty of speed coming off the line of scrimmage, which is exactly what the Jets need when searching for a counterpart to Bailey.

In order to truly bolster the defense ahead of the 2027-28 season, Mougey and the Jets must find a space eater in the trenches, making Kentucky defensive tackle Tavion Gadson an intriguing prospect in the third round.

Gadson is a physical specimen — the 6-foot-3, 305 lbs. interior defender possesses terrific burst and footwork off the line of scrimmage that helps him apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks. His lack of consistent snaps on the field and his rawness as a run stopper may limit him to a rotational role early in his NFL career, but the potential is through the roof with the Kentucky standout.