Predicting where the New York Jets' first-round pick will land in the 2026 NFL Draft prior to the team's Week 12 contest against the Baltimore Ravens.
With less than half a season left for the New York Jets, fans have begun to turn their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft.
After general manager Darren Mougey’s fire sale during the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline, the struggling franchise now possesses four picks within the first two rounds of the upcoming draft. The four picks will be a vital piece to rebuilding the foundation of the organization, making the position of said picks an underrated talking point in the month of November.
Now, with seven games left, the remaining schedule for the Jets is riddled with playoff-contending teams.
- @ Baltimore Ravens
- vs Atlanta Falcons
- vs Miami Dolphins
- @ Jacksonville Jaguars
- @ New Orleans Saints
- vs New England Patriots
- @ Buffalo Bills
This seven-game stretch will be tough to fully analyze until we see how quarterback Tyrod Taylor performs against a stout Ravens defense. However, the most likely scenario for the Jets would be for the team to win at least two games, giving the franchise a final record of 4-13.
Looking at the rest of the landscape, there are multiple teams that will be competing alongside New York for the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This includes the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns, and the Las Vegas Raiders. The only team with fewer wins than the Jets thus far is the Titans, who are set to face four teams in the hunt for a playoff spot to close out the season.
With the Titans projected to be the frontrunners for the No. 1 pick, fans must keep their eyes on the Browns and the Raiders.
Luckily, both teams are set to face each other in Week 12, which will provide more clarity to the race for the No. 1 pick. The Browns are set to start rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders this week after fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion on Sunday, while the Raiders will look to bounce back after a rough 33-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.
Final Prediction
The deciding factor in determining the Jets’ draft pick will come down to how Taylor looks against the Ravens. If the veteran quarterback can elevate the offense, there’s a good chance that New York could affect the team’s record.
However, with star wide receiver Garrett Wilson on the Injury Reserve, it’s possible that Taylor will not have the proper weapons around him in order to rip off multiple wins to end the 2025 regular season.
As of now, it looks as if the Jets’ first-round pick this year could land between picks No. 2 and No. 4, with the most likely scenario resulting in the No. 2 pick. Since the Titans will not be selecting a quarterback after taking Cam Ward with the first pick last year, the Jets would then have the opportunity to take the best quarterback in the class.