After a horrific 2-6 start to the 2026-27 NFL regular season, the New York Jets will begin to shift their focus towards the 2027 NFL Draft in hopes of retooling the current roster.

Fortunately for the front office, the Jets have a total of nine draft picks for the upcoming draft, with a chance of adding more ahead of this year’s trade deadline. To make matters more interesting for fans, three of the Jets’ nine picks reside in the first round, which could pave the way to another successful draft class.

Here are three prospects Jets fans should keep their eyes on for the rest of the 2026 college football season.

The Jets’ cornerback room is slowly finding its footing after trading star Sauce Gardner at last year’s deadline, but the secondary still needs a sure-fire No. 1 cornerback to tie it together.

Luckily for New York, Georgia cornerback Ellis Robinson IV could be the perfect fit for the defense with his aggressive style of play. Notre Dame star Leonard Moore has established himself as the top cornerback thus far, but the Jets are likely out of range for the phenomenal playmaker. Still, Robinson is an electric defensive back who utilizes his athleticism in man and zone coverage. This season, the junior defender is up to five pass deflections and two interceptions.

Obviously, landing Moore would be the best-possible outcome for the Jets, but Robinson would be a terrific second option in round one.

Other cornerbacks to look out for: Ashton Hampton (Clemson), Kelley Jones (Mississippi State)

In addition to the Jets needing a No. 1 cornerback in the 2027 NFL Draft, the defense could use some extra support in the trenches.

One prospect that continues to fly up draft boards is Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam. The 6-foot-2, 305 lbs. defender is thriving this year after being a rotational piece for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2025, recording 26 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Gilliam’s quickness off the line of scrimmage allows him to be a force as a pass rusher, and he has shown marginal improvements as a run defender through the course of the season.

Similar to the cornerbacks, there are plenty of viable defensive tackle options in the upcoming draft class. But if Gilliam continues his strong efforts, he could easily be a massive target for the Jets.

Other defensive tackles to look out for: Will Echoles (Ole Miss), Devan Thompkins (Alabama), David Stone (Oklahoma)

The quarterback conversation will be the main headline for the Jets’ entering into the 2027 NFL Draft. General manager Darren Mougey assembled a quarterback room of veteran Geno Smith and 2026 fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik this past offseason, but it’s safe to say that New York will be hunting for a franchise quarterback in round one this year.

Insert Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr. The grandson of former legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr is off to an impressive start this season, throwing for 1,849 yards, 18 touchdowns, and one interception in eight games. Carr possesses the ability to attack any part of the field, and his high football I.Q. could push his name into round one consideration.

New York’s scouting department has spent a lot of time watching the Fighting Irish this season, which could drive their interest in Carr heading into the draft.

Other quarterbacks to look out for: Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State), Austin Simmons (Missouri)