Given the New York Jets' offensive struggles this season, everyone and their mother has predicted them to go out and select a quarterback with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But is there a scenario where New York takes a second swing on a veteran, similar to how they signed Justin Fields this past offseason, and goes best player available in the top three of next April's draft?
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic thinks so, and that's exactly what he predicted in his latest mock draft.
The Athletic mock draft has Jets selecting OSU's Caleb Downs
In Baumgardner's mock, he has the Jets selecting Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs.
"The Jets need everything. So, although Downs — a safety by trade who can play corner, slot or even sub linebacker — might scare people from a positional-value standpoint, he is still my favorite player, pound for pound, in the class. He’s a potential culture-changer," wrote Baumgardner.
Downs is arguably the best player in the 2026 draft class, but it wouldn't be popular to select a safety No. 3 overall.
New York did something similar in 2017, when they bypassed the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson to select LSU safety Jamal Adams with the No. 6 overall pick.
Adams was a great player, sure, but he didn't get the Jets any closer to winning.
He did fetch them two firsts and a third-round pick from the Seattle Seahawks, but that's besides the point.
New York would have to be 100% sure they have a viable veteran option at quarterback before making a selection like this; otherwise, they risk leaving themselves in the same position they are now.
Playing quarterback ping-pong with two lame-duck signal callers.
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