Heading into Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey's first year with the New York Jets, Justin Fields was given a $40 million deal to see if he could be the future. He struggled and will not be the Jets' starting quarterback in 2026.
But the big question for Glenn and Mougey is who that quarterback will be. Whether it's a free agent, trade target, or a drafted rookie, there are plenty of angles to go this offseason.
Rich Cimini of ESPN revealed what the Jets plan for the 2026 NFL Draft could be. The Jets' decision is reliant upon Glenn and Mougey, and specifically, the runway they have to find their franchise quarterback.
Jets quarterback plan for 2026 NFL Draft revealed by ESPN reporter
"Key question: Can coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey -- both of whom will be under pressure to win in 2026 -- afford to postpone their rebuild another season while they wait for a quarterback? That might be a bit of a stretch," Cimini writes.
While owner Woody Johnson is giving Glenn and Mougey the keys to the franchise, there's a limit to how much Johnson is willing to let them drive the decision-making.
If Glenn and Mougey scout the 2026 quarterback class and don't come away liking any of their options, then a 2027 quarterback would be the better option.
However, they might not have such leeway. As Cimini writes, "The NFL is an ASAP business," and while factors could help the Jets' new brass convince ownership to wait a year, there might be a push to land the franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Cimini doesn't outright declare the Jets to be taking a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, but with the uncertainty of the leash given to Mougey and Glenn, a new quarterback might be forced upon them with pressure from Johnson.
With a huge haul of draft picks at their disposal, including three first-round picks in 2027 and two in 2026, the Jets could make some franchise-altering selections over the next few years.
The only question is whether the quarterback among those picks will occur in 2026 or 2027. This report from Cimini seemingly indicates such a move will come in 2026, but there's still plenty of time for different decisions to be made.
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