The top quarterbacks poised to shine in the 2026 NFL Draft
USA TODAY Sports’ Ayrton Ostly takes a closer look at the standout quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Few teams will look as different in 2026 as the New York Jets.
New York has new coordinators on offense and defense with Frank Reich and Brian Duker in for 2026. On the personnel side, the Jets didn’t wait for free agency to start making some moves; a trade netted them defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II weeks before the negotiating period began.
Once that date hit, New York went to work acquiring veterans on defense. David Onyemata, Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai bolstered the front. The team traded for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and signed linebacker Demario Davis to provide Pro Bowl experience in the second level. Cornerback Nahshon Wright and safety Dane Belton rounded out the acquisitions for that unit.
The Jets made fewer moves on offense but one trade stands out as the biggest move of the offseason. New York traded for quarterback Geno Smith to bring home the passer they drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. With him in the building, New York traded away 2025 starter Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs.
All of those moves come before the 2026 NFL Draft and New York has plenty of draft capital. The Jets are set for four selections in the first two rounds.
Here’s how the Jets’ draft could look come April:
Round 1, No. 2 overall: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
At No. 2 overall, you take the best player available. There’s no way the Raiders pass on Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 so the Jets get the best prospect in the draft. Reese was an outstanding off-ball linebacker for the Buckeyes with the length to potentially rush off the edge. Thanks to what New York did in free agency, there’s less pressure on him to excel at either task immediately.
Round 1, No. 16 overall: WR Makai Lemon, USC
New York needs more in the passing game than just Garrett Wilson. Lemon has one of the highest floors in the wide receiver class thanks to his route-running and sense for finding weaknesses in zone coverage. His general allergy to drops should make for a good outlet underneath throws for quarterback Geno Smith.
Round 2, No. 33 overall: Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
Mesidor is one of the older prospects in the class but that could fit in with a front now full of veteran starters thanks to free agency. Mesidor’s teammate Rueben Bain Jr. got most of the headlines but Mesidor could have more versatility at the next level thanks to better length and bend.
Round 2, No. 44 overall: WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
New York could double-dip at wide receiver with a different skillset from Lemon in Round 1. Fields is a big-bodied outside receiver with outstanding size (6-foot-4, 218 pounds) who wins with his strength. He’d provide a contested catch target downfield for Smith sooner than later.
Round 4, No. 103 overall: QB Drew Allar, Penn State
Justin Fields is out, which leaves a quarterback room of Smith, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. None of those options prevents the team from taking a flyer on a player who was drawing comparisons to Josh Allen based on his tools. Allar’s mechanics need work, but his anticipation, touch and arm talent are enough to take a chance on, especially early on Day 3.
Round 4, No. 140 overall: TE Sam Roush, Stanford
Mason Taylor is a promising tight end but may lack some of the blocking acumen that new offensive coordinator Frank Reich would like from the position. Roush more than offers that with impressive athleticism in a 6-foot-6, 267-pound frame. The Jets wouldn’t need him to be a productive receiver immediately which allows him to showcase his blocking skills.
Round 5, No. 179 overall: DT Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana
Proctor’s a small-school prospect who put on a show at the NFL combine with his athletic testing and performance in the drills. He’s slightly undersized but that will matter less next to a massive presence like T’Vondre Sweat. His burst and alignment versatility could earn him a rotational role as a rookie.
Round 7, No. 228 overall: C Pat Koogan, Indiana
New York added to the interior with Dylan Parham in free agency to contend for a starting role next to Josh Myers and Joe Tippmann. The team could still use some depth at the position with undrafted free agents behind Myers as things stand. Koogan is an experienced, high-floor center who lacks elite athleticism but makes up for it with technique.
Round 7, No. 242 overall: CB TJ Hall, Iowa
Hall is the latest defensive back off the Hawkeyes conveyor belt of NFL prospects. He lacks the ball production from many of the other prospects in this class but makes up for it with physicality on the boundary. New York wouldn’t need him to contend for a starting role but his play style would make him an intriguing depth piece.
