Will Jets' Rebuild Plan Work? Mock Drafting Jets After Wild Trade Deadline

The New York Jets are all in, but probably not in the manner that the majority of their fans had hoped entering the season. Instead of trying to win a championship, the Jets made the (correct) realization that they're nowhere close to being truly competitive and decided to take a hard left toward a full-blown rebuild.

Prior to Tuesday's NFL draft deadline, the Jets traded their two best defensive players—cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams—to the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.

The first step of a rebuild is shedding major salary by getting massive contracts off the books, while the second step often goes hand-in-hand since it requires moving top players, who can be leveraged into a windfall of assets.

The Jets achieved both with their recent trades. Gardner signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July, while Williams still has two years remaining on the four-year, $96 million deal he signed prior to the 2023 campaign. In return, the Jets received a 2026 and two '27 first-round draft picks, a second-round selection in next April's draft, second-year wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and former first-round defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

All of this was done with a purpose.

"The way this is being perceived by people I've talked to is that the Jets are determined to do whatever it takes to resolve their long-term quarterback situation in one of the next two drafts," ESPN's Dan Graziano reported. "Having five first-round picks in the next two years will enable the Jets to trade up if that is what's needed to finally find their franchise QB."

With that in mind, the Jets are primed for a successful rebuild, as long as they begin at the obvious starting point, then continue to add from there.

New York Jets' Needs At Start of Rebuilding Project

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Current New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields

Five first-round draft picks and three second-round selections over the next two classes is an impressive war chest overflowing with assets to address multiple positions, which is necessary because the Jets roster is far from complete.

At the same time, New York's lineup is far from bare. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, running back Breece Hall, offensive tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, tight end Mason Taylor, pass-rushers Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald IV and defensive backs Brandon Stephens, Azareye'h Thomas and Malachi Moore give the Jets a solid core to start.

According to the Bleacher Report Scouting Department, the Jets' biggest needs are as follows:

1. Quarterback
2. Wide receiver
3. Defensive line

"At 1-7, the Jets should be looking for a quarterback at the top of the first round and could be looking for a new offensive weapon with their next pick," Alex Ballentine wrote. "That takes them out of the running for the likes of Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson and Ohio State's Carnell Tate, but there are some good options outside of the top tier."

Once again, quarterback is the driving force behind everything the Jets plan to do, which is the ideal starting point when projecting those future selections.

Initial 2026 1st-Round Draft Pick: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

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Technically, the New Orleans Saints own the No. 1 overall pick for next April's draft. Why shift toward the New York Jets overtaking that slot? The reason is simple: The Jets have only one fewer loss because the team already experienced its bye week. Unlike the Saints, the Jets' willingness to enter a rebuild indicates which team will be slightly more successful as the season progresses. It's not the Jets.

As such, it's not difficult to project the Jets as the eventual owners of next year's top selection. While the pain of this season will not be enjoyable and no one is saying the team is outright tanking, the end game of gaining the No. 1 overall pick justifies the organization's current approach.

The Jets getting the top quarterback in the 2026 class, while retaining all of their top draft picks, is the franchise's best-case scenario.

As for Fernando Mendoza, he's helped turned the Indiana Hoosiers into a powerhouse program. Regarding his status as a prospect, Mendoza is easily next year's QB1.

"Mendoza has the build (6'5", 225 lbs) of a traditional pocket passer and a polished passing skill set that translates well to the NFL," B/R scout Dame Parson wrote. "He excels as a quick post-snap processor and quick decision-maker with the football."

Basically, the junior prospect is the antithesis of what the Jets currently have at quarterback in Justin Fields, who has already been put on blast publicly by team owner Woody Johnson. The Jets can get out of Fields' contract rather easily after this season, and the team can hand the reins to Mendoza.

Later 2026 1st-Round Draft Pick: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

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Life could come full circle for the Brazzell family if the New York Jets select the Tennessee prospect.

Originally, the Jets chose the elder Brazell in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL draft. The younger version should end up going much higher in the process, with the potential to join Gang Green thanks to the selection acquired from the Indianapolis Colts.

With Garrett Wilson already on the roster as the Jets' WR1, Chris Brazzell II brings the ideal complementary skill set. He's a 6'5" target, who can immediately serve as a legitimate vertical threat.

"He has the stride-length and top-end speed to take the top off of any defense," Parson said. "He also runs good routes and doesn't have an issue separating from man coverage."

With the quarterback and another weapon in place, the Jets are already far better off than they are currently. More importantly, the team will be setting up Mendoza to succeed.

Wilson, Brazzell and the tantalizing talent found in Adonai Mitchell, with Mason Taylor at tight end, gives the Jets a potentially dynamic aerial attack. They'll know that they can actually complete a pass. Maybe even two or more.

2026 Day 2 Draft Picks: DL A'Mauri Washington & LB Whit Weeks

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Oregon defensive tackle A'mauri Washington

While it's difficult to project how the board will fall around the New York Jets once the second day of the draft begins, a pair of second-round selections will get the team even closer to becoming a legitimate competitive squad.

With quarterback and wide receiver already addressed, the Jets' front office can turn its attention toward the defense.

By sitting near the top of the second round, the Jets should have plenty of quality options. New York's primary goal shouldn't be to replace Quinnen Williams. Though Oregon defensive tackle A'mauri Washington is far too tempting at this juncture.

The 6'3", 330-pound underclassman is a bull in the middle of a defense, with legitimate explosive traits. He's still developing, but he brings the same potential as Williams when it comes to becoming an every-down disruptive force.

Later in the second round, thanks to the Dallas Cowboys trade, the Jets can look to replace linebacker Quincy Williams, who is a free agent after this season.

LSU's Whit Weeks is another linebacker on the smallish side who flies to the football and finds himself in constant position to make plays. Weeks is a future green-dot-wearing defensive leader at the NFL level, which makes him valuable to any organization looking to rebuild the culture within the team.

Offensively and defensively, the Jets have reset their lineup through two rounds of the 2026 draft.

2027 1st-Round Draft Picks

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Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore

The last time the New York Jets held three first-round draft picks the organization selected Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson in 2022. It proved to be a banner class, with Gardner and Wilson winning Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, respectively. The former is now gone, and the team can use the 2027 draft as a way to build out the roster around the projected franchise quarterback it chose a year earlier.

Obviously, some of the underclassmen, who are eligible for next April's draft, have yet to make their decisions whether they're going to declare or go back to school for another year.

At this point in the process, the Jets should no longer be in the running for No. 1 overall pick. Though they're likely to still be building based on the youth found on the roster.

While weighing all of the possibilities, three names jump to the forefront.

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, Cincinnati guard Evan Tengesdahl and Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy are logical names to bring up even this early in the process.

While the Jets already feature some promising, young cornerbacks, Moore is arguably college football's best cover corner as a true sophomore. Along the offensive interior, Josh Myers and Joe Tippmann are set to enter free agency either next year or prior to the 2027 draft, while Tengesdahl is a physical tone-setter at guard. Finally, the Jets' starting running back, Breece Hall, wanted out prior to this year's trade deadline. He's a pending free agent after this season as well. Whereas, Hardy is already an elite ball-carrier, as the SEC's leading rusher.

These names are going to change as this cycle plays itself out and the next one begins. However, the positions and possibilities should already be on the Jets' radar as the team looks toward its long-term prospects.

How the New York Jets Can Succeed With Their Latest Rebuild

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New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey

Two major factors will come into play to ensure the New York Jets' current approach actually works and allows the team to build long-term success. Neither has anything to do with the recently acquired draft picks, at least on the surface.

First, continuity plays a major factor in a player's and team's success, specifically when investing in a first-round quarterback, as the Jets plan to do.

Owner Woody Johnson must give general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn time to deploy their vision and allow them to execute the plan. He hired both, with the feeling they can get the job done. Let them do said job.

While the first year has been disastrous, patience is a virtue many NFL teams no longer possess. The Jets can benefit by allowing the culture to grow organically as the team adds significant talent over the next two offseasons. Don't forget, Dan Campbell finished 3-13-1 during his first year with the Detroit Lions. Glenn served as Campbell's defensive coordinator. He's been in this situation previously and saw how to properly bring a team out of basement.

Secondly, talent evaluation is critical. Anyone can make draft picks. Only the Jets front office, led by Mougey, understands who fits the team's philosophies and how the coaching staff wants to build the roster in its image. The Jets must prioritize fit as much as ability. Not every prospect will be right for what they're trying to build. The organization must avoid those individuals, even if they're massively talented, and set certain parameters of what the team expects to be.

Both of these factors aren't clearly defined, with the potential for plenty to go wrong between now and the 2027 NFL draft. Even so, well-run organizations are all pulling in the same direction based on the implemented philosophies.

The runway is clear for the Jets to finally build something of substance. The organization had to swallow the bitter pill that comes with a lost season before things can get better. But the current approach is the correct one. The blueprint is in place for the Jets to finally find success. Now, the follow-through becomes vital.