Will Jets Draft QB in 2026? Latest NFL Rumors on Fernando Mendoza, NY's Future

The New York Jets have suffered from not having a franchise quarterback for years, but it sounds like they could continue to wait to find their man.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported that it's not guaranteed that the Jets will draft a quarterback in 2026 despite being loaded with picks.

"There are some folks in the scouting industry who believe [head coach Aaron Glenn] and general manager Darren Mougey might punt on a quarterback, waiting until the 2027 draft to make their big splash," Cimini stated. "Remember, they have three first-round picks in '27, along with two in '26."

The Jets acquired some extra draft capital by completing blockbuster trades with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys last month. Still, Cimini explained that there are "several variables" that could lead New York to address other positions rather than drafting a quarterback.

"Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Dante Moore (Oregon) and Ty Simpson (Alabama) are the consensus top prospects, but there's some thought that Moore and Simpson, who have only 17 and 13 career starts, respectively, might return to school for more seasoning (and more NIL money)," Cimini revealed.

Mendoza is ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 draft class by B/R's NFL Scouting Department. He's the frontrunner for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, especially after he led Indiana past defending national champion Ohio State in Saturday's Big Ten championship game.

With the uncertainty surrounding the decisions for Moore and Simpson, Mendoza could be the only quarterback worth drafting in the first round. However, the Jets would likely have to trade up for the chance to select him, and Cimini noted that "the law of supply and demand will mean a steep cost for trading up."

The Jets have the league's longest active playoff drought at 15 straight years, so their fan base is undoubtedly starving for some positive changes. Unfortunately, it could take a while longer for things to turn around if New York chooses not to add a signal-caller in the 2026 draft.