Jets Praised for 2026 NFL Draft, Exec Sees Path to Being 'Lights-Out Team' by 2027

At least one NFL executive feels the New York Jets took a step toward to ending the league's longest playoff drought during the 2026 draft.

The Athletic's Mike Sando reported Friday one NFL executive named the Jets as "the draft I really liked" last week in Pittsburgh.

The Jets started out the draft by using three first-round picks on edge rusher David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.

"Typically, I don't like tight ends in the first round, but setting aside that and just looking at their roster and what they have done, they are competent quarterback play and good play calling away from having a really good offense," the executive told Sando.

"I know those two things are really important, but they have the framework of a really good offense, and the ability to get a good quarterback after this season, and potentially be a lights-out team."

The B/R NFL scouting department gave the Jets a 2026 NFL draft grade of A-minus for what they described as "a strong, stage-setting draft for the Jets."

"The Jets might not have a long-term answer at quarterback, but they added some serious playmaking ability to their receiving corps," B/R NFL scouts wrote.

The Jets are heading into the 2026 season with starting quarterback Geno Smith on a one-year contract. The franchise is reportedly considering Russell Wilson as a backup on what would likely also be a short-term deal.

That might set the Jets up to seek a signal caller in what is expected to be a deeper 2027 quarterback draft headlined by Oregon's Dante Moore, Texas' Arch Manning and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers.

Building a wide receiver room of Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell and Cooper while adding Sadiq at tight end alongside a running back duo of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen could give whichever quarterback starts next for the Jets a strong offense to work with in 2027.