Baker Mayfield deal all but confirms Jets must draft a QB in 2027

The New York Jets had to watch in horror as a veteran quarterback option for 2027 came off the market when Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Baker Mayfield agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $55 million per season.

While the Jets have Geno Smith in line to improve the team's Justin Fields-led passing attack from 2025, he is likely not considered a serious option for 2027 beyond starting a few games as a bridge quarterback. In an increasingly thin quarterback market, Mayfield was one of the few veteran players who could have given the Jets a genuine leg up.

Many fans will be thrilled about the idea of the Jets drafting a quarterback in 2027, especially from a class widely considered to be among the richest and deepest in years. However, the Jets are almost boxed in to a point where they now have to use one of their top picks on a young quarterback, rather than being afforded the luxury of choice.

Baker Mayfield extension may force New York Jets to draft a quarterback in 2027

If Aaron Glenn proves himself in 2026, next year is supposed to be the season when all the puzzle pieces start to fit together, and the wins start coming. Glenn would probably like to explore the veteran market if a name of some repute shakes free, and with Mayfield out of the picture, things are looking grim.

Unless the Houston Texans get too fed up with CJ Stroud's high asking price or roller-coaster play, or someone of Kyler Murray's caliber shakes free, the Jets' options on the free agent and trade market might be very thin. Mayfield, who has thrown 95 touchdown passes in the last three years (the Jets have 57), could have been that high-impact, win-now vet.

If Smith plays well, he could earn himself another season with the Jets as a veteran mentor for whoever is being nurtured to take over for him. If he struggles, not only will the Jets be unable to land someone like Mayfield, but this hypothetical draft pick could be pressed into service very early in his career.

The New York Jets may draft a quarterback in 2027

Fortunately for the Jets, 2027 appears to be one of the deepest in years. Names like Texas' Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore, and Miami's Darian Mensah all looked the part in Week 1, while South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, Notre Dame's CJ Carr, and USC's Jayden Maiava are all worth watching.

However, 2021 was supposed to be an exceedingly deep class with five first-round picks. Only one of them, Trevor Lawrence (coincidentally, the one player the Jets did not have the ability to select), is a high-end starter, and this franchise knows firsthand how bad the second and eleventh picks from that class were.

Mayfield would have looked great in green and white, but with his future in Tampa Bay now locked in, the Jets can turn their attention to praying that Smith has enough left in the tank to give this team some 2027 optimism.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow