Colts-Dolphins may wind up being the most important Jets game of 2026

Once again, New York Jets fans are checking the Tankathon draft order before we sit down to cut the turkey on Thanksgiving.

It's unfortunately been an all-too-common theme for this team for the last 15 years or so, but at 2-7, with the Buffalo Bills coming to town this week, the team hasn't left us much of a choice.

In fact, you could make the case that the most important game for the Jets this week is not the one they are playing. Instead, it's a matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins this Sunday.

New York Jets fans should be rooting for the Colts like crazy in Week 10

I want to make myself clear: while wins at this point in the season for the Jets are essentially meaningless, I still want to watch the young guys on the roster play well. Garrett Wilson is trending towards a return. David Bailey, Omar Cooper Jr., and the Jets' draft choices from 2026 are all still worth tuning in for.

However, for those already looking to the future, the game you need to have circled is the Dolphins vs. the Colts. That lone game in Week 10 could have a major impact on draft order come April.

As a reminder, the Jets have the Colts' first-round selection due to the Sauce Gardner trade. As it stands going into this week, the Dolphins are sitting at No. 3, the Jets (via the Colts) are sitting at No. 4, and the Jets' own pick is No. 6.

The Dolphins need to win this game. That result would do two things for the Jets. Not only would the Jets pick via the Colts move up due to the teams having the same record and the Dolphins beating the Colts, but assuming a Jets loss to Buffalo, the Jets would also be in front of the Dolphins.

That would mean the Jets would own picks No. 3 and No. 4 behind only the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans.

Unfortunately, the Dolphins just put Malik Willis on injured reserve, so they will be giving Kyle McCord his first career start. McCord was drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed to the Packers in January of 2026, and then the Dolphins traded a sixth-round pick for him in August to bring him in as Malik Willis' backup.

It's a home game for the Colts, and they are 3.5-point favorites in this game. Although the Colts just blew a late fourth-quarter lead to the Cowboys last week to secure their fifth straight loss, don't count the Dolphins out just yet because of the quarterback situation.

McCord, who grew up a Jets fan and wore No. 6 in college because of Mark Sanchez, has the Jets to play hero for Gang Green this week.

Don't forget to root for the San Francisco 49ers this week too. It doesn't have the same value as the Dolphins beating the Colts, but another Dallas Cowboys loss could move their pick up from No. 13 as well.

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