Dolphins kicking tank into overdrive is only bad news for Jets' future

The New York Jets and their fans find themselves entering mock draft territory after the team's 2-7 start, with landing either Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker or Notre Dame's CJ Carr as their next franchise quarterback at the top of their proverbial wish list. However, the 1-7 Miami Dolphins are putting together a spirited effort to claim the top pick for themselves.

Ahead of their game against the 2-7 Indianapolis Colts, Miami, who would help the Jets' NFL Draft position by beating, is placing quarterback Malik Willis on injured reserve, meaning he will be out for at least four games. This puts Kyle McCord in line to make his first NFL start against Indianapolis in Week 10.

The Dolphins appear to be committing to tanking so thoroughly that they are already sidetracking Willis. Miami should be cheered for the remainder of the season, as every victory puts them further away from picking a top franchise quarterback, while the Jets close in.

Dolphins place Malik Willis on IR in blow to New York Jets' tank

The Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans own the top two picks in the 2027 NFL Draft at this moment, with Miami at No. 3 and the Jets at No. 4 and No. 6, the first pick of which came from the Sauce Gardner trade. After their teardown, the Colts' pick may still be the Jets' best chance of getting one of the top selections.

This move makes it more likely that Miami will continue to lose. With fewer positive games from Willis to bank on heading into 2027, it makes more sense than ever for Jeff Hafley to land a franchise quarterback. Picking him at the same time the Jets would be looking for a young quarterback would be quite the way to stick it to his division rival.

Miami losing in Week 10 would push the Colts' pick further down the NFL Draft board. Every Colts win would be quite destructive to the Jets' long-term future.

The New York Jets should target either Drew Mestemaker or CJ Carr

Mestemaker and Carr appear to have separated from the rest of the quarterback class, setting up a classic "upside vs. finished product" case study. Carr is deadly accurate from the pocket and fits the ball in all sorts of tight windows, while Mestemaker has a ridiculously strong arm and is willing and able to chuck it deep down the field.

The Jets missing out on one of those two could lead them to pick from a menagerie of players who have some major flaws. Miami's Darian Mensah may not have a high-end arm when compared to others in the NFL; Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss is a size outlier who is regressing this year and will be 25 as a rookie; and Texas' Arch Manning has been up and down all season long.

The Jets' inability to land a franchise quarterback is frustrating enough, but losing one of their top choices to a division rival and facing them twice would be yet another punch in the gut for a fanbase that can only take so many emotional broadsides.

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