Dolphins may be the Jets biggest threat in long-term quarterback plan

The New York Jets have their starting quarterback for 2026. 35-year-old Geno Smith will be the starter for at least one season in New York, but every team needs a long-term quarterback plan.

Will the Jets draft one in 2026? Maybe. Alabama's Ty Simpson is a name you'll hear connected to New York throughout the pre-draft process, but it continues to sound like the only can't-miss quarterback prospect in the incoming class is Fernando Mendoza, and he's obviously going No. 1 overall.

The Jets will most likely have their eye on the 2027 quarterback class when it comes to their future plans at the position, when players like Arch Manning, Julian Sayin, and Dante Moore are expected to declare. New York also has three first-round picks they could use to get creative.

But there are multiple teams that have their eye on the 2027 class as well, such as their AFC East rival, the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have been doing their best this offseason to offload their veterans and clean their cap sheet in advance for the years to come. Could they be the biggest threat to the Jets' pursuit of a quarterback this time next year?

Dolphins could be trying to out-tank the league, preventing Jets from top QB choice

Tuesday's Jaylen Waddle trade was just another in a long line of Miami cutting ties with its most experienced players. He joined Minkah Fitzpatrick, Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Tua Tagovailoa as the most recently departed Dolphins.

Sure, they signed quarterback Malik Willis in free agency, but he's far from a sure thing, and even if he does pan out, he doesn't have a lot to work with in Miami. The Dolphins are likely banking on a top draft pick in 2027 to find their quarterback of the future.

Why is this bad news for the Jets? Well, clearly, the team is trying to win in 2026. The plan in free agency was to raise the floor of the team with veteran signings, and they did just that by adding several players on defense, and getting an adult at quarterback in Smith.

New York is likely going to have a better record in 2026 than it did in 2025. Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey's jobs depend on it. If the Dolphins end up with a top draft pick, that's just one more team in front of the Jets in line for one of those highly-rated 2027 quarterback prospects.

Even a trade offer of three first-round picks may not be enough for Miami to move off a quarterback of their choosing, especially if it would mean handing him to their division rival.