Jets blockbuster trades could be key to finally finding a franchise QB

It's safe to say that absolutely no one saw this coming. On Tuesday, just hours before the 4:00 p.m. ET cutoff for the trade deadline, the New York Jets shocked the football world, as they traded away superstar Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. Gardner even teased the news with a social media message, which read, "New York it's been real."

So what convinced general manager Darren Mougey to trade away Gardner, who was not on the trade block whatsoever? Colts general manager Chris Ballard made the call and offered the Jets a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 first-rounder, and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. It was a massive haul, one that Mougey simply couldn't refuse.

A little later, the Jets traded away defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick.

It is going to sting for Jets fans, watching yet another superstar leave, this time via a trade. But there is a positive way for Jets fans to look at it, and that's that they now have the draft capital to find their franchise quarterback.

Jets now have the draft capital to find their franchise quarterback after Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades

The Jets have long tried to find their long-term solution at the quarterback position. Sam Darnold seemed like a sure thing, but he just never panned out in New York.

Now, they are watching him thrive with the Seattle Seahawks, recently having a historic performance. Zach Wilson was believed to be the answer in 2021, but he just could never put it together. Now, he is a backup quarterback on the Miami Dolphins.

This season, the Jets tried to give Justin Fields a shot to be the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, but it has been a mixed bag, with more bad than good. The Jets didn't draft a quarterback this year. So it's evident that they need to find their franchise quarterback.

The Jets have a decent chance of finding one, as they have four first-round picks over the next two years. Two first-rounders in 2026 and two in 2027.

The 2026 class may not be as vaunted as once expected, but there are some options. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza has had a Heisman Trophy caliber season, as has Alabama's Ty Simpson.

If the Jets wanted a dual-threat option that can play the game like he's in a video game, there is South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers. They may not be the big names out of college like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, or Drake Maye in 2024, but they are solid quarterback prospects.

If the Jets do opt to draft a quarterback early in 2026, they may need to trade up. The New Orleans Saints are in the driver's seat with the first overall pick as of this writing, and they are in desperate need of a quarterback as well.

The Jets could also wait until 2027, when quarterbacks like Texas' Arch Manning or Ohio State's Julian Sayin could declare. Either way, the Jets have options.

It's going to be a rough go for the Jets after they traded away superstars like Gardner and Williams, but they have the capital to make a move to finally find their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.