Jets' dream QB of the future might've put himself firmly out of their reach

The New York Jets need a change at quarterback. Desperately.

Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor aren't cutting it, and the rest of the offense simply isn't talented enough to support significantly below-average quarterback play. If the Jets have an opportunity to make an upgrade at the position over the offseason, they'll need to strongly consider it.

Unfortunately, one of those options might be fading away. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has risen straight to the top of draft boards, solidifying himself as a likely candidate to become the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

After his performance in the Big Ten Championship Game, Mendoza will be out of the Jets' reach unless they luck into the top pick or trade up for him.

Jets' dream of drafting Fernando Mendoza is quickly fading away

Mendoza would have been a great fit in the Jets' offense. His arm talent, frame, processing ability, and underrated athleticism make him a prototypical first-round QB prospect. He would be able to get the ball out to Garrett Wilson quickly, putting the star receiver in position to thrive.

In the most important game of his young career, the Indiana star put up an impressive performance against Ohio State. While his Hoosiers put up just 13 points in the win, Mendoza made multiple NFL-caliber throws at all levels of the field.

His throw on a deep post early in the game was topped only by the beautiful back-shoulder ball that he threw for what would turn out to be the game-winning touchdown. If he wasn't the top QB in the class before that game, he is now.

But as the draft order comes into focus, it's not looking like the Jets will have the chance to make the dream of picking him a reality. If the draft happened tomorrow, the Jets would be picking seventh. Assuming Mendoza gets selected within the top five picks, they'd miss out on bringing him to New York.

Even worse for the Jets, the upcoming draft class is thin at quarterback. Outside of Mendoza, there aren't many prospects at the position worthy of a top-ten pick. With multiple QB-needy teams near the top of the draft order, New York is at a disadvantage.

The Las Vegas Raiders sitting in prime position to land the No. 1 pick is quietly one of the worst-case scenarios for the Jets’ quarterback hopes. The Jets have the draft capital and flexibility to trade up if they fall in love with Mendoza, but none of that matters if a QB-needy team controls the top selection.

If Las Vegas ends up picking first, they’re likely taking the quarterback themselves, and the Jets’ Mendoza dream probably dies on the spot. That’s why the Tennessee Titans' win on Sunday was such a blow for the Jets.

Jets fans would much rather see a non-QB-needy team like the Titans or Giants finish with the league’s worst record, keeping the door open for a trade up. Instead, the Mendoza dream is slowly fading away.