Jets franchise quarterback fortune could lie in the hands of Colts' health

The New York Jets don't have the quarterback of their future on the roster. Unless you have the utmost confidence in fourth-round draft pick Cade Klubnik, there's a really good chance the Jets take a swing at the position in the 2027 NFL Draft.

It's a great time for them to do it, too. The Jets have the honor of holding three first-round picks in next April's draft, the team with that many selections at this point in time. You can thank Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for that.

But New York isn't hoping it's their own draft pick that is able to land them a new quarterback. Aaron Glenn has to field a competitive team in 2026 if he wants to prove he belongs and stick around as head coach in 2027 and beyond.

Instead, the Jets are likely keeping their fingers crossed that one of the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, or Green Bay Packers pick ends up high enough for their pick of the litter in the incoming quarterback class.

And the Colts may have just enough question marks for the Jets to have some hope.

Colts may end up handing the Jets a premier draft pick

Before Indianapolis agreed to acquire Gardner from the Jets last year, they were 7-2 and held the AFC's No. 1 seed around the halfway point of the 2026 season.

After the trade, the Colts won one more game against the Atlanta Falcons and then lost their next seven games en route to an 8-9 record. It certainly didn't help Indianapolis that quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14, effectively ending their playoff hopes.

Jones seems to be on the way back from that injury, as he was fully cleared to participate in training camp just this week. His $114 million receiver, Alec Pierce, is not quite as healthy. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that he'll start on the PUP list.

Now, no fan should ever be rooting for injuries. Nobody wants to see players get hurt. But what the Jets and their loyal followers should be hoping for is the bottom falling out of a team like Indianapolis, similar to last season.

It's not impossible either. The Colts will face several playoff contenders throughout the upcoming season, such as the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles.

If the Colts can't refind their mojo from the first half of 2025, and injuries rear their ugly heads once again, the Jets may just be looking at a top five draft pick.

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