Jets have 'met extensively' with intriguing Day 3 quarterback prospect per insider

The New York Jets are likely to draft a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. They added Geno Smith this offseason to be their starter, as Aaron Glenn has made abundantly clear, but they could still use a new face in the room to develop as a future option.

Early in the pre-draft process, analysts were quick to point to Alabama's Ty Simpson as an option in the middle of the first round or early second, but the Jets need win-now players who will make an impact in 2026; the current regime's job depends on it.

Instead, expect the Jets to take a swing at the position on Day 3, where there are expected to be several high-upside options who aren't suited to start right away.

According to one NFL insider, there's a prospect that the Jets are keeping a close eye on, and that's North Dakota State's Cole Payton.

Jets doing extensive work on NDSU quarterback Cole Payton

According to KPRC2's Aaron Wilson, the Jets, along with the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles, have "met extensively" with Payton.

The North Dakota state standout has a lot of athletic upside, running a 4.56 40-yard dash and recording a 40-inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine. At 6-foot-3, he even has the ideal size for a quarterback.

Despite only throwing for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only four interceptions last season, he was college football's best quarterback last season, according to Pro Football Focus, grading out as QB1 among 302 qualified passers.

Helping out his incredibly high grade was likely his rushing totals. Payton carried the ball 136 times for 777 yards and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground.

With all of his physical attributes, Payton is the ideal quarterback the Jets can target on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, stashing him as their QB3 while he develops as a pro passer.

New York has yet to add a true QB2 this offseason, and as things currently stand, Bailey Zappe is the insurance plan behind Smith. That can't be the case if the Jets want to stay afloat in case of an injury to their starter.

The Jets should look to pick up a more experienced option via free agency or trade, and draft a player like Payton to serve as the emergency third-string quarterback in 2026.

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