Jets pair franchise QB with star WR in 2-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft

The New York Jets are just hours away from their regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills, a game that will officially close the book on a frustrating 2025 campaign. Once the final whistle blows, attention will immediately shift to what looms as a pivotal offseason for the organization.

It will be the second offseason under head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, a duo tasked with reshaping a roster that fell well short of expectations and putting a far more competitive product on the field in 2026.

Quarterback figures to sit at the top of the Jets’ offseason priority list, as it so often does, but the needs hardly stop there. The roster has holes across the board, from wide receiver to multiple spots on defense, making this a true rebuild-on-the-fly situation.

The good news is that the Jets will be armed with the resources to attack those problems. The Jets are set to enter the 2026 NFL Draft with two first-round picks, both inside the top 20, along with two second-round selections likely to land in the top 50.

That kind of draft capital opens the door for aggressive decision-making, including the possibility of pairing a franchise quarterback with a potential star wide receiver early in the draft. That's what we attempted to accomplish in our last two-round mock draft before the end of the season.

New York Jets 2-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 3: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Assuming Dante Moore ultimately declares for the draft, he is likely to become the most popular projection for the Jets in mock drafts over the coming months. With the Jets expected to target a quarterback and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza already off the board to the Raiders in this scenario, Moore represents the next-best option.

There might be some teams that have Moore as QB1 in this class, intrigued by his natural throwing ability, overall accuracy, and advanced feel for the game at just 20 years old. What he lacks in experience, he makes up for with nuanced, efficient quarterback play.

The Jets would ideally have the inexperienced Moore develop alongside or behind a veteran quarterback to start the season, but he has all the tools needed to be a plus-starter at the next level. He's an early favorite to be the Jets' pick in April, and in this mock, they didn't even have to trade up for him.

Round 1, Pick 18: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

What’s better than one Garrett Wilson? How about two. Makai Lemon may not be a direct Wilson clone, but he shares many of the same traits that helped turn the former Ohio State standout into a star at the next level.

Lemon is an elite separator with reliable hands and explosive ability after the catch. Many have compared him to Amon-Ra St. Brown for his sharp route running, physical play style, and knack for consistently winning in the short and intermediate areas of the field.

While some might prefer the Jets to target a more big-bodied X receiver to complement Wilson, you can't go wrong with Lemon at this spot. This is excellent value for a player who could end up being the best wide receiver in this class.

Round 2, Pick 35: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama

The Jets’ defensive line realistically has not been the same since Joe Douglas’ highly questionable decision to trade John Franklin-Myers for essentially nothing two years ago. This pick would represent an attempt to rectify that mistake.

LT Overton isn't your typical edge defender. At 6-foot-5, 278 pounds, Overton is one of the most versatile defensive linemen in this class and a stout run defender. He remains subpar as an overall pass rusher, but he has the athletic tools to continue improving his overall game.

This Jets defensive line has gotten pushed around and bullied all season. They need a physical, versatile presence like Overton to pair with the underwhelming duo of Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald. Ideally, McDonald would shift to more of a situational pass-rusher role.

Round 2, Pick 46: Austin Siereveld, OL, Ohio State

Offensive line may not stand out as an immediate need for the Jets, but there are realistically long-term question marks at two of the team's five starting positions. Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson are both pending free agents this offseason.

The Jets will likely look to bring one of them back in the coming months, but even if they do, it would still make sense to target a player like Austin Siereveld on Day 2 of the draft. Siereveld started at left tackle for Ohio State this season, but he spent the entire 2024 campaign at guard, which is a position that will likely be his long-term home at the next level.

At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Siereveld profiles as a high-floor offensive line prospect who would provide the Jets with added flexibility along the interior and ideally another building block up front to pair with Olu Fashanu, Armand Membou, and Joe Tippmann.