Jets pass on quarterback in star-studded 2-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Most people assume the New York Jets will draft a quarterback early in the 2026 NFL Draft. And on the surface, it makes sense.

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has emerged as a legitimate high-end first-round talent. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is widely viewed as a top prospect as well. Oregon’s Dante Moore could insert himself into that tier if he declares. The names are there, and so too is the need, of course.

But what if the Jets don’t go that route? What if Aaron Glenn, Darren Mougey, and this new regime simply aren’t sold on this year’s quarterback class? Most front offices only get one real opportunity to pick their quarterback at the top of the draft.

If the Jets don’t truly love any of these prospects, they aren’t going to force a pick just because the outside world expects one. And that opens the door to a very real scenario where the Jets could pass on drafting a quarterback entirely in 2026.

If that happens, the Jets would likely turn to a bridge option. That could be a veteran like Marcus Mariota stepping in for a year. Alternatively, it could be a more high-profile move, such as potentially trading for someone like Kyler Murray and giving him a one- to two-year runway to prove he can be the long-term answer.

And looming behind all of this is the 2027 NFL Draft, where the Jets currently hold three first-round picks and where the early quarterback class already looks very promising.

So no, it’s not guaranteed that the Jets take a quarterback in 2026. Far from it. Which raises the question: what would their draft look like if they didn’t? With four picks in the first two rounds, the Jets have the flexibility to reshape their roster at several positions of major need.

We explored that exact hypothetical with a brand new two-round mock draft, and here’s how it played out.

RELATED: 2-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft has Jets land franchise QB, standout pass rusher

New York Jets 2-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 4: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

With the top three picks going Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, and Ohio State hybrid Arvell Reese in our hypothetical mock, the Jets find an absolute gift waiting for them at No. 4 overall in Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.

At 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, Bain is one of the most complete defensive end prospects in recent memory and has a legitimate case as the best overall player in this class.

He’s a dominant, high-floor defender with elite production to match. He's posted an 87.4 Pro Football Focus run-defense grade in 2025, a 92.2 pass-rush grade, 55 pressures, five sacks, and 23 run stops this season.

Bain would immediately give the Jets a true bookend opposite Jermaine Johnson while allowing Will McDonald to shift into a more natural situational role instead of being overexposed on early downs.

He’s as safe as any prospect in the draft, a borderline Pro Bowler at minimum with genuine All-Pro upside. This is a slam-dunk pick for the Jets at a position of need.

Round 1, Pick 28: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Jets go a little outside the box at No. 28, selecting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in what might be one of the most controversial picks of this mock, but also one of the smartest.

Mason Taylor already looks like a long-term fixture in the offense, but Sadiq is simply too good to pass up here, as he's widely viewed as the best tight end in the class and arguably a top-12 player overall.

At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Sadiq has drawn George Kittle comparisons thanks to his combination of ferocious in-line blocking and explosive downfield receiving ability. This isn’t giving up on Taylor at all. If anything, it’s doubling down on a strength.

With Sadiq and Taylor, the Jets could lean heavily into 12 personnel the way teams like the Cleveland Browns have, giving their offense a physical identity while adding a desperately needed secondary pass catcher who can also transform the run game.

Landing two top-12 talents in one round would be a dream scenario for the Jets.

Round 2, Pick 35: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

At pick No. 35, the Jets land Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, a name many Jets fans should already know well from watching Fernando Mendoza’s tape this year.

The Jets don’t get Mendoza in this mock, but they do secure his favorite target — a 6-foot-2, 213-pound prototypical X receiver who wins with physicality, sharp route running, and toughness at the catch point.

Sarratt doesn’t have blazing deep speed, but he’s exactly the archetype the Jets have been missing opposite Garrett Wilson. He's a big-bodied boundary presence who complements Wilson’s Z role, John Metchie’s underneath work, and Adonai Mitchell’s vertical ability.

Bleacher Report’s Damian Parson even compared Sarratt to Keenan Allen, praising his polish and consistency at the catch point. He’s also a strong and willing blocker, which makes him a seamless fit in the Jets’ run-heavy 12-personnel structure.

After adding Kenyon Sadiq, the Jets double down on size and physicality, reshaping their offense with two new big-bodied playmakers.

Round 2, Pick 45: A.J. Haulcy, SAF, LSU

With their final pick in this two-round mock, the Jets use the No. 45 selection (via Dallas) on LSU safety A.J. Haulcy, a rangy, physical, playmaking defender who fits exactly what this secondary needs.

At 6-foot, 222 pounds, Haulcy has emerged as one of the best coverage safeties in college football, posting 85-plus PFF coverage grades in each of the last two seasons while showing real ball-hawking instincts. He totaled five interceptions and six PBUs at Houston last year and has added two more picks in his first season at LSU.

Haulcy is also a tough, downhill run defender with a 76.1 run-defense grade and 20 run stops in 2025, though his inconsistent tackling technique (reflected in his 14.4 and 16.0 percent missed-tackle rates over the last two years) remains the one area that needs refinement.

Still, Haulcy brings something the Jets desperately lack — a true takeaway threat on the back end. Pairing him with Malachi Moore would give the Jets the explosive, turnover-creating safety duo this defense has been missing.