Kirk Herbstreit just said exactly what QB-needy Jets fans wanted to hear

New York Jets fans may be looking forward to the start of what promises to be a critical 2026 season for the franchise, but they're simultaneously keeping a close eye on the upcoming 2027 quarterback class.

The good news for the Jets is that next year's quarterback class appears to be a bit more promising than last year's class, and that sentiment seems to be shared by many analysts around the sport.

One individual who agrees is college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who made an appearance at a Baton Rouge Raising Cane's last week alongside owner and founder Todd Graves to discuss everything from college football to LSU to the launch of his new "Peter Fan Club" pop-up.

Herbstreit was asked about which quarterbacks Jets fans should be watching as potential risers in the 2027 NFL Draft class, and while he pointed to a handful of names, his broader takeaway was probably the most encouraging part for a Jets team that will be evaluating quarterbacks next spring.

“I think we could have six, maybe seven first-round draft picks,” Herbstreit told a group of reporters at the event.

Kirk Herbstreit believes the 2027 QB class could be loaded

Herbstreit went on to name Miami's Darian Mensah, LSU's Sam Leavitt, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, and Oregon's Dante Moore as quarterbacks who could help shape the 2027 class. Of course, that's not including Texas standout Arch Manning, who currently projects as the top QB in next year's draft.

Herbstreit’s early picks already look pretty good after Week 1. Mensah was arguably the biggest standout of the group, completing 27 of 30 passes for 401 yards and five touchdowns in Miami’s 45-6 win over Stanford. The Duke transfer appears to be emerging as an early Heisman favorite.

Sayin was similarly sharp for Ohio State, finishing 21-of-25 for 320 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-3 rout of Ball State. Moore also started fast, throwing for a career-high 378 yards and three scores as Oregon beat Boise State 34-27

Leavitt showed off the dual-threat ability Herbstreit highlighted, passing for 230 yards and a touchdown while adding 113 rushing yards and two more scores in LSU’s 51-10 demolition of Clemson.

That’s a pretty strong opening statement from four quarterbacks Herbstreit believes could help make the 2027 class unusually deep.

The Jets obviously hope that Geno Smith can provide competent quarterback play in 2026 and that fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik develops into a reliable long-term backup. But neither player guarantees the Jets have their answer beyond this season.

Once the Jets inevitably do find themselves back in the quarterback market, they may not need to own the No. 1 overall pick to have options. Of course, a lot can change over the course of a college football season, and several of these quarterbacks still have plenty to prove.

Still, Herbstreit’s early assessment is encouraging for any Jets fan already keeping one eye on the 2027 quarterback class. If the Jets need another long-term answer next spring, this may be the right year to go looking for one.

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