NFL insider predicts Jets will pass on major quarterback decision in 2026

Kicking the can down the road until 2027.

Charlie Baduini

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The New York Jets are on what feels like a perpetual hunt for their future franchise quarterback, and that search will probably go on at least for a bit longer.

They acquired Geno Smith to be their starter for 2026, and he expects to be under center Week 1. But what about the future? Could they find their guy in the upcoming NFL Draft?

There's been chatter about Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and the Jets since the pre-draft process began, but he's no sure-fire prospect; otherwise, he'd be penciled in as the No. 2 pick.

Will the Jets hope to find their future franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, or will they kick the can down the road another year, hoping the 2027 class has more to offer them?

Albert Breer says Jets are more likely to wait until 2027 to figure out QB

According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Jets, among other teams, have their eye on the 2027 quarterback class rather than this year's, opting to use the 2026 draft to build out the roster around their future signal-caller.

"That’s why, as I see it, the Jets, Browns, Dolphins and Cardinals are kicking the can down the road a year...It’s also why teams may spend their second- and third-round picks at other positions this year, knowing there’s likely going to be not just a few franchise guys, but a lot of depth coming in 2027."
Albert Breer

There's a long list of quarterbacks set to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft. Most notably, Texas' Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame's C.J. Carr, just to name a few.

The Jets will be uniquely positioned to get creative in that draft. As things currently stand, they're the only team equipped with more than one first-round pick. Heck, they've got three to play with.

This year's draft will be about finding talent that can help the team win now. Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey's jobs likely depend on it.

If they can prove that they can start putting the team in the right direction in 2026, then they'll have the opportunity to pick their hopeful franchise quarterback.

Otherwise, it will likely be a new head coach and general manager making those draft picks in 2027.

Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini covers the New York Jets as a site expert for The Jet Press and FanSided. He is a sports journalist based in Northern New Jersey with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in print and broadcast journalism. Baduini’s byline can also be seen on Heavy and The Sporting News, where he covers several teams across the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured in Heavy, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and Yardbarker. He also serves as a seasonal intern for ESPN, working as a production assistant for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony every year since 2022. Baduini has been a Jets fan for as long as he can remember, with his family's fandom dating back to the 1960s when his grandfather, Louis, became a season ticket holder. His family has since held on to the tickets to this day. He is an avid fan of the New York Knicks and New York Mets.