Surprising 2026 NFL mock draft answers the Jets' pressing Justin Fields question

The New York Jets are all-in on Justin Fields in 2025. After moving on from Aaron Rodgers, the team handed Fields a two-year, $40 million contract with the hope that he could revitalize his career in Florham Park. He’s the guy... for now.

That’s partially what makes a recent early 2026 NFL mock draft from ESPN's Matt Miller so interesting. The mock has the Jets selecting Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. with the No. 4 overall pick.

Hill is a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher who’s drawn comparisons to stars like Fred Warner and Micah Parsons. He's a disruptive, modern defender who could fit in multiple roles, and he would make sense for the Jets.

From a roster standpoint, the pick isn’t far-fetched. Quincy Williams is entering a contract year, and Jermaine Johnson is still working his way back from a torn Achilles — both players have uncertain futures in New York. Hill’s versatility could help replace either player depending on how the defense evolves.

Jets go all-in on Justin Fields again in early 2026 NFL mock draft

But the real headline isn’t about Hill. It’s about what the Jets don’t do in this projection — take a quarterback. And that raises one very big question about Fields’ future in New York beyond 2025.

Of course, mock drafts in July don’t actually mean much. Fields hasn’t even taken a snap in training camp yet. Still, when a respected outlet like ESPN projects the Jets to hold the No. 4 overall pick and pass on a quarterback, it’s at least worth examining what that could potentially say about Fields' future.

Fields will enter training camp as the clear QB1 with a reworked offensive staff, a new scheme under offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, and a new-look supporting cast.

If he flourishes, the Jets won’t need to draft a quarterback next April. If he doesn’t, especially if that means the team ends up near the top of the draft order again, they probably will.

So if the Jets really do finish with the fourth overall pick, as Miller’s mock suggests, that would suggest a disappointing season, one that likely puts the quarterback position under scrutiny.

And yet, in a mock that includes four quarterbacks going in the first round — Cade Klubnik (No. 1 to the Browns), Garrett Nussmeier (No. 11 to the Colts), LaNorris Sellers (No. 16 to the Steelers), and Drew Allar (No. 27 to the Rams) — Miller has the Jets passing on the position entirely.

As for Hill, there’s no denying his talent. A former five-star recruit, Hill has lived up to the hype at Texas, emerging as a breakout star in 2024 with 16.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, and a growing reputation as one of the most versatile defenders in college football.

Hill's NFL projection is still uncertain, but if he puts together another strong season in his junior campaign, he will have every opportunity to be a potential top-five pick come next April. Perhaps he'll even find himself on the Jets' radar.

At the end of the day, it’s just a mock draft in the middle of summer. But even early projections can offer insight into how analysts view a team’s direction, and in this case, Miller’s mock draft paints a picture of a Jets organization that may not be ready to give up on Justin Fields just yet.

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