Regardless of whether folks are ready, the NFL moves quickly and waits for no one. The New York Jets know that cycle all too well, as the organization has undergone numerous facelifts over the last decade-plus to get back to the postseason.
It’s been a long time coming for New York, but fans hope the Aaron Glenn era can turn the tide. For the next two seasons, Justin Fields figures to be Glenn’s starting quarterback. The latter campaign isn’t quite a lock, however, which is leading many to already look way ahead.
The Bleacher Report scouting crew is among that group. In their first 2026 NFL mock draft of the cycle, Fields is moved on from and the Jets land their quarterback of the future.
Jets Land Fernando Mendoza in 2026 NFL Mock Draft
In the mock, the Jets pick third. Dame Parson cites the Fields contract as something the team can eject from “if everything goes poorly.” The scouting crew believes failing to take a step up this year could be the “best possible path forward” given the importance of the quarterback position.
Indiana prospect Fernando Mendoza is the pick with the No. 3 overall selection.
“Mendoza, meanwhile, checks a lot of NFL boxes,” Parson wrote. “He possesses prototypical size (6’5″, 225 lbs) for the quarterback position. His tape displays a variety of NFL throws and plenty of arm strength. He is hard to rattle and handles pressure/free running defenders like a pro. The 21-year-old has the physical ability and passing skill set to thrive in the NFL.”
Mendoza, a former three-star prospect, spent his first three collegiate seasons at California. After redshirting as a true freshman, he appeared in nine games the following year. Last season truly saw him put his name on the map, throwing for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns with just 6 interceptions in 11 outings. Mendoza averaged 7.8 yards per attempt and completed nearly 69% of his passes on the year. He also recorded 87 carries, with 12 of them being for 10 or more yards.
Mendoza is a good athlete with a solid baseline to work with overall. Some advanced stats like his recent performance. For example, of 21 ACC quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks last season, Mendoza ranked seventh with a passing grade of 75.7 per Pro Football Focus. On the other hand, some peripherals weren’t as kind. Mendoza ranked 19th in big-time throw percentage and posted the third-highest pressure-to-sack ratio.
How Mendoza fares in a new system with Curt Cignetti leading the way could make or break his 2026 NFL Draft stock.
How Realistic Is a Justin Fields Departure From New York in 2026?
As always, it takes two to tango. In order to start someone other than Fields at quarterback in 2026, the Jets must decide he isn’t worth keeping around. Even in the event of a selection with 2027 in mind, that would leave the door open for Fields to finish out his current deal. That wasn’t the mock’s logic, however, so we must operate based on that.
In terms of the contract, Fields is on a two-year pact worth $40 million. Part of his 2026 salary ($10M) is fully guaranteed. If cut in a traditional manner early in the offseason, he’d save New York just $1M in cap funds while incurring a $22M dead charge. That isn’t palatable. Designating Fields as a post-June 1 cut can change the math. In that case, he’d save $10M with a $13M dead cap hit.
The latter can be managed by the Jets as they hypothetically usher in a new era. According to Over The Cap, they’re estimated to have just under $52M in cap space to work with in 2026. Pending free agents such as running back Breece Hall and offensive linemen Josh Myers, John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker must be taken into account, though.
Walking that tightrope is entirely possible. If the Jets truly do want to end the Fields experiment after one season, it can be done. It’s this writer’s take that if a 2026 rookie enters the fold, perhaps not throwing him into the fire for a bit is a wiser course of action.
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