The New York Jets currently sit at 3-10 and are in obvious need of a franchise quarterback. The Jets search for a franchise quarterback has gone on far too long and the team will have the opportunity to try to find their guy this offseason.
New York is positioned to have significant draft capital this year. If the season ended today, the Jets would own the 7th pick, the 18th pick (via Indianapolis), and two second-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, the Jets currently hold three first-round selections.
However, instead of using their draft capital to select a quarterback, Craig Carton of The Craig Carton Show believes the Jets could attempt to make a blockbuster move: trading for Super Bowl winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
âIf the New York Jets call up the Kansas City Chiefs and say⦠Iâll give you four first round picks and a second round pick⦠and I want Patrick Mahomes for that,â Carton said on The Craig Carton Show on Sunday, December 7th.
Mahomes is currently playing on a 10-year, $450 million contract that runs through the 2031 season. The superstar quarterback carries an average annual salary of $45 million (Spotrac).
With the Chiefs sitting at 6-7 and more than likely looking at missing the playoffs, some have begun to wonder what the organization might do if it believes its dynasty has finally ended. In that scenario, moving on from Mahomesâ massive contract while adding a haul of draft capital from the Jets could be something Kansas City at least considers.
Although itâs highly unlikely that Kansas City would ever consider trading a talent like Mahomes, Carton argued that the Jets should at least make the phone call to see if the Chiefs would listen.
The Jets do not have a strong track record when it comes to drafting quarterbacks. Recent misses include Zach Wilson (2nd overall in 2021) and Sam Darnold (3rd overall in 2018). Given the franchiseâs continued struggles to find their guy through the draft, itâs fair to wonder whether their next quarterback might come from free agency or the trade market.
GettyThe Jets drafted QB Zach Wilson 2nd overall in 2021.
More Realistic Veteran Options
If the Jets decide to pursue a veteran quarterback, there are certainly more realistic options than trading for Mahomes.
“Short-term options who are pending free agents are Russell Wilson, Marcus Mariota, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Jimmy Garoppolo, Carson Wentz, and Trey Lance, among others. There’s been chatter about Kyler Murray’s future with the Arizona Cardinals, or Kirk Cousins’ future with the Atlanta Falcons, as well,” wrote Patrick McAvoy of Sports Illustrated.Â
GettyQB Kyler Murray has been linked to Jets in rumors.
The 2026 NFL Draft QB MarketÂ
Obviously, it would not be a surprise if the Jets decide to draft a quarterback in 2026 if they truly believe they can land a franchise talent.
Some notable names include Fernando Mendoza (Indiana University), Dante Moore (University of Oregon), and Ty Simpson (University of Alabama).
No matter where the Jets finish in the draft order, they will likely have the ability to trade up for whichever quarterback they want, especially given all the draft capital they currently hold.
GettyIndiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
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