For all intents and purposes, whatever microscopic inkling of playoff hope remains for the New York Jets is on the line in today’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Based on NFL history, it is possible for an 0-4 team to rebound and make the playoffs. It’s happened before—albeit only once. The 1992 San Diego Chargers shrugged off an 0-4 start (in which they were outscored by 66 points) to finish 11-1 and make the playoffs, where they even nabbed a wild card victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

If the Jets drop to 0-5, though, they would have to make history just to sniff the playoffs from afar. Not only has an 0-5 team never made the playoffs, but no team has rebounded from such a start to finish with a winning record.

All of this is to say that some Jets fans have certainly begun peeking at the 2026 draft class.

READ MORE: Should QB Fernando Mendoza be in NY Jets’ sights?

Not every Jets fan is already thinking about the draft, and if you’re included in that bunch, more power to you! Looking at mock drafts in October is silly, regardless of your favorite team’s record. Who waits eight months for football to quit on it in one month?

As we’ve covered here at Jets X-Factor, “tanking” is a preposterous proposition for this Jets team. Their best path forward is to collect as many wins as possible throughout the 2025 season.

Having said that, some fans are at least semi-interested to see how the 2026 draft picture is shaping up, and if you’re still reading this, you’re probably included in that group. Without further ado, here are the top 10 picks of the current consensus mock draft at NFL Mock Draft Database (as of October 5, 2025).

New Orleans Saints: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (35%)

New York Jets: QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina (50%)

Tennessee Titans: EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami FL (36%)

Miami Dolphins: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State (27%)

Cleveland Browns: QB Dante Moore, Oregon (15%)

Baltimore Ravens: DL Peter Woods, Clemson (44%)

Las Vegas Raiders: OT Spencer Fano, Utah (31%)

Carolina Panthers: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson (33%)

New York Giants: OT Francia Mauigoa, Miami FL (30%)

Houston Texans: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama (33%)

Half of the predictors included in the site’s database have New York selecting South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers. It is the most widely agreed upon selection in the top 10.

Sellers, 20, is a redshirt sophomore for the Gamecocks. A former three-star recruit out of Florence, S.C., Sellers has quickly catapulted himself into the No. 1 pick conversation.

Through five games in 2025, Sellers has completed 58 of 87 passes (66.7%) for 886 yards (10.2 yards per attempt), four touchdowns, and one interception. He’s added 38 rush attempts for 193 yards and a touchdown.

Known for his big arm, Sellers has excelled with the long ball this year. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound passer has completed 8-of-15 deep attempts (20+ air yards) for 307 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. He has also been razor-sharp in the intermediate area (10-19 air yards), completing 17-of-22 passes for 322 yards.

Barring a surprising turnaround from Justin Fields, the Jets will likely be targeting a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft. However, Fields’ contract structure makes it likely that the team will stick with him as a bridge starter in 2026.

Fields’ two-year, $40 million contract includes $30 million guaranteed. If the Jets release him after the 2025 season, they would save just $1 million in cap space while owing Fields $22 million in dead money. At that rate, they might as well keep him around to provide insurance and leadership for a young quarterback.

The Jets can cut Fields with a post-June 1 designation to save $10 million in 2026 cap space, but they would still owe $22 million in total dead money; it would just be split between $13 million in 2026 and $9 million in 2027.

For now, Fields aims to strengthen his case to secure the Jets’ starting quarterback job in 2026. Through three starts, he is putting up career numbers in the box score. Fields boasts personal bests of a 100.1 passer rating and 7.9 yards per attempt while throwing no interceptions and rushing for 59.3 yards per game (second-best of career).

However, the underlying metrics show that Fields has not improved as much as those numbers let on. He is averaging a career-high 3.50 seconds to throw, which leads all quarterbacks by a wide margin. Fields has also lost two fumbles and gotten away with many dangerous throws; he has been credited with five turnover-worthy throws, and his 6.2% turnover-worthy throw rate is second-worst among quarterbacks.

Advanced metrics view Fields as a slightly below-average starter overall. He ranks 18th out of 33 quarterbacks in QBR (56.8), 17th in adjusted EPA per play (0.124), and 20th in PFF’s overall grade (64.7).

Those would be some of the best rankings of Fields’ career, and they’re enough for the Jets to win some games in the short term (their supporting cast let Fields down in Week 1). However, those numbers wouldn’t preclude the Jets from drafting a quarterback in 2026 if they get the chance to draft a prospect they love.

Fields must start forging a legitimate breakout year if he wants the Jets to commit to him as their long-term starter. He can start today against a Cowboys defense allowing a league-worst 8.5 net yards per pass attempt.