After months of uncertainty, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ request for an extra year of NCAA eligibility has been denied.

Breaking: The NCAA has denied Trinidad Chambliss a sixth year of eligibility, which would end his college career. The decision comes after a verbal denial in December. Ole Miss can still appeal the decision. pic.twitter.com/L9g6sIgN7W

— ESPN (@espn) January 9, 2026

With that door closed, all signs point toward Chambliss declaring for the 2026 NFL draft. He made his biggest impression on the sport’s biggest stage, delivering two standout performances in the College Football Playoff for the Rebels and helping guide them to the semifinals.

Those games vaulted Chambliss into the national conversation, and he has quickly become one of the hottest names in draft circles.

For the New York Jets, armed with four of the first 45 picks in the 2026 NFL draft and still searching for a franchise quarterback, it’s impossible not to take notice. Chambliss is firmly on the radar of Jets fans everywhere. The question now is simple: could his next chapter begin in New York?

Who is Trinidad Chambliss?

For much of his college career, Chambliss’ name was largely unknown. He began his journey at Division II Ferris State before transferring south, where he initially arrived in Mississippi as a backup.

That status didn’t last long. Once Chambliss was thrust into the starting role, he dominated. He went on to quarterback the Rebels to the first two College Football Playoff bowl victories in program history, while looking like an NFL-level QB.

Over three CFP appearances, Chambliss completed 67.9% of his passing attempts for 921 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also added two scores on the ground.

Pros

Chambliss’s arm strength jumps off the screen. In a league that still covets quarterbacks who can make every throw, that matters, especially when compared to Alabama’s Ty Simpson, a player who could come off the board in a similar range but doesn’t offer the same kind of juice with his arm.

He isn’t just a pocket-passer, either. Chambliss can hurt defenses with his legs, scoring two rushing touchdowns in the CFP and piling up 527 rushing yards along with eight touchdowns throughout the regular season.

He also rarely puts the ball in harm’s way, finishing the year with 22 touchdown passes and just three interceptions, playing fast without playing recklessly.

Cons

There’s a lot to like with the gunslinger, but there are certainly some concerns.

Age is part of the equation. Chambliss is already 23 and will be 24 by the time Week 1 rolls around. He also has just one season as a Division I starter. For some teams, that’s a tough sell. Using a first-round pick on a quarterback with limited high-level experience is a risk.

Size adds another layer of uncertainty. He’s listed at six feet per Ole Miss, but there’s a strong chance he measures in under that mark at the combine or his pro day.

That matters, especially when he’s not viewed as a once-in-a-generation talent. Quarterbacks such as Kyler Murray have been drafted early at that height before, but Chambliss doesn’t have the same margin for error, and coming in under six feet could be enough to make some teams pass him up.

The scenario where he fits with the Jets

Chambliss shouldn’t be part of the conversation for the Jets at No. 2. That’s just not realistic. Unlike Simpson or Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, that pick is too rich for where he’s viewed right now.

If there’s a path for him to get to New York, it starts with how the top of the draft shakes out. Suppose Mendoza goes No. 1 to Las Vegas and the Jets aren’t sold on Simpson. At that point, the clean move at No. 2 would be taking the best player available. For a roster with holes everywhere, that approach makes sense.

From there, things open up. The Jets could consider Chambliss with their second first-round pick at No. 16, or take the best player available. If they do pass, the real intrigue begins.

In the second round, New York owns the 33rd and 44th overall picks. The Jets could sit tight and hope he slides to them. Or, if they feel strongly enough, they could package assets and move back into the late first-round, the same kind of move they made in 2022 to get Jermaine Johnson. The New York Giants made a similar trade in 2025 to land Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25, sending No. 34, No. 99, and a 2026 third-rounder to the Houston Texans.

Chambliss is the fallback option Gang Green should keep in mind if their top QB plan doesn’t come to fruition at the top of the draft.