There’s a common misconception among New York Jets fans about when it is acceptable to take a starting quarterback in an upcoming draft.

Many fans believe that the only way to land a star quarterback is to do it with one of the top picks in the draft. Therefore, if the team misses out on the top one or two signal-callers in a draft class, the organization is simply doomed.

In fairness, this has happened to the Jets before. In 2021, the team missed out on the top overall pick (where Trevor Lawrence was a shoo-in) and ended up with Zach Wilson. That one-spot drop did, indeed, doom the Jets.

The horrors of 2021 have some Jets fans thinking that history has repeated itself. But that class was an aberration.

It’s exactly why Jets fans who are angry over Oregon quarterback Dante Moore’s decision to return to school on Wednesday are misguided. Just because they don’t have a signal-caller ready to fall to them with the second pick, it doesn’t mean they can’t get a franchise quarterback.

There are many ways to acquire one on draft day.

Jets draft plans

Take a look at the top quarterbacks around the NFL. First-round picks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and Lamar Jackson were taken outside the first five selections. Others, such as Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, or Brock Purdy, were taken outside of the first round entirely.

The point is that the Jets do not need to draft a quarterback first or second overall to be a successful team. Over the next two seasons, Gang Green has a total of five first-round draft picks and three second-round picks. That is plenty of capital to not only find a quarterback but also build around him for the foreseeable future.

This degree of capital can make even the most “mediocre” first-round signal-caller find success with talent around him.

The 2026 quarterback class is a perfect example. There may not be a blue-chip prospect available to the Jets, but there are plenty of prospects who can do the job of an NFL starting quarterback if placed in an ideal situation.

In the right system, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss or Alabama’s Ty Simpson can find success in the league. Even Clemson’s Cade Klubnik or Miami’s Carson Beck could have a future.

If the Jets fall in love with a quarterback in the draft, it won’t be because they have the biggest arm or run the fastest. It will be because they love how the prospect fits in their offensive vision, as well as their intangibles.

The Jets can target their preferred quarterback prospect in the second round and come away with multiple top-ranked players in the first. It’s a strategy that worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles, and it could work for the Jets as well.

Moore’s decision to return to college could be exactly what the Jets needed. This is their opportunity to take a different approach than they have in the past—a chance to realize that they don’t need to draft a signal-caller high to turn the franchise around.

Quarterbacks chosen in the top five do not always pan out. But top-five picks at other positions can help turn other quarterbacks into what the Jets need.