Throughout the first month of 2026, New York Jets fans have grown frustrated over the team’s outlook moving forward.
Whether the frustration stems from the team’s coaching moves, ownership, or lack of talent on the roster, many fans are not confident that the team will look much different than it did in 2025.
A big part of that thought process is due to the upcoming draft’s lack of a second elite quarterback prospect. Instead of having multiple signal-caller prospects that are clear-cut top-five selections (as most drafts have), there is only one of those prospects, Fernando Mendoza, who is a shoo-in to be taken first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
It leaves the Jets potentially left out of upgrading the game’s most important position in the first round of the draft. It also gives the rest of the 2026 class a negative connotation, suggesting it may not be as talented as past classes.
But if the early practices of the Senior Bowl have taught us anything, it is that the notion of this class being “weak” couldn’t be further from the truth.
It leaves the Jets in a very good spot heading into April’s draft.
Senior Bowl standouts should excite Jets
The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. is never a full picture of what an incoming draft class is going to look like, but it does highlight how some players may be perceived going into the pre-draft process.
Much like any other year, the Senior Bowl features plenty of standouts that are only going to become more popular as the draft season progresses.
There’s linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, an undersized linebacker out of Texas Tech, who certainly has some intangible concerns, but has dominated practices throughout the week. The linebacker position is a strength in this class.
In my opinion, Jacob Rodriguez gets some unwarranted criticism. Some say he is undersized for a ‘backer, but at 6012 & 233 pounds, he is big enough for me.
He is versatile, has a lightning-quick trigger and has caused 16 turnovers in the past two seasons – that’s enough to… pic.twitter.com/xk6A2ZW2yc
— Dom C (@DC_NFLDraft) January 29, 2026
Don’t forget about the wide receiver position, either. Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields has played well, and John Caroll’s Tyren Montgomery has also flashed.
This doesn’t mean the first-round landscape at the wide receiver position has changed; stars like Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon still top the list. It just strengthens the position’s depth throughout all seven rounds of the draft.
Most importantly for the Jets, the quarterbacks have been standouts at the practices. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier has certainly helped his draft stock with strong performances, and Arkansas signal-caller Taylen Green has done the same. These are not players who are going to be Day 1 selections, but they could be taken later in the draft, making them ideal targets for New York.
Just because there is only one highly coveted quarterback prospect coming out this year, it does not mean the draft class is poor as a whole. The quarterback depth is improving, while there is plenty of talent at other positions, like receiver, linebacker, and defensive line—all key needs for the Jets this year.
The play of the prospects in Mobile should only excite fans further. The Jets will still be able to get some very talented individuals on their roster.