The New York Jets are coming off a disastrous 2025 season, in which their leading receiver didn’t make a catch after the first week of October, and the defense didn’t record an interception all season long.

It’s a mild surprise that Aaron Glenn wasn’t fired after such a bad season, but now, he and general manager Darren Mougey are likely on the hot seat.

That makes the 2026 NFL Draft class, with four picks inside the top 44 selections, so important for the Jets. NFL.com lead draft writer Eric Edholm named the Jets as the one team that cannot afford to mess this year’s draft class up.

Jets need to nail the 2026 draft to keep Mougey and Glenn’s jobs

“How could it be anyone but the Jets?” Edholm writes. “(Glenn’s) almost certainly counting on this rookie class to buoy the ship, so GM Darren Mougey needs to hit on a lot of these picks.”

The Jets have a lot of premium capital in this year’s NFL Draft. Picking No. 2 overall, the Jets will unfortunately miss out on the top quarterback.

The Las Vegas Raiders, barring a stunning twist, are going to be taking Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman-winning Indiana National Championship QB, first overall.

More: Jets predicted to trade up for Ty Simpson like Giants did for Jaxon Dart

That second-overall pick is a huge one, but it’s not the only selection the Jets need to hit this upcoming draft. They pick again in Round 1, selecting 16th overall courtesy of the Indianapolis Colts trade for Sauce Gardner.

Then in Round 2, they have picks at No. 33 and 44 overall. Those are both very high picks, and should result in instant-starters, or very high-upside players like a Ty Simpson.

Mougey cannot afford to mess up the draft, as if things go south right away in 2026, then he and Glenn will be very much on the hot seat, if not on their way out.

The Jets might have three first-rounders in 2027, but if they cannot find success in the 2026 NFL Draft, Glenn and Mougey won’t be in a position to use those picks next year.

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