Regardless of where one stands on New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields, one thing is certain – the team needs to add to their quarterback room this offseason. Whether Fields flourishes, fumbles, or anything in-between, the team needs a successor at the position with time to grow with the coaching staff. With that in mind, let’s dive into some of the options the NY Jets could entertain entering for the 2026 NFL draft. As with any good list, we’ll break the candidates into tiers and go into their individual fit, talent, and intangibles. Feel free to tear me apart in the comments. Let’s dive in.

Not every player on this list may declare for the 2026 NFL draft. It’s still early October, and a lot can happen. Yet given current projections, these players are most likely to be involved in this year’s draft class.

NY Jets: 2026 Quarterback Candidates

These players are likely to be given first-round grades and will be in the direct spotlight of the NY Jets. The likelihood of New York taking one of these players is extremely high.

Fernando Mendoza – Indiana

Back in April, Fernando Mendoza wasn’t even a top-64 prospect for this upcoming draft class. That sure has changed after his performance for Indiana so far in the 2025 season. Yet, it’s something I saw in the quarterback during his time in California that had me sold from the start.

Fernando Mendoza is such an accurate passer. It’s incredible seeing him thread the needle the way he does for such a young quarterback. His IQ is off the charts, too. #GoBears

— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) November 9, 2024

Mendoza is an elite pocket passer. He goes through his progressions quickly, he’s not afraid to take chances downfield, and there’s ice in his veins. Multiple times, Mendoza has led his team from behind to secure a victory in high-intensity moments. And now leading a ranked Indiana team, Mendoza is finally being able to showcase his strengths on the center stage. Yet is Mendoza a fit for the Jets?

Despite having Justin Fields at quarterback, Fernando Mendoza actually fits what Tanner Engstrand’s scheme is about. The Jets’ offensive coordinator loves to get players in space, and that means he needs a cerebral quarterback to quickly go through progressions and reads to hit the open receiver. And, that’s exactly the type of player Mendoza is.

With just 2.62 seconds to throw (as of this writing), Mendoza has the 38th-least amount of time compared to his peers (of 125). Yet, his adjusted completion percentage of 80.0-percent showcases a player who’s decisive, and knows where to go with the football. He’s also just one of 15 quarterbacks (out of 38) to have a pressure to sack ratio of less than 13-percent with 2.65 seconds to throw or less. The signal-caller isn’t dinking and dunking, either. His 9.7 average depth of target ranks 31st amongst quarterbacks, and is one of eight players to have at least a 9.7 Adot with at most 2.65 seconds to throw.

Yes, it was vs. Indiana State, but #Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (6-5, 225, rJR) made some really nice throws last night.

Finished 19/20 for 270 yards and 6 TDs (five passing and one rushing) in only one half. pic.twitter.com/PWz8grPo6y

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) September 13, 2025

Mendoza isn’t just dicing up weak competition, though. The quarterback is one of just two FBS players to have five passing touchdowns and a 90.0 completion percentage against an AP-ranked opponent in the last 30 years, per Jordan Reid. The quarterback also has the highest NFL passer rating in college football at 138.7. Point blank, Mendoza makes the big-boy throws that Engstrand wants to have happen in his offense.

#Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza’s best throw of the night: Staring down double A gap blitz, steps up and rips this seam ball as he takes a shot. Big boy throw on a drive they needed to have late against Iowa. https://t.co/KxaKRLvuZD pic.twitter.com/CSAj25Wjb8

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) September 28, 2025

And, despite his prowess as a pocket passer, Mendoza can run – when he wants to. Mendoza has 16 scrambles on the season, while his five sacks are among the fewest in college football thus far. He gets positive yardage and makes the most out of his opportunities.

Ironically enough, Mendoza really reminds me of Jared Goff – with a stronger arm. He’s a great processor, mobile enough to scramble if he needs to, yet has the arm power to do things that Goff struggles with at times. So yet while it’s not a direct comparison, there is a good starting point to look at the potential within the offense if Mendoza was the selection by the NY Jets.

Like Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore has seem his draft stock soar with his play in 2025. After struggling as a freshman with UCLA, Moore has found a home with Dan Lanning and the Ducks. Also like Mendoza, he’s been so good to start the 2025 season that his numbers are lower than what they should be. Moore looks like one of the better passers in college football this season, and has (so far) cemented himself as a first-round draft pick in 2026.

Moore is an incredible accurate passer, and underrated in his mobility. The quarterback has the third-highest adjusted completion percentage in college football. He also has the third-lowest pressure-to-sack ratio at 3.1. In short, Moore has been a lightning rod for Oregon so far this season.

Dante Moore might be the best QB in the 2026 NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/i82g8amOw0

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 18, 2025

At Oregon, a lot of Moore’s biggest plays came off of split-field reads that moved his platform to throw the football. It relied on not just his ability to see the field, but the ability to avoid pressure if the play call didn’t work. While that works incredibly at the college football level, it’s a little different in the NFL. With that in mind, it brings an interesting dynamic when it comes to the NY Jets.

With just 2.68 seconds to throw, Moore’s 7.0 big time throw percentage (eighth-highest in country) showcase a player that is looking to make the big play. And, he’s able to do so while avoiding pressure or playing with poor offensive line play. However, Moore is also able to make plays on-script and in the pocket with great accuracy.

Dante Moore threw some piss missiles yesterday. Look at this thing. Perfect pic.twitter.com/thkulexFht

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 21, 2025

Timing is something Moore is great with, and that is something a quarterback needs to master in the Jets’ current offensive scheme. The quarterback has sufficient arm strength, though threading the needle against the boundary against coverage remains to be seen. And by the time April comes around, there’s sure to be tape to fill that question mark.

Moore likely thrives best in an RPO-based offense that can complement his strengths as a passer. That is, being able to read his side of the field and make a decision based on the looks he’s given. If the platform in which he has to throw from moves in the process, he’s fine with that, too. In fact, he’s elite on that end. Yet as the season progresses against better opponents, scouts will know whether it’s the product of the scheme, or the player, as the reason for Oregon’s success.

It’s a little ironic that three “sure-fire” first-round prospects weren’t perceived to be anything close to it during the offseason. Oklahoma’s John Mateer is the latest on that list.

The passing touchdowns haven’t been there to start the season (6). However, Mateer has excelled under tremendous pressure – and leading his team to excellent victories. The Oklahoma quarterback has the 21st-lowest time to throw (2.58 seconds), yet has an absurdly low pressure-to-sack ratio of 8.5 percent.

While the quarterback was a true dual-threat playmaker at Washington State, he has been more selective while with the Sooners. After posting 1008 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago, Mateer has 211 yards and five touchdowns after four games. Yet, this does include a 51-yard scamper early in the season.

A hand injury has limited tape on the quarterback against elite competition. However, it’s safe to say that Mateer has stood up to the challenge thus far.

What’s impressive about Mateer is his throwing angles, and ability to turn dead plays into massive gains.

Unfortunate that John Mateer is dealing with injuries, because he’s looked like a potential first-rounder throughout this college season.

Quick, snappy thrower who can push the ball into tight windows and distribute it from the pocket.

Flexes that competitive nature as well. pic.twitter.com/DI4XAfh3CR

— NTB_43 (@NTB_43) October 7, 2025

It’s not a fluke, either. Oklahoma’s general manager Jim Nagy, formerly of the Senior Bowl, felt highly enough about Mateer to bring him into the program. While people may have personal differences with Nagy, his eye for seeing talent is not debatable. And so far, Mateer has vaulted himself from a mid-round player to a first-round talent with his play in the SEC.

One thing that NY Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand would love about Mateer is his ability to get rid of the ball quickly and decisively. One of the biggest concerns regarding Justin Fields is his inability to move through his reads and hit the right man. Mateer can do that at an incredible pace, and understands the concepts of his offense versus the look of the defense post-snap with ease. The following play is a great example of that, even though it’s during his time at Washington State.

#Oklahoma QB John Mateer (Washington St. transfer) has never seen a throw that he didn’t like. Can spin it from all types of funky arm angles. pic.twitter.com/3hA9HyW4xr

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) June 3, 2025

With the defense playing in zone, Mateer does a great job forcing the boundary safety to the left, knowing that isn’t his primary read. Once the safety is positioned far enough to not make an impact on the play, the quarterback makes an excellent throw from a unique angle, with pressure in his face, hitting his receiver in-stride for a touchdown.

Despite playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ty Simpson is another player that was not on draft radars entering the season – yet has started to plant himself as a first-round talent. Yet with that said, I am in the current belief that Simpson would benefit more by staying another year in the program as a starter. That isn’t to knock Simpson, though. It more-so places the quarterback on the back-end of this list because he is more of a “potential over film” prospect – at least at the college football level.

Entering college, Simpson was an excellent dual-threat quarterback. Yet in 2025, Alabama has rarely showcased his talents as a runner this season. While some may have expected the quarterback to flounder because of that, Simpson has instead showcased that he has incredible talent as a passer, too.

Currently, Simpson has a 13:1 touchdown to interception ratio, with the sixth-highest adjusted completion percentage in the FBS (80.7). He’s the fourth-highest graded quarterback by PFF, and has a respectable 5.4 big time throw percentage in relation to his peers.

The one concern regarding Simpson is that Alabama’s offensive line is giving him an absurd amount of time to throw at 3.03 seconds (11th-highest in FBS). Yet despite that, Simpson has a 16-percent pressure-to-sack ratio, indicating that at times he may have trouble going through his progressions. Or, on occasions like the video below, being too hesitant on where to go with the football and not utilizing his internal clock correctly to scramble for yardage when necessary.

I like the maturation and development I’ve seen from Ty Simpson as a passer. But plays like these scare me a lot. This ball has to get out if you don’t have the athleticism to make a play with your legs. This wasn’t a fumble return for a touchdown but it was almost a disaster pic.twitter.com/fZL5BlksJd

— Anthony Russo (@Anthony_Russo97) October 8, 2025

Right now, Simpson greatly benefits behind playing behind an elite offensive line. But, he’s made plays that really stand out, too. When the quarterback does have to navigate the pocket, he does so while keeping his eyes downfield. And, normally, he can evade defenders while squaring up to make impressive throws.

Currently, Ty Simpson would likely perform in a similar fashion of Justin Fields within the NY Jets offense. At least, from a passing standpoint. There may be more nuance in his game than Fields, and perhaps better anticipation on throws. However, the ability to go through progressions after the first read isn’t there has shown to give Simpson some struggles at times. Some of that may change if the Jets bring added talent to the wide receiver room. However, we have to assume the worst when regarding receiving personnel for the Jets – at least until proven otherwise.

Yet, as a rusher, it would likely be little different from a scheme standpoint. Despite Simpson not being utilized as a runner at Alabama, Simpson is incredible talented in that regard – if a little rigid. As a young player, he should be able to make defenses pay. The question is, can he develop into a reliable passer in the NFL with such little experience as a starter. That’ll be something the Jets would have to decide if they chose to select Simpson. However, the Alabama product is more likely to be a late-first selection, meaning the Jets would have to trade down, showing that they truly like Simpson in order to select him.