Time is a flat circle, especially for the New York Jets. Five years ago, the organization was debating whether to draft a quarterback after the franchise had a 2-14 season with Robert Saleh on the way.
Five years later, the faces and names have changed, but the same problem persists: New York is still in need of a quarterback, and a bad year (3-14) has left many wondering whether they’ll find one in the upcoming selection process.
In 2025, first-year head coach Aaron Glenn oversaw one of the worst years in team history. Numerous quarterback changes and dismal changes to the scheme have led some to believe that the Jets should avoid drafting another young quarterback, given the numerous issues they already face.
If the team is to learn from its mistakes, the 2021 NFL draft is the perfect situation to do so.
Jets’ past draft mistakes
Back in 2021, the Jets had to decide whether to draft Zach Wilson with the second overall selection or trade back to accumulate more capital while sticking with former third overall pick Sam Darnold for the foreseeable future.
New York chose to draft the BYU product. They believed that while the roster was not a quarterback away, Wilson was too significant an upgrade — with the highest ceiling — for them to overlook.
It was arguably the biggest mistake they have made this century.
In a draft class with top offensive linemen like Penei Sewell or wide receivers like DeVonta Smith, the Jets chose to go after a quarterback class that has turned into one of the most disappointing groups in league history. New York struggled under Wilson’s leadership and set off a chain of events that kick-started another rebuild for the franchise.
That mistake could ultimately shape how the Jets operate with the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, too, now.
Not a quarterback away
As currently constructed, the Jets are not a quarterback away.
While they have solidified their offensive line, they have needs at every position on their defense, at receiver, and even at running back. Those needs won’t be magically fixed without resources being allocated to those areas.
In a deep class for many of the positions in need for the Jets, the argument could be made for the team to avoid the quarterback debate and instead target the best non-signal-callers available in order to bolster the crux of the roster for when they are ready to solidify the most important position.
New York may very well fall in love with a quarterback this year that ends up in its lap with the second pick. However, would that be the best thing for the team, considering it already has so many other needs to worry about?
It’s what endangered the team’s rebuilding health back in 2021. Five years later, the New York Jets, with a new cast of characters leading the way, find themselves in a similar situation.