It’s the last place NFL teams want to be:

Quarterback purgatory.

The New York Jets find themselves there right now. They have a glaring need at the position, are not positioned to select the best one in the 2026 draft, and don’t have a lot of options either later in the draft or on the veteran market.

It’s the textbook definition of “quarterback purgatory”.

The debate on what the Jets should do this year at the position will traverse through the next few months. Some fans want to see a young rookie brought in to pair with a veteran bridge option. Others want to see the team punt the decision to 2027 when a better crop of prospects is expected to be available.

One top draft analyst agrees with the latter opinion. But his own breakdown highlights the daunting conundrum the Jets are in for the 2026 season… and beyond.

Jeremiah dishes on Jets’ QB situation

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has been in the scouting business for a long time. He knows when there is a good quarterback class in an upcoming draft. The 2026 group simply isn’t one of them. Outside of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, there is little to get excited about.

Jeremiah’s recent sitdown with reporters ahead of the scouting combine brought forth his own breakdown of what the Jets should do, whether it’s in the later rounds or earlier.

“[Philadelphia’s Tanner McKee and Houston’s Davis Mills] are a couple of guys I’d be curious about taking a flyer on for a year if you can trade a mid-round pick,” Jeremiah said. “I don’t think I would lean in the direction of the draft for their quarterback this year. I think they will be all-in for that next year.”

Jeremiah believes the Jets should punt any long-term quarterback answer to the 2027 draft.

“If you go into next year with a bunch of picks, and your offensive and defensive lines are in good shape, and you can find your quarterback of the future at that point in time, I think that’s the right way to go,” he said. “Who knows, maybe you hit the lottery on one of these younger veterans you could try to get.”

But New York may not be able to afford to be patient going into this draft cycle. Coming off a three-win season in his first year at the helm, head coach Aaron Glenn enters 2026 on the hot seat.

It won’t be enough for the Jets to improve their win total; they also have to improve their quality of play. Seven wins may not cut it if it means the team is getting blown out in most of its losses.

Because of that, Glenn may feel that the team needs to pursue a quarterback right now, not in 2027. That could lead to an aggressive mindset for the organization this year, potentially hurting their chances of landing a top prospect next year.

It’s a difficult spot to be in. And there’s no clear-cut answer to it, as long as the Jets continue their on-field struggles.

The push for value

Finding value at the quarterback position this year is going to be difficult for the Jets. It will be even harder to field a competent team around whoever ends up being the starter this season.

Because of that question, Jeremiah’s breakdown of what the Jets should do is consistent with any rebuilding team without a clear answer at the position, especially with three first-round picks in the upcoming draft.

New York fans should feel comfortable with the reality that even if the team struggles in 2026, they will be equipped to get their new quarterback (and a new coaching staff) the following season.

But for Glenn and the current regime, they are under pressure to get the decision right this year. They won’t have another shot at this.

It won’t be easy, though. New York picked the wrong time to be in the carousel once again.