Could the New York Jets be setting themselves up for a massive 2027 NFL Draft? Six weeks into the 2026 season, it sure looks that way. The Jets hold three first-round picks next spring, and all three are sitting in a great spot as things stand.

It’s early, of course, and plenty of football is left to be played. Still, New York’s draft haul is already shaping up nicely. The Jets have their own first-round pick plus two more they acquired in last season’s midseason trades, which sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys.

Where the Jets’ 3 first-round picks stand

Both of those trade partners are struggling. The Colts and the Cowboys are each 2-4, the same record as the Jets.

Right now, the pick Dallas sent over sits at 6th thanks to their Sunday Night Football loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Indianapolis pick now sits at 10th due to their loss yesterday to the Tennessee Titans. The Jets’ own pick lands at 13th. Heck, the Colts also just fired general manager Chris Ballard. The Sauce Gardner trade alone is looking like a massive win for the Jets. 

So why is New York’s original pick the lowest of the three? It comes down to strength of schedule. The Jets have played a tougher slate (.546 SOS) than every other 2-4 team except the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta’s schedule has been even harder (.580 SOS), which pushes the Falcons down to the 14th pick.

If you had told me before the season that the Jets’ own pick would be the lowest of their three first-rounders six weeks in, I would have called that wild. I expected their pick to be the highest one, probably a top-7 pick or even a top-5 pick. Instead, the Jets currently hold the 6th, 10th, and 13th picks, and their own selection is bringing up the rear.

Why the lowest pick is a good sign for New York

That might sound like bad news for a rebuilding team. I see it the other way.

The Jets are out there competing. Obviously, 2-4 is not a great record. However, this team is showing real fight, which it rarely did for most of last season during coach Aaron Glenn’s first year. The positive signs are there, and a 13th pick is the price of a team that’s actually playing competitive football.

On top of that, the Jets appear to have nailed their three first-round picks from the 2026 NFL Draft. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. have already put up 100-yard games. They have to stay healthy, but both have been playing good football. Meanwhile, David Bailey keeps making big-time plays on defense.

New York still has a long way to go. Under Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn, though, this regime has shown it can make good draft decisions. That makes three more first-round picks a lot more exciting than they would be under a front office that hadn’t proven anything yet. Jets fans have every reason to be fired up about what this group could add next year.

Should the Jets sell anyone else at the deadline?

More moves could come before the trade deadline. I don’t know whether the Jets will want to move anyone else, but two names stand out as obvious trade chips.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall are assets other teams would happily use. I know the fan base may not want to see either of them leave. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame the Jets for holding on to both.

I think keeping them is the smart decision. With three first-round picks already lined up for 2027, the Jets don’t need to stockpile more draft capital. They need playmakers around the young core they’re building, and Wilson and Hall already fit that description.

Either way, the Jets are sitting in a terrific position heading into next spring. They have three first-round picks, a draft-savvy front office, and a young core that’s already producing. The fact that their own pick is the lowest of the three is crazy, but it’s also the most encouraging sign this franchise has given its fans in a long time. If this keeps up, the Jets are going to walk into the 2027 NFL Draft with a real chance to build something.