NY Jets let their franchise QB fall to them, give Garrett Wilson a partner in crime, and overload defense in latest mock draft

Latest 2026 7-round mock draft completely overhauls the New York Jets roster.

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Chris Bell (0) got close to the end zone but officials ruled against his touchdown after a replay review as the Cards take on Clemson in the first half at L&N Stadium Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.

The New York Jets are an organization that is loading up on draft capital to flip this roster in the very near future. Despite the struggles of the 2025 NFL season, there is confidence that head coach Aaron Glenn will lead this team to better days in the future.

The conversation will, and should, center around the quarterback position for the Jets. They need to find the face of their franchise, and quickly.

In the latest 2026 7-round mock draft, that was the first order of business. From there, it was about adding key offensive skill talent around the quarterback and overhauling the entire defensive roster. There is a lot of draft capital to make a tremendous impact in April.

New York Jets 7-round mock draft

Round 1, Pick 5: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana 

There is a chance that Mendoza could be the first quarterback off the board, but it didn’t work out that way in this situation.

The former Cal signal caller is a modern pocket passer at 6-5 and 225 pounds, but also has enough movement skills to navigate the pocket effectively. He now becomes the face of the Jets franchise for the foreseeable future.

Round 1, Pick 28: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville 

Garrett Wilson is an awesome football player, but the Jets need a lot more playmakers on offense. Bell is a freaky athlete at over 6-1 and 227 pounds. Bell’s ability to win after the catch would be huge for this offense.

Round 2, Pick 36: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida 

If Banks didn’t get hurt, he had a chance to be a tremendous riser in the 2026 class. Banks is back now, and hoping to trend back upward down the stretch. At 6-6 and 330 pounds, Banks is an impressive athlete with unreal potential. This could end up being the biggest steal in this entire draft.

Round 2, Pick 45: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M

Lee began his career with Kansas State and has become a good performer for the Aggies in each of the last two seasons. He is a physical outside cornerback who understands how to use his length to his advantage.

That combination should allow Lee to start relatively early in his career.

Round 4, Pick 106: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois 

There isn’t anything flashy about Jacas, but he is a physical presence who does his best work as a run defender. He also has enough power and effort to impact the pass rush group as well, meaning that Jacas is going to play in the NFL for a very long time as a depth piece.

Round 5, Pick 177: Lander Barton, LB, Utah 

Barton is a modern linebacker with some old-school feel to his game. Utah has utilized him at MIKE, WILL, SAM, and off the edge at times. That versatility should provide a nice floor, as well as some upside to build with.

Round 6, Pick 195: Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama 

Hubbard is a throwback safety looking to make his physical presence known. He teeters on the line between being a tone-setter and being a bit reckless at times, but that style should play well on special teams.

Round 6, Pick 203: Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati 

A former Ohio State transfer, Royer has been an extremely productive player over the last two seasons for the Bearcats. Royer is a dense, tight end who profiles best as an H-Back, doing solid work on the move while showing effort as a blocker.

Round 6, Pick 212: Cooper Barkate, WR, Duke 

Barkate has quietly been another transfer portal success story coming over from Harvard this offseason. The 6-1, 200-pound pass catcher is an extremely nuanced player who has hauled in 55 receptions for 895 yards and six scores for the Blue Devils in 2025.

Round 6, Pick 216: Roman Hemby, RB, Indiana 

The former Maryland transfer is a one-gear runner who catches the ball pretty well. While there isn’t anything flashy about Hemby, he could have a good enough profile to potentially stick as a depth piece in a running back room.

Round 7, Pick 237: Ryan Baer, OG, Pittsburgh 

While Baer plays right tackle for Pittsburgh, he will have to move inside on the next level. He’s a physical blocker who needs to play in tighter spaces in order to stick long-term. 

Round 7, Pick 254: RJ Maryland, TE, SMU

Maryland is a pure move tight end who has a nice catch radius and smooth athleticism. You are never going to use him in-line, so Maryland’s path has to be as a pass game weapon and to also contribute on special teams. 

Round 7, Pick 256: Diego Pounds, OT, Ole Miss 

Pounds is a massive offensive tackle who brings a nice combination of power and foot quickness. From a technical perspective, however, he is an absolute mess, but there are still tools to work with.

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