New York Jets finally land their franchise QB, his new best friend, and a defensive makeover in 7-round 2027 NFL mock draft
New York Jets land an insane haul during the latest 7-round 2027 NFL mock draft. It sets the organization up for great future success.
The New York Jets have plenty of work to do if they want to turn things around, but the 2027 NFL Draft could provide an opportunity to make significant progress.
In this edition of the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Simulator, the Jets come away with nine selections, including three first-round picks. The biggest priority is finding a long-term answer at quarterback, but New York also uses this draft to add talent to its secondary, linebacker corps, receiving room, and both sides of the offensive and defensive lines.
The Jets have an opportunity to address several needs with this collection of picks. Here is how their simulated draft class comes together.
Round 1, Pick No. 4: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Quarterback of the future?
The Jets finally take a swing at finding their franchise quarterback, selecting Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker with the fourth overall pick.
Mestemaker has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football over the past two seasons. He first made a name for himself at North Texas, putting together an outstanding 2025 campaign in which he threw for 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns. He led the FBS in passing yards and earned American Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.
His production has carried over to Oklahoma State following his transfer. Through nine games in 2026, Mestemaker has thrown for 2,962 yards and 29 touchdowns against eight interceptions while completing 66.7% of his passes.
At 6-foot-3, Mestemaker has the frame NFL teams look for at the position. He has demonstrated the ability to push the football downfield, generate explosive plays, and operate an offense capable of putting up significant passing numbers.
The Jets desperately need some stability at quarterback, and this selection would give the organization a young passer to build around. Mestemaker still has areas of his game to develop, but his production and ability to create big plays make him an intriguing prospect.
There is always pressure that comes with being a top-five quarterback selection, particularly for an organization that has struggled to find its answer at the position. However, the Jets cannot afford to keep searching without taking meaningful swings. Mestemaker would represent their latest attempt to find a franchise quarterback.
Round 1, Pick No. 6: Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
The Jets don’t stop with the quarterback position. They use their second first-round selection to address the secondary, bringing Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton into the fold.
Hampton has an intriguing combination of size, length, and athletic ability. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he has the physical profile to match up with bigger receivers on the outside.
He’s also been productive throughout his Clemson career. Entering the 2026 season, Hampton had accumulated 77 tackles, 17 pass breakups and three interceptions across his first two seasons. He earned Freshman All-American recognition in 2024 and has continued to elevate his game this fall.
His 2026 performance has earned him midseason All-American recognition and a spot as a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.
For the Jets, this is an opportunity to add another potential long-term starter to a defense that needs continued investment. Hampton’s size and ability to compete at the catch point give him an appealing skill set for the outside cornerback position.
New York would already have a potential cornerstone for its secondary with this selection, and adding another young defensive back gives the coaching staff more flexibility moving forward.
Round 1, Pick No. 10: Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
Three first-round selections give the Jets an opportunity to make a serious impact on their roster, and they use their final pick of the opening round to select Georgia linebacker Chris Cole.
Cole has the athletic profile of a modern NFL linebacker. At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, he has the size to handle responsibilities between the tackles while possessing the speed to make plays from sideline to sideline.
His role in Georgia’s defense has continued to expand, and the production has followed. After recording 60 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2025, Cole has taken another step forward this season.
Through eight games in 2026, he’s recorded 49 tackles, 11 tackles for loss or no gain, 3.5 sacks, and three fumble recoveries. He’s also found the end zone twice on defensive touchdowns.
What makes Cole particularly interesting is his versatility. He can contribute against the run, generate pressure as a blitzer, and offer value in coverage. That athleticism gives an NFL defensive coordinator several ways to utilize him.
There are still parts of his game that need refinement, particularly when it comes to diagnosing running plays and consistently working through blockers. Those are areas where additional coaching and experience could help.
The Jets would be adding another young defensive building block with the potential to develop into a three-down linebacker.
Round 2, Pick No. 37: Reed Harris, WR, Arizona State
After addressing quarterback and the defense with their first three selections, the Jets finally turn their attention to the wide receiver position.
Arizona State’s Reed Harris would be an interesting addition to an offense that needs to give its potential quarterback of the future more weapons.
Harris has been one of the more productive receivers in college football this season. Through nine games, he’s recorded 52 receptions for 907 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 17.4 yards per catch.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver began his college career at Boston College before transferring to Arizona State. He put together a productive 2025 campaign with the Eagles, finishing with 39 receptions for 673 yards and five touchdowns.
His physical profile immediately stands out. Harris has the size to create matchup problems against smaller defensive backs, and his ability to make plays downfield gives an offense another dimension.
This selection makes plenty of sense for New York. If the Jets are committing to Mestemaker as their quarterback of the future, surrounding him with talent needs to become a priority.
Harris would give the rookie quarterback a big-bodied target capable of winning contested catches and stretching the field. The two could potentially develop into an important part of the Jets’ offensive plans moving forward.
Round 3, Pick No. 68: Desmeal Leigh, OT, Youngstown State
The Jets address the offensive line in the third round, selecting Youngstown State offensive tackle Desmeal Leigh.
Leigh is an intriguing developmental prospect who has taken an unconventional path to becoming an NFL Draft candidate. He wasn’t a highly recruited high school player and originally joined Youngstown State as a walk-on.
He’s made the most of that opportunity.
At 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, Leigh has the size NFL teams covet at offensive tackle. He started all 13 games at left tackle for Youngstown State in 2025, earning second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference recognition. He was also named to the 2027 Senior Bowl Top 300 list.
Leigh has shown promise in pass protection, although his overall game still needs development as he prepares for the jump to the professional level. He could potentially compete inside early in his NFL career.
The Jets have already invested in their offensive line, particularly with young tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou. That doesn’t mean the organization should stop adding competition and depth, especially with a powerful profile that could help on the interior.
Leigh would provide another developmental option with the physical tools to compete for a roster spot. There’s work to be done, but the third round is a reasonable place to take a chance on an offensive tackle with his size and experience.
Round 4, Pick No. 108: LJ Martin, RB, BYU
The Jets add another offensive weapon in the fourth round, selecting BYU running back LJ Martin.
Martin is coming off an outstanding 2025 season in which he rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. His performance earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and first-team All-Big 12 recognition.
At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Martin has the frame to handle a substantial workload. He’s a powerful runner who can make defenders miss and has demonstrated the ability to produce consistently when given opportunities.
He’s also been efficient in limited action during the 2026 season. Through five games, Martin has rushed for 363 yards and four touchdowns on 51 carries, averaging an impressive 7.1 yards per attempt.
This is a worthwhile addition for the Jets regardless of how their running back situation looks heading into 2027.
Adding another talented back would give the offense more options while taking some of the pressure off Mestemaker. Martin has the potential to become a productive piece of an NFL backfield.
Round 5, Pick No. 144: Taylor Wein, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Jets return to the defensive side of the football in the fifth round, selecting Oklahoma edge rusher Taylor Wein.
Wein started generating significant attention during the 2025 season, recording seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss. He established himself as a disruptive presence along the Sooners’ defensive front and showed the ability to create problems for opposing offenses.
Listed at approximately 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Wein has the size to compete along the edge at the next level. His first-step quickness and ability to generate pressure make him an interesting developmental prospect.
He hasn’t matched his sack production from a year ago, recording 1.5 sacks through the available 2026 season statistics, but there’s still an opportunity for him to develop into a productive pass rusher.
The Jets can never have too much pass-rushing talent, particularly when trying to build a defense capable of competing with some of the better offenses in the AFC.
A fifth-round selection is a reasonable opportunity to take a chance on Wein’s upside. He could provide rotational pass-rushing help while developing behind more experienced players.
Round 6, Pick No. 185: DJ Hicks, DT, Texas A&M
New York continues adding to its defensive front by selecting Texas A&M defensive tackle DJ Hicks in the sixth round.
Hicks entered college with plenty of recruiting attention after being rated a five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. He’s spent his entire college career at Texas A&M, working his way through a deep defensive line rotation.
He put together his most productive season in 2025, recording three sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
At approximately 6-foot-3 and 293 pounds, Hicks has the physical profile to compete along the interior defensive line. His recruiting background and experience competing in the SEC make him an interesting late-round option.
The biggest question surrounding Hicks is whether he can turn his physical ability into consistent production at the next level. He hasn’t been a full-time starter throughout his college career, so there’s still some projection involved.
However, the sixth round is an appropriate time to take a chance on a player with his athletic ability and background. The Jets would be adding another young body to their defensive line while giving Hicks an opportunity to develop into a rotational contributor.
Round 6, Pick No. 202: Christian Gray, CB, Notre Dame
The Jets finish their draft by returning to the secondary, selecting Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray.
Gray has been a consistent contributor throughout his time in South Bend, earning starting opportunities and developing into an experienced defensive back.
The 6-foot, 196-pound cornerback entered the 2026 season with 53 career tackles, 21 pass breakups and three interceptions. He was particularly productive in 2025, recording two interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
Gray has continued to see significant playing time this season, starting multiple games for the Irish. His experience competing in a program that consistently develops NFL-caliber defensive talent is another positive.
He isn’t necessarily the biggest or most physically imposing cornerback in this draft class, but he has experience against quality competition and understands what it takes to compete in coverage.
For the Jets, this is a worthwhile late-round addition. They already addressed the position with Hampton in the first round, but adding another cornerback provides additional depth and competition.
Gray has an opportunity to develop into a rotational defensive back while contributing on special teams.
Final thoughts: Jets address several major needs with nine selections
This is an interesting draft class for the Jets, particularly because of the investment in the quarterback position and the defensive side of the football.
Everything starts with the fourth overall selection of Drew Mestemaker. Finding a franchise quarterback can change the trajectory of an organization, and the Jets would be betting that his tremendous college production translates to the NFL.
The addition of Ashton Hampton and Chris Cole in the first round would give the defense two more young players with significant upside. Reed Harris is another important selection because the Jets need to surround their potential franchise quarterback with legitimate weapons.
There are also some developmental additions along both lines, along with another running back and additional depth in the secondary.
My favorite selections: Drew Mestemaker, Ashton Hampton and Reed Harris.
Biggest question mark: Desmeal Leigh. He has intriguing physical tools, but making the jump from Youngstown State to the NFL is a significant challenge. His development will be worth monitoring.
Ultimately, the Jets would walk away with nine players at important positions, including a potential franchise quarterback. There are no guarantees that every selection will work out, but this is the type of draft class that could give the organization some much-needed building blocks.
The biggest question, as always, is whether Mestemaker can become the answer at quarterback. If he does, the rest of this class could look even better in the years ahead.
This mock draft was created using the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Simulator. The selections reflect the simulator’s results and are not intended to represent a prediction of where these players will ultimately be drafted.
