2026 New York Jets Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 9 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: July 27, 2026Overview
New York Jets enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 9 selections. Biggest needs: Quarterback, Safety, Offensive Guard.
Complete Draft Class:Ohio State
— Grade A
Georgia
— Grade A-
Oregon
— Grade A-
Iowa
— Grade B
Clemson
— Grade B-
Miami
— Grade C
Virginia
— Grade C
Miami
— Grade C-
Minnesota
— Grade C+
View Full 3-Round Mock Draft →---
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #3 - New York Jets: Julian Sayin, Quarterback,
Ohio State
Rank: #9 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:Critical need filled. New York Jets desperately needed Quarterback help (need #1), and Julian Sayin was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:Julian Sayin brings immediate impact to New York Jets. Julian Sayin is the headlining quarterback of the 2027 NFL Draft class after one of the most efficient debut seasons in modern Big Ten history. A consensus five-star from Carlsbad (CA) and the consensus No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class,... His best trait—led fbs in completion percentage at 77.0% in 2025 on 9.2 ypa showing accuracy was not propped up by screens—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Bo Nix (undersized timing-based distributor with accuracy and processing)-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #13 - New York Jets: KJ Bolden, Safety,
Georgia
Rank: #13 overall | Grade: A- Trade: New York Jets acquired this pick from the Indianapolis Colts. Why This Pick:Critical need filled. New York Jets desperately needed Safety help (need #2), and KJ Bolden was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:KJ Bolden brings immediate impact to New York Jets. KJ Bolden has stepped into the role vacated by first-round pick Malaki Starks and looks like the next in Georgia's pipeline of NFL-ready safeties. A consensus five-star recruit out of Buford (GA) and one of the top safeties in the 2024 class, Bolden... His best trait—elite range and closing speed from deep middle, gets hash-to-sideline without wasted motion—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Malaki Starks (Georgia lineage, three-level versatility, range from deep middle)-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #16 - New York Jets: Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge Rusher,
Oregon
Rank: #18 overall | Grade: A- Trade: New York Jets acquired this pick from the Dallas Cowboys. Why This Pick:Addresses key depth concern. While Edge Rusher wasn't the top priority, Matayo Uiagalelei's talent at #18 overall was too good to pass up. Sometimes value trumps need.
The Fit:Matayo Uiagalelei brings immediate impact to New York Jets. Matayo Uiagalelei is a 6-foot-5, 272-pound edge with a rare blend of size, length, strength and explosiveness that has made him one of the headline prospects of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle. The younger brother of former Clemson and Oregon State quarterb... His best trait—rare size-length-strength blend at 6-foot-5, 272 with no bad weight and fluid movement—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Gregory Rousseau (long, versatile, multi-alignment edge who wins with length and bend over pure bend-speed)-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #35 - New York Jets: Kade Pieper, Offensive Guard,
Iowa
Rank: #47 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:Critical need filled. New York Jets desperately needed Offensive Guard help (need #3), and Kade Pieper was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:Kade Pieper brings immediate impact to New York Jets. Pieper is one of the more intriguing trench prospects on the 2027 radar, a redshirt junior interior lineman from Norfolk, Nebraska who broke out as Iowa's full-time right guard in 2025 after playing just 108 snaps as a roughly 275-pound backup the pr... His best trait—elite-level explosive athlete for the position, with a reported 4.13 shuttle and 37.4-inch vertical—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Tyler Linderbaum (Renner's stated comp-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #67 - New York Jets: Ashton Hampton, Cornerback,
Clemson
Rank: #59 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:Best player available. New York Jets needed Quarterback help, but Ashton Hampton (ranked #59) represents elite value here. You can't pass on top-tier talent when it falls to you.
The Fit:Ashton Hampton brings immediate impact to New York Jets. Ashton Hampton has emerged as one of the top 2027 cornerback prospects after a productive first season cracking Clemson's rotation, grading out as a top-5 corner in the cycle. A 6-2, 200-pound press corner from Tallahassee, Florida (Class of 2024 3-s... His best trait—prototype outside-cb length and frame at a listed 6-2, 200 with the speed to run with verticals—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Nate Wiggins (Clemson) long-strider press corner with takeoff speed-type player at the NFL level.
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Pick #103: Mark Fletcher Jr (Running Back,Miami
) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #143: McKale Boley (Offensive Guard,Virginia
) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #199: Elija Lofton (Tight End,Miami
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #208: Drake Lindsey (Quarterback,Minnesota
) - Grade C+. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
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Draft Class Summary
Overall Grade: B | 7 positions addressed across 9 picks.---