It’s never too early to look ahead to the next NFL draft.
Well, at least some NFL fans are on board with that statement. On the other hand, many fans consider it absurd to look at mock drafts nearly a year in advance, but considering you’re reading this article, perhaps you are not one of those fans.
Twelve days after the opening night of the 2026 NFL draft, there is already a consensus 2027 mock draft available at NFL Mock Draft Database, which comprises selections from 54 mock drafts across the media landscape.
Based on betting odds, the New York Jets are projected to select third overall in the much-anticipated draft, which is expected to feature a large collection of first-round-worthy quarterback prospects. So, who are the Jets expected to select as of May 5, 2026?
Here are the top 10 picks of the consensus mock draft.
- Miami Dolphins: Arch Manning, QB, Texas (66%)
- Arizona Cardinals: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (40%)
- New York Jets: CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (11%)
- Cleveland Browns: Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (28%)
- Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (35%)
- Tennessee Titans: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame (46%)
- New Orleans Saints: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas (41%)
- Carolina Panthers: Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon (8%)
- Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU (50%)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: David Stone, DL, Oklahoma (33%)
The consensus has the Jets selecting Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr with the third overall pick, although it is far from a widely agreed-upon choice, with Carr garnering just 11% of the picks.
Texas’ Arch Manning is actually the most commonly mocked quarterback to New York, comprising 33% of picks, but he is expected to be taken first overall by the Miami Dolphins.
Carr, 20, is entering his redshirt sophomore season at Notre Dame. After redshirting his freshman year, Carr won Notre Dame’s starting job in 2025. In 12 starts, Carr led the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 record, completing 195 of 293 passes (66.6%) for 2,741 yards (9.4 per attempt), 24 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns.
A four-star recruit from Saline, Mich., Carr faces high expectations entering the 2026 season after his breakout year. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback leads a Fighting Irish squad that currently has the second-best odds to win the 2026 National Championship Game.
In one year, it will be fascinating to look back at the idea of New York selecting Carr with the third pick. If we rewind to this point in 2025, it wasn’t uncommon to see the Jets projected to select Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
As it turns out, Klubnik was indeed drafted by the Jets—just three rounds later than expected. A nightmarish 2025 season tanked Klubnik’s draft stock from a potential No. 1 pick to a Day 3 dart-throw.
South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers was another quarterback commonly mocked to the Jets in the summer of 2025. Sellers ended up having a down year, prompting him to return to Columbia for the 2026 season.
The 2027 quarterback class is generating immense hype, but it is important to realize that one college football season can change everything. Touted prospects can see their stock fall off a cliff. Meanwhile, breakout prospects can come out of nowhere to demand the NFL’s attention, as Fernando Mendoza did.
It is never wise to assume that a future draft class will be particularly strong or weak when there is still another season of football to be played. Nonetheless, it is fascinating to take the early temperature of the upcoming draft class, if for no other reason than to be able to look back and see how close or far the projections were.
