The start of summer scouting and prospect evaluation for the following April’s draft is always daunting. Hell, we have not even started the 2026 NFL season yet.
I know it takes a certain level of sicko NFL draft obsession to jump in a full 10 months ahead of time, but alas, here I am. And here you are, which means you must be as much of a draft sicko as yours truly.
The 2027 NFL draft class is already looking like one of the best I’ve seen in years. While everyone’s going to be obsessing over the quarterbacks, the talent everywhere else is just as wild. For the New York Jets, this is a huge opportunity to add another two or three foundational pieces to the roster Aaron Glenn is building.
Yes, I understand that nothing matters if you don’t get the QB right, but we are going to discuss the QB class in this cycle ad infinitum, so let’s visit some of the other channels and save those QB arguments for another day.
If Darren Mougey and AG stick to their guns and continue building a team around toughness, explosiveness, and pure physicality, these are the five guys I think should be right at the top of their radar, and Jets fans need to start familiarizing themselves with them.
1. Dylan Stewart | EDGE | South Carolina
If the Jets want to make their defensive front even more relentless after drafting David Bailey, Dylan Stewart is the guy.
I know it is very early in the process, but Stewart is arguably the best edge defender in this class, with that rare mix of a lightning-fast first step and the kind of bend around the corner you just can’t teach. He plays with a motor that never quits.
In Aaron Glenn’s system, which loves to get home with just four rushers, Stewart is a dream fit. When you add in that Kingsley Enagbare is on a one-year deal, and the future of Will McDonald is unclear after the 2026 season, edge could yet again be a big need for the Jets come the 2027 draft.
If I have learned anything in all my years as a football fan, it’s that you can never have enough edge rushers on your squad, no matter what.
Jets Fit: ★★★★★
2. Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State
I’ll say it: Jeremiah Smith might be the best overall player in this entire draft.
He’s 6-foot-3, fast as hell, and has some of the most ridiculous ball skills I’ve seen from a college prospect. He looks like a true No. 1 receiver from day one. For a Jets offense that’s always looking for that next game-changer, Smith is exactly the kind of franchise player who can take a whole passing game to the next level.
There is a large contingent of Jets fans who are not sold on the AD Mitchell experience (for the record, I am not in that camp), but even the biggest Mitchell stans will tell you it is hard not to think Smith would be a huge upgrade as the X receiver.
He is not a perfect prospect—his route running can look clunky at times. Still, the physicality he plays with, his RAC ability, and the body control he displays are in Julio Jones territory.
Jets Fit: ★★★★★
3. Austin Siereveld | IOL | Ohio State
You win championships in the trenches, and Austin Siereveld is a beast on the interior.
For those who like Vega Ioane, there are many similarities between their games. Siereveld lands in the 90th percentile for height/weight at the position, standing 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds. He manned the LT position last year, but is a natural interior OL, and that is where I think he’ll land at the next level. He’s incredibly strong but moves surprisingly well for his size. He’s a mauler in the run game and a wall in pass protection, and has violent and dominating hands.
The Jets have invested a lot in the line lately, with high draft capital spent on Olu Fashanu, Armand Membou, and Joe Tippmann, but you can never have enough dominant blockers. He’d be perfect for keeping the pocket clean for your 2027 QB and establishing that mauling, physical identity the team wants in the run game.
Jets Fit: ★★★★☆
4. David Stone | DT | Oklahoma
Elite defensive tackles are worth their weight in gold, and David Stone has a massive ceiling. Just 20 years old and standing 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds, he plays with explosive quickness and heavy hands that let him blow up plays before they even start.
Stone carries elite power and core strength that allow him to anchor against the run and torque offensive linemen with what seems like little effort. Whether he’s penetrating the backfield or eating up double teams, he’s a true three-down disruptor.
If the Jets ever need to reload the middle of that defense, Stone is the kind of anchor you can build around for a decade. Harrison Phillips is in a contract year, and newcomer David Oneymata is on the wrong side of 30, so a force at 3-tech is something that will be discussed in the war room, especially when you currently have three first-round picks.
The film I have seen of Stone so far reminds me a lot of another DT who Jets fans are very familiar with: Quinnen Williams.
Jets Fit: ★★★★☆
5. Tae Johnson | Safety | Notre Dame
Versatility is the name of the game in today’s NFL, and that’s what Tae Johnson brings. He’s got the range to play deep, the smarts to read the QB, and he’s not afraid to stick his nose in the run game.
Johnson also does something that the Jets seem to be allergic to: he turns the ball over, recording 4 INTs and 2 fumble recoveries in 2025.
Aaron Glenn asks a lot of his safeties: he needs them to be positionally versatile, be able to disguise coverages, and make adjustments on the fly. Johnson fits the bill. His high-end athleticism and football IQ make him a natural fit for a safety in AG’s mold.
Minkah Fitzpatrick and Malachi Moore may be the starters for now, but a guy like Johnson would make the room a lot better. The idea of having Fitzpatrick in the slot as the big nickel, with Johnson playing center field and Moore or VJ Payne in the box, should be really enticing for the Jets in 2027.
Jets Fit: ★★★★☆
My Take
Even though we’re still a way out from the 2027 draft, this class is already looking special. If the Jets keep focusing on physical, explosive, high-character guys, any of these five would be home-run picks.
Whether it’s a dominant pass rusher or a superstar wideout, the 2027 class is loaded with the kind of players who can keep this team contending for a long time. It is shaping up to be the perfect time to have three first-round picks.
