After an embarrassing 2025 season, New York Jets fans have shifted all of their focus to April and the NFL draft.
The Jets own two first-round picks and two second-round selections, all inside the top 45—valuable capital for a roster still searching for a long-term quarterback and facing holes across nearly every position group.
Still, the franchise’s reputation entering the draft remains the same. Around the league, New York continues to be viewed as a dysfunctional organization, and a 3-14 finish under a first-year head coach only strengthened that label.
Longtime ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, now with The Ringer, made that clear while discussing Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who is expected to be a top pick in April. McShay claims Moore’s agents should explore whether he could go No. 1 overall to Las Vegas and, if that path is unavailable, advise Moore to return to school rather than risk being drafted by the Jets.
“I promise you no single player in this draft wants to be a New York Jet,” McShay said.
McShay pointed to Jets ownership as the main reason agents want their clients nowhere near New York. He also cited a lack of belief around the league in the team’s coaching staff and its ability to develop a young quarterback.
It’s difficult to criticize McShay for those comments.
Organizationally, the Jets have yet to show they can properly develop a rookie quarterback, and this regime’s quarterback evaluation has been lackluster. They signed Justin Fields to a two-year deal with $30 million guaranteed last offseason, only to bench him after a 2-7 start that saw him play some of the worst football of his career.
There is also an alternative on the table for Moore. If he can push Oregon into the national championship picture, Moore could be in line for a top-tier NIL deal. At just 20 years old, with only one full season of starting experience, Moore has the luxury of time.
If the choice is between declaring for the draft and landing with the Jets or returning to school for a massive NIL payday and an opportunity to make more college starts, it is easy to see why Moore might decide to stay in college.
However, the financial security of being selected with a top-two pick in the NFL draft is difficult to pass up, even if it lands you with a team like the Jets.
The deadline for most college players to declare for the NFL draft was Monday, but since Moore, among other top quarterbacks, led his team to the College Football Playoff, he will have until Jan. 23 to make a decision on whether he will stay another year in college or go to the next level.
