With the NFL Draft being over two months away, all mock drafts at this time are only speculation and entertainment. The teams still have to go through free agency that will one way or another affect every team’s needs before the Draft. The Jets, who have #6 pick overall, are as always in need of a franchise quarterback. They are also projected to have close to $100M of salary cap space that should enable them to go after Washington’s QB Kirk Cousins. If the Gang Green do land Cousins, landing a franchise quarterback through the Draft will no longer be their number one priority. But for now, pretty much every Mock Draft has Todd Bowles’ team drafting a quarterback in the first round.
CBS Sports, Version 1
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
New Jets offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was in Denver during the early stages of Jay Cutler's career. It's not hard to draw physical parallels between the two quarterbacks.
CBS Sports, Version 2
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
They drafted two safeties a year ago, so now they get a corner who is a playmaker from a top defense. If they don't land a quarterback in free agency, Baker Mayfield could be in play here.
NFL.com
Baker Mayfield, QB, Alabama
Will Mayfield have the best NFL career of any QB in this class?
USA Today
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
After the Bills jump ahead of their AFC East rivals to snipe Mayfield, the Jets are forced to go back to the drawing board and take value over need. With a rare talent like Barkley still on the board, it’s impossible for the Jets to pass up arguably the best overall player in the draft, despite bigger needs elsewhere on both sides of the ball.
Washington Post
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Rosen is a polarizing prospect, but he seems to be more suited for the bright lights in New York than Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. In his tenure as GM, Mike Maccagnan already made one major reach when the Jets took Christian Hackenberg in the second round in 2016. The former Penn State quarterback was a project, remains a project and may always be a project. Allen isn’t quite the project Hackenberg is but there’s a lot of work that must be done to get him ready to be the face of the Jets franchise. Rosen is a bit more plug-and-play and a better option for Maccagnan, who must get the Jets back in contention soon.
NBC Sports
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
The Jets were flirting with a quarterback in the 2017 draft. Most assume they were set on tanking away this season to set themselves up for one. Apparently, the other New York team stole their plan. We'll see which passing options are available. Otherwise, Fitzpatrick's potential at safety or cornerback could be transformative for Todd Bowles's defense.
Rotoworld
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
In this scenario the Jets end up with Kirk Cousins. Outside of the Browns, the Jets currently have the most cap space ($73 million) among QB-needy teams with the ability to clear even more. I like Bilal Powell, the Jets like Matt Forte, but both are nearing the end of their guaranteed money.
Sporting News
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Jets need a quarterback unless they want to roll the dice with Christian Hackenberg again. Josh Allen may fit the type of quarterback they’ve drafted before, but Mayfield is the better NFL passer. New York met with both extensively at the Senior Bowl.
Even though the next season is many months away, numerous sportsbooks are already accepting bets on the 2018 season. Sportsbook reviews help select betting places that suit your needs and have the best odds. The Jets are still +10,000 to win the next Super Bowl but the odds could rapidly change if the Jets were to land Kirk Cousins and some other prized free agents.