2026 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-round mock draft sends Heisman frontrunner to AFC East

The New York Jets make a bold move in ESPN’s latest mock draft, trading up to No. 1 overall to select Indiana star quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported this weekend that there's "already a growing buzz" about the Jets being linked to Indiana star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but there's still a question as to whether he's worthy of a top-10 pick. However, a longtime personnel executive suggested that the team could overlook that question in hopes of fixing their longtime quarterback woes.

"When you're desperate, you can create a guy," the exec told Cimini. "There's enough with Mendoza to do that."

In a recent ESPN mock draft, Matt Miller mapped out an aggressive scenario in which the Jets would package both of their 2026 first-round picks — including the one acquired in the Sauce Gardner trade — along with a 2027 second-rounder to move up to No. 1 and select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

“Armed with two first-round picks and an additional second-round pick in 2026 thanks to the deadline trades of cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, the Jets are moving up to Tennessee’s spot at No. 1 in this mock draft,” wrote Miller. “Since the Titans used their 2025 No. 1 pick on quarterback Cam Ward, they could be persuaded to move down and accumulate draft capital to build around their young QB.”

In this deal, the Jets would send both of their first-round picks (Nos. 4 and 28) and their 2027 second-round pick to Tennessee for the draft’s first selection.

“Jets general manager Darren Mougey didn’t load up on draft capital by trading away Gardner and Williams to watch teams pick quarterbacks ahead of him. So I had the Jets aggressively move up for Mendoza, a pocket passer with great touch and timing who can carve up a defense with surgical accuracy while providing enough mobility to execute on the move,” the longtime draft analyst wrote.

Mendoza might not be in Caleb Williams’ class in terms of top QB prospects over the past five years, but he’s the best in this class and the Jets have to take a swing at the position. Justin Fields was just benched, and Tyrod Taylor isn’t the long-term answer,” he continued. “Mendoza’s 30 touchdown passes to five interceptions shows how careful he is with the football.”

The Hoosiers (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) likely locked up a second straight College Football Playoff berth. They will find out Saturday whether they will play No. 1 Ohio State, No. 6 Oregon or No. 15 Michigan a week later for the conference title.