As the Jets move on from Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor and still see dead money in 2026 for Fields and Aaron Rodgers, the team is looking to the draft to help improve their quarterbacks room for cheap. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets general manager Darren Mougey met with Miami (FL) quarterback Carson Beck tonight and will attend the Hurricanes Pro Day in Coral Gables tomorrow. 
In a trade with the Raiders, New York recently reunited with Geno Smith, who should serve as a bridge option at quarterback. Since New York isn’t in a position to draft the only perceived difference maker at the position this year, it appears the team will look to take a flyer on a mid-round passer in the hopes they can strike gold on a young quarterback without dedicating a first-round pick in doing so.
Some have tied the team to the prospect widely seen as the consensus QB2 of the draft, Alabama’s Ty Simpson. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. even mocked the two together, a move Cimini was not a fan of. In support of his opinion, Cimini cited the litany of quarterbacks drafted high after fewer than 17 starts at the collegiate level. Aside from former MVP Cam Newton, the stories of small-sample passers like Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Anthony Richardson, Mitchell Trubisky, Blaine Gabbert, and Dwayne Haskins have all been tales of caution.
Cimini isn’t alone in his cautious outlook. There were several evaluators who wanted to see Simpson go back to school, especially after injury affected his play in the last half of the 2025 season. The same was said of Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who did decide to return to school and stands a better chance at becoming the top pick in the draft because of it.
Using that logic, it makes sense to see New York researching the group of arms just below Simpson. Instead of dedicating their 16th overall pick on Simpson, they could use a third- or fourth-round pick to take a cheaper chance at developing a young passer. The Jets hosted Penn State’s Drew Allar recently and followed up with Beck today. Beck and Allar have been grouped with LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier as the next level of prospects available at the position after Fernando Mendoza and Simpson.
Beck, unlike Simpson, has plenty of experience at the collegiate level. A backup for his first three years of school, Beck watched Stetson Bennett win back-to-back championships at Georgia before taking over as a starter himself. Unable to take the Bulldogs back to the title game in two years as the starter, Beck transferred to Miami and led the Hurricanes to their first title game appearance in 23 years. He ended his college career with a starting record of 37-6, throwing 88 touchdowns (and rushing for seven) and 32 interceptions.
Mougey and Co. will watch Beck and several other Hurricanes projected to hear their names called next month — offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and pass rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor have all been projected as first-rounders — before continuing on to Ohio State on Wednesday, where a number of defenders — linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs — have been rumored options for the Jets at No. 2 overall.
I keep saying that at least one of these non first round QBs in this year’s draft will turn out to be a very good player in the NFL.
It’s just that nobody knows who it will be.
Maybe more than one lmao but I agree
It’s just interesting compared to other years because this draft is full of QBs who were hyped as surefire stars before the season started, and only two of them went back to school for next year.
There’s sleepers and suprises in every draft. This is first one in a while where damn near everyone is a wildcard maybe even Mendoza too to an extent
That’s what makes it so interesting.
Usually the sleepers and surprises weren’t hyped as surefire first or at worst second rounders prior to the season. They’re guys who almost nobody would have projected that much higher than they ended up going.
That’s why last year’s draft was so unique and why this year’s is unique in a completely different way.
Or maybe at times NFL coaching doesn’t properly develop or fully unlock a 1st-round talent… It happens
It’s gonna be wild for sure
Jets might be smart to draft Beck as he looks as if he has a big chip on his shoulder as far as wanting to belong and excel in the league….
Yes, because most drafted players are pretty blasé about the entire making an impression and becoming successful in the NFL thing.
Kids today, I’m telling you.
Really? This is the same Beck that ran from competition in Georgia. He could have entered the draft last year but didn’t because he was handed a starting position at Miami. On top of that has openly admitted he did not attend class. That is who they should draft?
Uh Beck isn’t the 1st college football player that didn’t attend classes. Many nfl players skipped classes to major in Football!
I hope this isn’t like a Santa Claus moment, but, as a former university professor, I can tell you that the average college football player doesn’t go to class.
They have practice, they have team meetings, they have travel, they meet with their agents, they meet with the sponsors, they meet with the wealthy alumni, they do interviews, they do NIL appearances, and, well, gosh, the truth is, very, very few of them are attending college to get an education.
They’re visiting college as a tryout camp for the NFL.
Carson Beck admitting he didn’t go to class, is Carson Beck saying the quiet part out loud.
Only the ones that know they are going to make it in the NFL skip class. Those like Beck who were never guaranteed NFL success need to go to class. I think the posters point was Beck showed do dedication or leadership by not going to class. I was a student manager with Ball State and more of the players go to class than you think.
Your point is well taken, but I think the players that are the focus of sites like this one, are those very same people that are “next level” dedicated, and not on the education track.
Are we agreed on that point?
Imho- I think the Jets will draft Beck- instead of Allar due to the franchise experience of drafting Christian Hacklenberg from Penn St in the 2016 NFL Draft- the same Draft the Jets could have drafted Dak Prescott- instead the Jets have trashed Sam Donald in 2018 and Zac Wilson in 2021. Hopefully it ends with Beck in bringing the Jets back to reverlancy!
Beck is just being open- because it’s been a practice long before NIL- Many college football players skip classes to major in Football!
I hope the Jets draft him so we can see Abella Danger in the stands