The Jets enter the offseason with valuable draft capital, holding the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. They also own the first selection in Round 2 (No. 33 overall) and have the Cowboys' No. 44 pick.
Wednesday was the final day for all college players, aside from those competing in the CFP National Championship game next week, to declare their intent to enter the draft. With several top prospects announcing their decisions over the last several weeks, here is a look at the current talent pool.
Quarterback Landscape
QB Dante Moore announced on Wednesday that he will return to Oregon for his final year of college eligibility. Prior to the announcement, Moore (6-3, 206) was considered one of the top prospects at the position alongside Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (6-5, 225), the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. Mendoza, who will play in the CFP National Championship game next week with Indiana, remains a top prospect.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson (6-2, 208), who spent four seasons with the Crimson Tide and declared for the draft earlier this week, has also been discussed as a potential first-round selection. In his first year as a full-time starter at Alabama in 2025, Simpson completed 305 passes for 3,567 yards and 28 TDs. He threw just 5 career INTs across 523 attempts, setting the school record for lowest interception percentage.
Check out the best black and white photos from the 2025 Jets season.
Ohio State Trio
Various media outlets have projected Ohio State standouts LB Arvell Reese, WR Carnell Tate and S Caleb Downs -- who each declared for the draft last week -- to be top-10 selections in April.
Reese (6-4, 243), a three-year player for the Buckeyes, finished the 2025 season with 69 tackles, 10 TFL and 6.5 sacks. In 30 games at Ohio State, Reese totaled 112 tackles, 13.5 TFL and 7 sacks. The dual-threat LB, who earned consensus All-American status, was an integral member of the No. 1-ranked Ohio State defense that allowed just 9.3 points per game in 2025.
Tate (6-3, 195), who boasts elite contested-catch ability, appeared in 39 games for the Buckeyes across 3 seasons and totaled 121 receptions for 1,872 yards and 14 TDs. The 2025 season was the most productive of Tate's career when he finished with 875 receiving yards and 9 TDs (17.2 yards per catch/72.9 yards per game).
Downs (6-0, 205) transferred to Ohio State after earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2023 at Alabama. A two-time unanimous All-American, Downs was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for 2025 after recording 68 tackles, 2 FF, 2 INTs and 1 sack. He also earned the Jim Thorpe Award given to the top defensive back in college football. In April, Downs could be the first safety picked in the top 10 since the Green & White selected Jamal Adams at No. 6 in 2017.
Top Playmakers
Offensively, other top prospects include Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and USC WR Makai Lemon.
In 2025, Love (6-0, 214) was a Heisman Trophy finalist and won the Doak Walker Award recognizing the top college football running back. Love totaled 1,372 rushing yards and 18 TDs across 12 game appearances, and he added 27 receptions for three more scores in 2025.
Lemon (5-11, 195) played three seasons at USC, appearing in 33 games and leading the team in receiving yards in both 2024 and 2025. Lemon, who won the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the top wide receiver in 2025, recorded 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 13 total TDs (11 receiving, 2 rushing) during his 2025 campaign.
