With the second overall pick, the Jets are almost guaranteed to lose out on Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who’s projected to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. After Mendoza, no quarterback is worth taking at two, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson may not be available in round two. Unless New York can hit on a quarterback later in the Draft, Geno Smith will likely be the starter next season.

Smith turns 36 next season and is coming off a year in which he led the NFL in interceptions with 17. The Jets cannot rely on him as the future at quarterback and will likely be searching for their franchise guy in the 2027 Draft. With that in mind, New York may be better served by building the offense, even at the expense of being competitive next season.

The Jets also have the 16th pick due to the Sauce Gardner trade, and should spend that pick on an offensive player. The second pick will likely be used on defense, given the talent that will be available, meaning New York should use 16 and at least one of their two second-round picks on offense. With both tackle spots covered, if New York can come away with a receiver and a guard with their first four picks, the offense will be nearly set. Running back Breece Hall is playing on the franchise tag, and extending him should be a priority. Having an established offense for a rookie quarterback to come into is crucial to their long-term confidence and development.

Prioritizing offense may mean passing on the best player available, especially at some defensive positions the Jets need, including cornerback and linebacker. While this may not help them win games next year, given Smith’s limitations, losing games may yield better long-term results. In addition to their own first-round pick next year, they also own the Indianapolis Colts’ and the better of the Green Bay Packers’ and Dallas Cowboys’ picks. The Colts were one of the best teams in the NFL last year before Daniel Jones’ injury, and the Packers and Cowboys are perennial playoff contenders. If the Jets are competitive, they may find themselves without a top-10 pick and missing out on the top quarterbacks in next year’s class.