2026 NFL Mock Draft: Should Heisman Trophy Favorite Fernando Mendoza Go No. 1?

The New York Giants and the New York Jets may share a stadium, but proximity has not led to many trades between the city rivals over the years. Sure, there was the swap of defensive tackle Leonard Williams back in 2019 and Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells famously took both clubs to the postseason. But otherwise, the two clubs have largely treated each other as just another occasional out-of-conference opponent.  

The cold shoulder could melt this spring, however, with the Giants seemingly poised to "earn" a top-three selection and the Jets both desperate for a spark at quarterback and flush with draft picks. 

Their projected trade — along with a certain Heisman Trophy finalist — is where our latest mock draft begins.

The Jets traded their two best players — cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams – to kick-start a roster rebuild midway through this season. Now, the club has two first-round picks in 2026 and three more in 2027, giving general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn the draft capital to do whatever they want. Sure, the club could opt to wait until 2027 to draft a quarterback — as next year’s class appears richer than this one — but with no guarantee that either will have a job if the Jets fail to get off the ground next season, a more aggressive and immediate strategy seems likelier. 

The Jets need only look to Drake Maye and the New England Patriots atop their own AFC East division to be reminded how quickly a franchise can be turned around with a stellar young quarterback. Mendoza isn’t the no-brainer franchise quarterback that sometimes leads off a draft class, but his prototypical size, mobility, lightning-quick release and leadership make him this year’s surest