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00:00The Jets, they hold the number two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and once again, everything comes back to the quarterback position. We do know that with Oregon's Dante Moore and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza having gone head to head in the college football playoff semifinal. The spotlight is only getting brighter on what direction this Jets franchise should go. So what should the Jets do if they're on the clock with a chance to draft their next quarterback? Can this organization be trusted to develop one? And are there other options that fans should be paying attention to?
00:29For that conversation and answers to those questions, I'm joined by WFAN producer and host, also the voice behind the new series, 40 Days and 40 Nights, it's my guy, EJ Stewart. Also should be noted, a long-suffering Jets fan. Hear me now, EJ, what's going on, man? How you doing?
00:46Yeah, can you put a long in all capital letters? Yes, we can do that. Long as in 30-plus years? Yeah, let's do that. Doing great, man.
00:53I'm glad you're good, man. We can absolutely do that. Long-suffering, and I know you want to see some good change. I know you want to see the Jets.
00:59Get a quarterback. Also, the thing I know about you is you are a big college football fan, so I felt like you were the perfect person to talk to about this.
01:06So, EJ, after watching that college football playoff semifinal the other night where Indiana, they handled Oregon, what stood out to you the most when you compared the performances of Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore,
01:17and how much should that one game on that stage influence the Jets' thinking at number two?
01:23Well, the one thing I thought was, kiss any chance of trading for the number one pick, goodbye.
01:29I think if you're a Las Vegas Raiders fan and you watch that game, I think you were like, you know what?
01:33I think we're going to just run to put that card in to select Fernando Mendoza.
01:37So any thought, and there were some conversations in draft circles about whether maybe the Raiders would consider Dante Moore,
01:42that's completely out of the window. And I don't think even a trade-up is going to be possible.
01:45So if you're the Jets, I think you watch that game, you say, OK, you know what?
01:49We're going to have to live with a non-Fernando Mendoza option here in the NFL draft.
01:54Now, does this mean that because Dante Moore had the first play pick six, which was mind-boggling,
01:59a lot of folks joking, like, oh, his Jets career is getting off to a great start here, throwing a pick six on the first play.
02:04I don't think you should go crazy over that. Indiana has been destroying everybody.
02:08They've been the best team in college football by far.
02:11So I don't think one game or one play should make you feel like Dante Moore is no good.
02:14But I do think if you watch that game, what I've been saying a bunch is I think Dante Moore is going to end up being a prospect
02:20that you could select them high, but you're going to need a veteran to probably start early on.
02:24I think the last thing you want to do is throw them into the fire, because if you do what you did in the past
02:29with your other older quarterbacks or Zach Wilson or Sam Darnold, they're going to look a lot like Dante Moore
02:34looked in that first game against Indiana.
02:38So that, to me, was the biggest thing was Dante Moore.
02:40You saw some of the throws that he was able to make in the next drive.
02:43They came back and later on in the game, he's got physical tools.
02:46I just think that it's going to take time for him to develop into quarterback that people
02:49and draft experts think he can be, he could possibly be.
02:52So that's a perfect segue of you just saying that EJ into where I wanted to go next,
02:55because we still have to see if Moore declares.
02:57And if he does declare for the draft and is sitting when the Jets pick second,
03:01as you believe that he will, do you believe that he's the type of talent that you're like,
03:06okay, you simply have to take him?
03:07Or is this a situation where the Jets need to be far more cautious, I'll say,
03:12than they've been in the past when it comes to selecting a quarterback this high?
03:16It's a great question.
03:17And the answer, I think it depends.
03:19I think if you're expecting Dante Moore to come in and be your savior next year
03:23and to turn what was a three-win team into a team that's competing for a wildcard spot
03:28or competing in the division, then I don't think that you should be drafting him.
03:31I think that he's a player that's going to need to sit, much like he did at Oregon,
03:35sitting behind Dylan Gabriel for a year before he took over the reins
03:39and took them one game further than Dylan Gabriel was going to take them.
03:43He was able to get them at least to the semifinal.
03:45Dylan Gabriel got eliminated in the quarterfinal.
03:47So Oregon didn't take a step up this year with Dante Moore,
03:50but that was after he sat a year.
03:52So to me, if you're expecting him to play immediately, then no,
03:55I don't think you should draft him.
03:57If you're doing that, then I would say take a defensive player
04:00and then go after a different guy.
04:01I love Trinidad Chambliss out of Ole Miss, and you got all these picks.
04:06You got multiple firsts.
04:07You got multiple seconds.
04:08I would maybe look towards him if you're saying that we are okay
04:12with having a quarterback come in and we're not trying to throw him into the fire.
04:16I think that's going to be the important thing.
04:18Now, if you're in a situation where you say, hey, we're willing to be patient
04:21and we know that we're going to have the veterans to support this guy,
04:24then yes, I think Dante Moore will be a great choice.
04:27All right.
04:27So the Jets, we know, they've got to try to get this right.
04:30And there's going to be a real conversation, EJ,
04:33about whether the Jets as an organization can be trusted to develop a young quarterback.
04:37So from your perspective, are they in a better place to do that now
04:41than they were, let's say, five or ten years ago?
04:43Or is that still the biggest red flag in this entire discussion
04:47when we're talking about the Jets selecting a quarterback?
04:50Can they be trusted to develop a young quarterback?
04:53Because from a lot of people, they're going to be like, look,
04:55we haven't seen it.
04:57Yeah, that's been all this conversation that, you know,
04:59Dante Moore or any quarterback that's in this draft,
05:01they should beg, beg, beg to not go to the New York Jets.
05:03And I challenge people to be like, find me a top pick that went to a great situation.
05:08I don't think Cam Ward walked into the 90s Cowboys when he went into the Titans.
05:13I don't think that Joe Burrow walked into the 80s 49ers when he arrived in Cincinnati.
05:17I mean, if you're drafted high, you're going to a bad team.
05:20So I don't quite really understand this idea that a quarterback should avoid bad organizations.
05:26There is no avoiding a bad organization if you're going to be drafted near the top of the NFL draft.
05:30I think with the Jets also, this is a lot different than when they drafted Sam Darnold.
05:34When they drafted Zach Wilson, those guys came to teams where the cover was completely, utterly bare.
05:41Where they came in, there were no receivers, there was no offensive line, there was no running game.
05:45Yes, the Jets were a terrible football team this year, but they actually have some of the foundational pieces you need to help support a young quarterback.
05:53You have a number one wide receiver in Gary Wilson.
05:55You have an offensive line that started all 17 games and has a lot of young talent, guys that definitely look like they'll be long-term NFL starters.
06:03And we'll see what ends up happening with Brees Hall.
06:06I know Darren Mugey says that he wants to bring him back.
06:08I think the Jets should bring him back, assuming that it's on a reasonable deal.
06:11You could have a decent running back, a number one wide receiver, and a young offensive line that's growing.
06:16What quarterback wouldn't want to play with that?
06:17I don't quite understand this logic.
06:19I think the Jets are actually in a great spot to develop a young quarterback.
06:22Now, the coaching is the biggest question mark.
06:24And we want to talk about Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrom.
06:28That's a whole other conversation.
06:29I like Tanner Engstrom.
06:30But I think a lot of the questions I would have would be not about the roster or the team around the young quarterback.
06:36Is this coaching staff going to be up to the task?
06:38You make some really good points there, EJ.
06:40I've got to say, because a lot of the talk around that is about, you know, the Jets being the Jets, right?
06:44The whole is not easy being green.
06:45They have not done this.
06:47But to your point, there are pieces there where a young quarterback, if it's the right fit, could succeed.
06:53And sometimes you get in situations, Cam Ward, you just mentioned, goes to the Titans.
06:57Maybe he doesn't have a number one receiver.
06:58He doesn't have a good running back.
07:00He doesn't have a good offensive line.
07:01I think that's one of the biggest things you brought up there.
07:03So the Jets could do this.
07:05It's just a lot of people go back and say, well, the Jets haven't done it historically, which is true.
07:09But you make a good point.
07:11There might be some pieces in play to change the narrative around them in terms of developing a quarterback.
07:16Now, you mentioned Trinidad Chambliss, and I'm sure we're getting to him a little bit more here.
07:20But beyond Mendoza and more, are there any other quarterback names in this draft class that intrigue you, like Chambliss, as potential Jets options, either in round one or as a developmental play later on?
07:30Yeah, I mean, I think Trinidad Chambliss is definitely going to be a guy that Jets fans are going to want to get familiar with.
07:36I mean, he was really the player outside of, you know, that last game from Mendoza.
07:40He's been the player in the college football playoff.
07:42What he did, obviously, in their first kind of tune-up game against Tulane and then the remarkable game he had against Georgia.
07:48And this guy, an incredible story.
07:50He's played, you know, five years of college football.
07:53He was trying to get a six-year.
07:54He just got recently denied.
07:55But what he may lack in some size, he's only 6'1".
07:58He does not lack in creativity, in arm strength, in arm talent.
08:03The guy's an electric football player, one of the most exciting players in this upcoming NFL draft.
08:08So I think if you're looking at second-round pick, maybe late first round, we'll see how these things go.
08:13Typically, quarterbacks, if teams like them, they kind of run up the charts.
08:16So I think he may end up being a late first-round pick.
08:18The Jets having two picks, I think he may be someone to look at.
08:21Ty Simpson also declared for the NFL draft.
08:23He is someone who, again, put up a lot of production at Alabama.
08:28The game against Indiana, similar to Dante Moore, not the prettiest.
08:31I would tell people I would not judge both Moore or Ty Simpson on that game.
08:35Watch their entire tape.
08:37Simpson had a really good season playing for a really good offensive coach in Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb.
08:42So those would be two guys, I think, if the Jets elect to not take a quarterback at number two.
08:47If they decide to pass on Dante Moore and say, you know what, we're going to get one of these top defensive guys,
08:52and Arval Reese or Ruben Bain or someone like that.
08:55I think looking at those guys, Simpson, Chambliss, late first round, second round, third round,
09:00will be the guys you want to keep an eye on.
09:02Is drafting the quarterback in 2026 a necessity for this Jets franchise,
09:06or is there a realistic argument that the Jets should address other premium positions
09:10and look for a different QB pathway altogether, whether that be in 2027?
09:15Well, you don't want to be later in 2027.
09:17I would say you have to kick it down a year.
09:18I think later in 2027 would be too much.
09:20But do you think it should be a different QB pathway altogether that comes later than 2026?
09:26It's a tough spot.
09:27I mean, I've been someone who's been asking that question that, you know,
09:30maybe the Jets should seriously consider not taking a quarterback high in this draft.
09:35I think that's what they may end up deciding.
09:38Now, the question is, all right, when do you take a quarterback?
09:40Like, is taking Trinidad Chambliss in the second round still count as taking a quarterback
09:44and making that guy your franchise guy?
09:46I don't know.
09:48I think the problem with the Jets is if you don't take him now, then when?
09:52Because if you're bringing in a veteran to come in this year,
09:55and with the things I just mentioned, again, an offensive line that's much improved,
09:58a top-notch receiver in Gary Wilson,
10:00maybe a veteran of Malik Wilson or something like that comes in,
10:03and they are actually able to win eight or nine games.
10:06Now, where are you getting your young rookie quarterback who's going to be a top pick, right?
10:10Like, you're not going to be in a position to draft that high
10:13if you do get in a veteran who can come in and win some games.
10:15Aaron Rodgers was too good, as bad as he was with the Jets.
10:18He was too good for the Jets to get high enough to draft a top quarterback last season.
10:22So that, I think, is the question for the Jets,
10:25and that's why I think it makes it dicey.
10:26If they decide not to take a quarterback this year, which, again, that would be â
10:31I think a quarterback's getting taken.
10:32It's a matter of when.
10:33If you're not talking about taking a quarterback high in the draft,
10:35and, okay, we're going to take a guy later, what veteran's coming in,
10:38and how much is that going to affect your draft positioning next year?
10:42You got those extra picks, so that may give them a little more wiggle room,
10:46but that's certainly going to be something to watch.
10:47I'm going to be following very closely.
10:49Yeah, we're all going to be watching to see what the Jets will do in the draft.
10:52Will they take a quarterback?
10:53The thing is, we know one thing.
10:55They absolutely need to find their franchise quarterback,
10:57and E.J. Stewart will be all over that.
11:01Definitely check him out.
11:02New show starts tomorrow, right?
11:04Starts on Monday.
11:05Monday.
11:05That is 40 days, 40 nights.
11:07Check it out.
11:07It's going to be a really good one.
11:09My guy E.J. Stewart, you can also check him out on WFAN,
11:12hosting and producing there.
11:13E.J., look, I want good things for you, man.
11:16I don't want you to say that you're a long-suffering Jets fan anymore.
11:19I want to see you get a franchise quarterback.
11:21We hope that that can happen.
11:23We know it probably won't be Mendoza, but it could be more or others,
11:26so we'll check that out.
11:27Appreciate you, man.
11:27Thanks for coming on and talking some Jets football.
11:30You got it.
11:31It's got to turn around at some point, right, Dex?
11:32It's got to turn around at some point.
11:34Yeah, it feels like it should.
11:36It feels like it should.
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