The New York Jets hold three selections inside the top 10 of the 2027 NFL Draft order approaching Week 9, matching a feat not seen since the 1965 Chicago Bears, according to DAZN reporting. Despite enduring a three-game losing streak punctuated by a 38-33 defeat against the Las Vegas Raiders, the franchise sits positioned with draft capital nearing the midpoint of the 2026 season.
The latest league projections place the Los Angeles Chargers at 0-7 in prime position for the No. 1 overall pick, with Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith circulating as a potential prize. At the opposite end of the standings, the Buffalo Bills hold the final first-round slot following a 19-15 loss by the Minnesota Vikings to the Detroit Lions that ended an undefeated run.
How the Jets Accumulated Three Top-10 Selections
The New York Jets accumulated their trio of early picks by operating as sellers at the previous season’s trade deadline. In moves that reshaped the roster, the franchise parted ways with cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
The trade sending Gardner to a new destination brought back a substantial return, including a 2026 first-round selection used on Kenyon Sadiq, a 2027 first-round pick, and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Meanwhile, dealing Williams to the Dallas Cowboys secured a 2026 second-round pick that became D’Angelo Ponds, a 2027 first-round selection, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
Following the Week 8 results, those transactions leave the Jets holding three distinct avenues into the opening round next April: their own selection at No. 6 overall, the Colts’ pick at No. 4 overall, and the Cowboys’ selection at No. 10 overall. Both the Jets and Indianapolis carry 2-6 records, while Dallas sits one game ahead at 3-5.
Tiebreakers Determine Draft Order for Non-Playoff Teams
The opening round order shifts across the league as teams manage their autumn schedules. Franchises currently occupying playoff slots have their draft positions dictated by their postseason finishes, while non-playoff teams are ordered by record, with strength of schedule serving as the primary tiebreaker.
Several organizations enter future drafts stripped of their opening-round capital. The Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, and Chicago Bears currently hold no first-round selections for 2027 after trading them away in prior transactions. Additional movement remains possible before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10.
Jets Face Tough Upcoming Matchups Against AFC Opponents
The immediate on-field reality for New York presents steep competitive hurdles. Following their setback against Las Vegas, the team faces consecutive matchups against AFC opponents, hosting the 5-2 Kansas City Chiefs before a divisional game against the 6-1 Buffalo Bills in Week 10.
The complete nine-pick allotment currently held by the Jets for the 2027 draft spans all major rounds, featuring the three first-round choices alongside the No. 37 overall selection in the second round, the No. 68 pick in the third round, the No. 108 pick in the fourth, the No. 144 selection in the fifth, and two sixth-round choices acquired via the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 185 and the Chiefs at No. 202.
