2026 NFL Mock Draft: Giants-Jets Trade for QB Fernando Mendoza (CBS Projection)

By Alan Walsh Published: Mar 9, 2026

Metlife Stadium, Home of New York Giants and New York Jets

In a move that would send shockwaves through the Big Apple (and Northern New Jersey), CBS Sports' latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft has the New York Jets trading up for the No. 1 overall pick with the New York Giants to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.

Draft analyst Mike Renner comes out swinging right away in his CBS Mock Draft with the blockbuster deal, predicting the Jets trade current and future draft picks to leapfrog into pole position for the Heisman Trophy-winning signal-caller.

This scenario is presented to you by the lackluster play of both New Yor teams during the 2025 season. At 2-12, the Giants currently own the tiebreaker over the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders to claim the No. 1 pick. Meanwhile, the Jets are currently at the No. 5 spot, in addition to holding a good number of valuable picks over the next two drafts.

With Mendoza emerging as the consensus top QB prospect in the 2026 class, the Jets' aggressive move makes sense for a franchise starving for stability under center.

Giants & Jets Remaining Schedules: The Path Forward

The foundation of this mock draft hinges on the Giants securing the No. 1 pick, which looks highly probable given their current state of affairs. NFL draft order is determined first by worst record, with strength of schedule serving as the primary tiebreaker for teams with identical records.

Right now, the Giants hold the slight edge in the race to the bottom, based on owning the NFL’s toughest schedule – the Titans right behind them at #2. With three games left in the 2025 season, Big Blue faces the Vikings and Cowboys at home, with a road matchup against the Raiders sandwiched in between.

For the Jets to even entertain trading up this aggressively, they'd likely need to stay put here at No. 5. However, Gang Green owns anywhere from 24-25 picks over these next two drafts, including 14 this season, so there are plenty of pick combos to be thrown out at potential suitors.

However, if the Giants stumble into a win or two down the stretch, they could slip to No. 2 or No. 3, making a trade less needed. Teams like the Titans or others lurking with poor records could also complicate things if Mendoza is indeed the play with the top pick.

What Would the Jets Need to Offer for No. 1 Pick?

The proposed package is steep: the Jets' two 2026 first-rounders (Nos. 5 and 18 in the mock) plus a 2027 first-round pick (worst of their current three). According to Grok, this aligns with historical precedents for trading up to No. 1 for a franchise QB.

Recent comparisons include the 2016 Rams' massive haul to select Jared Goff, or the 2023 Bears trading back from No. 1 with the Panthers for a king's ransom including DJ Moore and multiple first-round picks. Here, the Jets are giving up three first-rounders essentially, but one is deferred and potentially lower-value.

For the Jets, plagued by QB instability for years, this would certainly be justified if Mendoza is viewed as a can't-miss prospect. Their current setup under head coach Aaron Glenn has yielded just three wins, and the offense has struggled mightily. Paying a premium to reset the QB clock makes strategic sense, especially in a draft where QBs dominate the top, but depth falls off quickly.

Fernando Mendoza: Good Fit for the Jets

At the heart of this mock is Fernando Mendoza, the 6'5", 225-pound junior from Indiana who just won the 2025 Heisman Trophy. As Renner put it, Mendoza is a "robotic pocket passer who rarely makes mistakes with the football.”

Scouts rave about his accuracy on short-to-intermediate routes, ability to hang tough under pressure, and leadership. The kid has traits that scream "franchise QB," and he's not a dual-threat runner but has enough mobility and arm talent fit perfectly for a team like the Jets. Mendoza represents hope as a high-floor passer who could stabilize an offense that's ranked near the bottom in points and passing yards for what seems like the entirety of the franchise’s history.

If someone tells you they don’t love mock drafts, they don’t love football. These mocks are designed to get the creative juices flowing in our minds, and the fact that we get both New York teams involved is the cherry on top. I have a lot of friends here in North Jersey that needs some NFL hope back in their lives.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

By Alan Walsh

Alan Walsh has worked in the sports betting & DFS industry for over a decade, working with notable names like the New York Knicks, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook, and RotoWire.