The New York Jets spent the offseason trying to change the direction of the franchise. Darren Mougey and company have been given credit for the job they're doing, but this isn't an overnight fix. That said, Jets fans are being asked to navigate something unfamiliar... patience.
With three of the 17 games in everyone's rearview mirror, New York has had a shot at winning every game but currently sits below .500 with a 1-2 record. Some of the major platforms and national pundits expected them to miss the playoffs. That remains to be seen, but it appears ESPN agrees with that sentiment based on their take in a recent 2027 NFL Draft projection.
According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Jets are currently projected to select eighth overall next
April. Their average projected draft position is 10th, with the model giving New York a 61% chance of landing a top-10 selection and a 25% chance of picking inside the top five.
The projection comes with a massive caveat because this is not the current draft order. ESPN's FPI simulates the remainder of the season 10,000 times and uses those simulations to project where each team will ultimately land. With 14 games remaining, there is obviously an enormous amount of football left to be played.
Still, the projection is noteworthy because of what it says about how ESPN's model currently views the Jets. New York enters the early portion of the season showing signs of improvement under Aaron Glenn, particularly on defense. Geno Smith has provided encouraging play at quarterback. The Jets have also demonstrated an ability to compete with quality opponents, even though their 1-2 record doesn't fully reflect some of those performances.
ESPN's model gives the Jets just a 2% chance of earning the No. 1 overall pick, which is another way of saying the projection does not expect New York to finish with the league's worst record. That distinction belongs to their AFC East rivals, theMiami Dolphins. That should provide at least some perspective for a fan base hoping the Jets are moving forward rather than backward.
The draft projection may change dramatically over the next several weeks, but for now, ESPN expects New York to have an early pick while falling well short of the very top of the order. And considering where the Jets were a year ago, that distinction matters.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: ESPN projects top-ten pick for Jets in 2027 NFL Draft
