The New York Jets are among the teams that may be in the market for a quarterback entering the 2026 NFL Draft. While Fernando Mendoza appears to be locked in at the No. 1 pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, other teams such as the Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns could be vying for other quarterbacks.
While names such as Ty Simpson and Garrett Nussmeier have been linked to some of these teams, a recent report suggests the Jets have some level of interest in Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
Why Drew Allar Impressed the Jets in a Private Workout
Allar was one of approximately a dozen Penn State players to participate in a private workout for the Jets, and he reportedly stood out.
“I was told they came away pretty impressed,” said SNY NFL reporter Connor Hughes. “He’s a big dude, strong arm, great build, a lot of attributes there that you love.”
Allar ranked as the No. 71 quarterback in the PFSN CFB QB Impact (QBi) metrics in limited action in 2025. He was held to only six games played after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in a loss to Northwestern in October.
In six games as a senior, Allar completed 64.8% of his passes for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
.@Connor_J_Hughes said the #Jets came away ‘pretty impressed’ from their private workout with Penn State QB Drew Allar on Friday.
‘He’s a big dude, strong arm, great build, a lot of attributes there that you love.’
NYJ had around a dozen @PennStateFball players in w/ Allar for… pic.twitter.com/3kFu24DW5n
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) March 23, 2026
Standing at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, the 22-year-old possesses the physical build to be an enticing quarterback prospect for quarterback-needy NFL teams. While he has shown some inconsistency and red flags as a prospect, his size, arm talent, and experience make him an intriguing mid-round quarterback.
For his career, Allar started 45 games for Penn State, completing 63.2% of his passes for 7,402 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also added 732 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground as a rusher.
Allar would provide the Jets with a potential long-term option at the quarterback position, as he would get the opportunity to sit behind Geno Smith as a rookie.
The Jets reacquired Smith in a trade with the Raiders shortly after the start of the new league year, and he’s expected to begin the season as the starter. If he were drafted by the Jets, Allar would compete with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for backup reps.
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The Jets finished with a 3-14 record in 2025 and ranked as the No. 29 offense in the PFSN NFL Offense Impact (OFFi) metrics. Smith is set to turn 36 in October and profiles as a short-term bridge at the position for the Jets, who could use a potential boost to the offensive unit as they look for their next franchise quarterback.
Whether the Jets take a flier on Allar, Nussmeier, or Simpson, or opt to wait until the 2027 NFL Draft to draft Smith’s successor, remains to be seen. However, they will be a team to watch at the quarterback position during the draft, given their need for a long-term option.
