Dante Moore entered Friday’s Peach Bowl clash with Indiana as a strong candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, or, at the very least, the heavy favorite to be the New York Jets‘ selection at No. 2. However, that may no longer be the case.
The Oregon star went head-to-head with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the other player viewed as the best quarterback in this year’s class. While the Hoosiers’ QB performed well in the college football playoff semifinal game, Moore was underwhelming. While he threw for 285 yards, he had an ugly pick-six in the first minute of the game, fumbled twice, and had 68.4 QBR in the biggest game of his life. Mendoza had a 98.5 QBR.
It was the sort of performance that is sure to make the NY Jets rethink using their top pick on him, even if they badly need to find a long-term option at quarterback. If the team doesn’t use their top pick on Moore, let’s look at five star prospects they could select instead.
Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami
Long-term success in the NFL often starts at the offensive and defensive line. Sure, QB is an extremely important position, but if he can’t get good blocking or a team can put pressure on the opposing signal caller, they are unlikely to go far. While it may not be a sexy option, the NY Jets using their first pick on the best offensive lineman available makes sense.
To many NFL Draft analysts, that is Miami lineman Francis Mauigoa. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder is viewed as one of the safest options early in the draft and is expected to be a consistent difference maker at the tackle spot in the pros.
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
If the NY Jets decide to use their pick at 16 on a player like Alabama QB Ty Simpson, head coach Aaron Glenn is likely to go with a defensive player at No. 2, especially since they traded away their best two players on that side of the ball before the trade deadline.
That is why Ohio State star Caleb Downs is a strong option. The safety has great instincts, is physical, versatile, has elite tackling skills, and is very smart in coverage. He is a player many believe is one of the biggest locks to be a star at the next level.
Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
If the NY Jets don’t go with Downs, his Buckeyes teammate, EDGE rusher Arvell Reese, has risen up draft boards over the last few months. The junior had a big season in 2025, posting 69 tackles, 10 for a loss, 6.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended.
Similar to Abdul Carter last year, Reese is viewed by many as the best overall talent in this year’s class and has the potential to be a star pass rusher for many years.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
While the team wants to re-sign veteran running back Breece Hall, they could decide to replace him with the player considered the best RB in 2026, Notre Dame Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love. The junior had a big season for the Irish as he posted 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
However, what makes him valuable, especially in this era of the NFL, is being a dual threat who tallied 27 catches, 280 receiving yards, and 3 more TDs through the air this past season. The NY Jets trading out of No. 2, getting another future first, and taking Love toward the back of the top 10 makes sense.
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
As mentioned before, targeting the offensive or defensive lines with their first pick if they don’t take Dante Moore would be a smart move for Gang Green. Outside of Arvell Reese, another potential pass rush option would be Texas Tech star David Bailey.
The senior had 52 tackles, 19.5 for a loss, and 14.5 sacks this past season. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder is a bit undersized for the position, but he’s considered the best pure pass rusher in the class, has a great burst, and a relentless motor.
