Jim F'S MOCK DRAFT
  1. Home
  2. Simulator

Jim F'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON JAN 4, 2026

Mendoza WR

  • Jim F DRAFTING FOR THE
    Jets
Draft Selections
Fernando Mendoza Head Shot
PICK: 3 RND: 1 (NYJ)
Fernando Mendoza
QB Indiana
Carnell Tate Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (NYJ)
Carnell Tate
WR Ohio State
Sonny Styles Head Shot
PICK: 34 RND: 2 (NYJ)
Sonny Styles
LB Ohio State
Zion Young Head Shot
PICK: 46 RND: 2 (NYJ)
Zion Young
DE-EDGE Missouri
D'Angelo Ponds Head Shot
PICK: 104 RND: 4 (NYJ)
D'Angelo Ponds
CB Indiana
Gavin Sawchuk Head Shot
PICK: 176 RND: 5 (NYJ)
Gavin Sawchuk
RB Florida State
Aamil Wagner Head Shot
PICK: 178 RND: 5 (NYJ)
Aamil Wagner
OT Notre Dame
Bud Clark Head Shot
PICK: 196 RND: 6 (NYJ)
Bud Clark
S TCU
Roman Hemby Head Shot
PICK: 205 RND: 6 (NYJ)
Roman Hemby
RB Indiana
Shad Banks Jr. Head Shot
PICK: 212 RND: 6 (NYJ)
Shad Banks Jr.
LB UTSA
Jaleel Skinner Head Shot
PICK: 218 RND: 7 (NYJ)
Jaleel Skinner
TE Louisville
Dominic Zvada Head Shot
PICK: 239 RND: 7 (NYJ)
Dominic Zvada
PK Michigan
Draft Grade — Jets
Overall B-
ValueC NeedB+ TradesB- FutureB-
Mendoza is the plan now, and the Jets grade out a B-.

The Jets looked at the value chart, folded it up, and took Shad Banks Jr. at the Round 6 slot regardless, 202 picks early. A sturdy weekend that grades out a B-.

So much rides on Fernando Mendoza that the rest of the class almost grades on a curve behind him. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped interior defensive lineman, which is a strange place to end up. The Wagner steal is the beam this whole class leans on.

Bottom line, more hits than misses and a roster nudged the right way.

Pick Analysis
Pick3 Rnd1 Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza in the Round 1 slot is fair value, right on his grade. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick18 Rnd1 Carnell Tate
In pick 18 they get a No. 1 receiver at fair value. A clean fit for the roster.
Pick34 Rnd2 Sonny Styles
A straight-up fair deal on Sonny Styles at the 34th overall pick, value and slot in agreement. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Pick46 Rnd2 Zion Young
This one needs a full-page explanation: Zion Young in Round 2, Pick 14, miles early. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick104 Rnd4 D'Angelo Ponds
A market-rate cornerback, with the board and the slot shaking hands on D'Angelo Ponds. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Pick176 Rnd5 Gavin Sawchuk
They reached into another round for Gavin Sawchuk, and the board is nowhere close to agreeing. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Pick178 Rnd5 Aamil Wagner
Nice patience on Aamil Wagner, who had no business lasting to pick No. 178. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick196 Rnd6 Bud Clark
Fair-plus on Bud Clark, a quiet win that adds up over a draft. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick205 Rnd6 Roman Hemby
Roman Hemby at the Round 6 slot is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. The roster fit checks out.
Pick212 Rnd6 Shad Banks Jr.
They left a pile of value on the table to take Shad Banks Jr. this early at pick 212. A luxury on a unit that was already in good shape.
Pick218 Rnd7 Jaleel Skinner
A wild overpay on Jaleel Skinner in No. 218, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick239 Rnd7 Dominic Zvada
They talked themselves into Dominic Zvada at the 239th pick, and the board did not agree. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.