It could be fair to call the Jets’ 2025 season an unmitigated disaster. In Yr 1 of the Darren Mougey–Aaron Glenn regime, Gang Green went 3-14 and finished in a four-way tie for the NFL’s worst record. While extending their league-high playoff drought to fifteen years, the Jets surrendered 203 more points than they scored.
Along with an NFL-worst point differential, the Jets ranked last in passing offense, thirty first in scoring defense and sacks, and bottom five in total offense and points. To not be forgotten, Recent York forced the fewest turnovers in the game (4) and someway went the complete season without an interception. It’s all of the more damning that it happened under Glenn, a longtime ball-hawking defensive back (mostly with the Jets) before he went into coaching.
Despite last yr’s embarrassing on-field display, Jets owner Woody Johnson unsurprisingly kept Mougey and Glenn around for a second season in 2026. Johnson knows the team is within the throes of a large rebuild. Canning either or each key members of the team’s leadership group after one yr would have been unreasonable.
Nevertheless, as we covered in our Jets Offseason Outlook in early March, a big portion of Glenn’s coaching staff was not given the identical grace. Most notably, just a little over a month after the mid-December firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, the Jets let go of offensive counterpart Tanner Engstrand in late January. First-time coordinator Brian Duker replaced Wilks, but Glenn — the Lions’ DC before the Jets hired him — goes to call plays.
With Glenn’s expertise residing on the defensive side of the ball, he hired the grizzled Frank Reich as his O-coordinator. Glenn wanted a “head coach of the offense.” He found one in Reich, a two-time NFL head coach who became a three-time OC when he succeeded Engstrand. Glenn and Reich, a longtime backup quarterback, reunited 30 years after a one-season stint as Jets teammates in 1996.
After Glenn settled on his second-year staff, he and Mougey went into the guts of the offseason with a number of roster needs to handle, a number of money to spend and a number of draft capital. To the Jets’ credit, they took advantage of their resources. They upgraded their talent, built a much bigger, more physical team that must be harder to play against, and added leadership and experience to a young roster.
Trades:
Thirteen years ago, after a prolific run at West Virginia, Smith joined the Jets as a 2013 second-round alternative. Smith was second off the board in a weak class of signal-callers led by EJ Manuel, whom the AFC East rival Bills took sixteenth overall out of desperation. The Jets reeled in Smith at No. 39, but his first stint with the organization fell flat. He performed poorly as a starter over his first two years, suffered a broken jaw when teammate IK Enemkpali punched him within the face weeks before the 2015 campaign began, and tore his ACL in 2016.
Smith left the Jets in 2017 to sign with the Giants, the second of 5 teams for the 35-year-old journeyman. While Smith rarely saw the sector over the subsequent 4 seasons, he finally was an honest starter with the Seahawks from 2022-24. Smith’s play over that 47-start stretch made believers out of the Raiders, who shipped a third-rounder to the Seahawks for him in March 2025 after which handed him a three-year, $75MM extension.
The move backfired for Las Vegas, where Smith turned back right into a pumpkin. As a full-time starter for one in all the league’s other 3-14 teams, Smith was a statistical nightmare. He ranked last within the league in interceptions (17), thirtieth in rating and twenty seventh out of 28 qualifiers in QBR.
Smith’s subpar play helped the Raiders secure the highest pick on this yr’s draft, edging out the Jets via tiebreaker. Several weeks before they spent the No. 1 selection on former Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders sent Smith back to the Jets in a late-round pick swap. The Jets’ pivot back to Smith (five GMs since John Idzik drafted him) got here after they showed reported interest in free agent options comparable to Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz. Perhaps the Jets would have been higher off with any of those three, but we’ll never know.
Smith is now Recent York’s surefire starter for the primary time since 2014, though there is no such thing as a expectation this may turn right into a long-term commitment. As someone who is barely under contract through this season, Smith looks just like the quintessential veteran stopgap. He’s a comparatively inexpensive Band-Aid for the Jets, who’re paying just $3.3MM of his $19.5MM salary (the Raiders are on the hook for the remaining).
The Jets were available in the market for a brand new starting QB in the course of the offseason because their 2025 roll of the dice on Fields got here up snake eyes. The mobile Fields went eleventh overall within the 2021 draft but didn’t establish himself as the answer in either Chicago (2021-23) or Pittsburgh (2024) over his first 4 seasons. The Jets nonetheless guaranteed Fields $30MM on a two-year, $40MM agreement in free agency. It quickly became obvious they may have made higher use of that cash.
Fields began in six of the Jets’ first seven games last yr. His lone absence got here in consequence of a concussion that sidelined him in a loss to the Buccaneers in Week 3. Fields struggled when healthy, though, and Glenn yanked him for Tyrod Taylor in a 13-6 loss to the Panthers in Week 7. Johnson took public shots at Fields’ performance the subsequent day.
“It looks like (Glenn) is popping around a part of it,” Johnson said on Oct. 21. “It’s hard when you may have a quarterback with the rating that we’ve got. He has the power, but something isn’t jiving. When you have a look at any head coach with a quarterback like that, you’re going to similar results across the league. You might have to play consistently at that position and that’s what we’re going to attempt to do.”
Johnson’s comments got here a number of days before the Jets faced the Bengals in Week 8. It initially appeared Glenn would start Taylor in Cincinnati, but a knee injury shelved him. Fields responded to Johnson’s criticism with a robust showing in a 39-38 win, however it proved to be a fluke. After a mid-November loss to the Patriots a few weeks later, Glenn pulled the plug on Fields and replaced him with Taylor. It went down as Fields’ last appearance with the Jets, who placed him on IR with a knee injury in late December.
Recent York at the least received late-round compensation for Fields in its trade with Kansas City, though Gang Green needed to retain $7MM of his $10MM salary to make it occur. Fields will even count $20MM in dead money against the Jets’ cap this yr. With Aaron Rodgers accounting for $35MM, they’re stuck with back-to-back failed starters comprising greater than a sixth of their 2026 payroll. Fortunately for the Jets, each Fields and Rodgers will probably be off the books next yr.
Turning to the opposite side of the ball, Glenn and recent Titans HC/former Jets leader Robert Saleh put their stamps on their respective defenses in a late-February Sweat-Johnson swap. Saleh landed a 4-3 defensive end he coached to a 7.5-sack season and a Pro Bowl selection in 2023. Johnson tore his ACL the subsequent season, and he didn’t regain peak form in his return during Glenn’s first yr.
After it became clear the Jets had no plans to increase Johnson, who notched just three sacks in 14 games last season, he wanted out of Recent York. Not only did the Jets grant Johnson’s wish, but they saved a big portion of cap space within the trade and hauled in Sweat, who has an additional yr of team control and appears like a greater fit for his or her defense.
Johnson will earn a $14.31MM fifth-year option salary in 2026, his last season before a possible trip to free agency. Sweat, a 2024 second-rounder, is halfway into his rookie contract. He’s in line to gather $3.76MM total over the subsequent two seasons. The 6-foot-4, 366-pounder will even give Glenn the precise sort of nose tackle he needs for his 3-4 defense.
Having began in 28 of 29 profession games, Sweat already has a large amount of experience on his resume. Although Sweat’s traditional numbers don’t jump off the page, Pro Football Focus rated him the league’s fifth-best interior defensive lineman amongst 127 qualifiers last season. He checked in at No. 4 against the run. If that continues, Sweat will provide a needed jolt to a defense that ranked twenty ninth in run stoppage a yr ago.
The Jets’ defense also needs to profit from the addition of Fitzpatrick, a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro they seem to have stolen from the division-rival Dolphins. Miami entered the offseason in cap hell, resulting in a culling of several high-priced veterans. The cap-strapped Dolphins settled for a seventh-rounder for Fitzpatrick, an eight-year veteran who remained an asset in 2025.
Over 14 games (all starts), Fitzpatrick recorded 82 tackles, six passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, an interception and his first profession sack. Fitzpatrick, who racked up a lot of snaps within the slot, at free safety and within the box, rated as PFF’s seventh-best safety amongst 91 qualifiers.
Miami was not in position to increase Fitzpatrick, whereas Recent York had good enough room to offer the 29-year-old Recent Jersey native a raise upon arrival. He’ll make a completely guaranteed $20.5MM on a three-year, $40.MM accord. The move back to his home state reunited Fitzpatrick with Duker, the Dolphins’ secondary coach and passing game coordinator last season.
Extensions and restructures:
Hall would have been the Jets’ most notable loss in free agency had they let him go, but he never joined fellow high-profile running backs Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne on the open market. As a substitute, the Jets slapped the $14.29MM franchise tag on Hall six days before the legal tampering period began in March. Franchising Hall all but secured his place with the Jets in 2026, as no team was going to trade two first-round picks for him. The query was whether the Jets would extend their relationship with Hall beyond then.
Dating back to last season, Mougey and Glenn made it known on multiple occasions they desired to keep Hall around for the foreseeable future. They rejected pre-trade deadline offers for Hall in hopes of working something out down the road. The Jets finally achieved their goal in mid-May, after they and Hall shook hands on a deal that can keep him under wraps through his age-27 season in 2028.
Although Hall has never put up all-world counting stats, he now ranks top five at his position in total value, guarantees and average annual salary. The four-year veteran went over the 1,000-yard mark for the primary time last season and averaged 4.4 per rush on 243 carries.
Hall “only” ranked fifteenth within the league in yards, however it was impressive while you consider how little help he had around him. The Jets had no passing game and no major receiving threat for many of 2025, as No. 1 wideout Garrett Wilson missed 10 games with a knee injury (in consequence, the team didn’t have a 400-yard receiver). Now a part of a more talented offensive solid, Hall should profit this yr and beyond.
Tippmann, a 2023 second-rounder (the yr after Hall went in Round 2), was one in all the linemen who cleared the way in which for the Jets’ top back over the previous three seasons. A starter in 48 of fifty games, the previous Wisconsin Badger mostly played center during his first two seasons. But Tippmann solidified himself because the Jets’ right guard in 2025, stepping in after Alijah Vera-Tucker tore his triceps 4 days ahead of their regular-season opener.
While making his second 17-start season in a row, Tippmann played all but one in all the Jets’ 1,048 offensive snaps. PFF ranked Tippmann’s play a solid thirtieth out of 79 qualified guards, and he did enough to persuade the Jets to maintain him around on a much higher salary for at the least a number of more years. With the fee of guards going up because the cap continues to rise, Tippmann is now earning top-10 RG money on the extension he signed last month.
Free agency additions:
- Joseph Ossai, EDGE: Three years, $34.5MM ($22.49MM guaranteed)
- Demario Davis, LB: Two years, $22MM ($15MM guaranteed)
- Dylan Parham, G: Two years, $16MM ($7.49MM guaranteed)
- David Onyemata, DT: One yr, $10.5MM ($9.65MM guaranteed)
- Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE: One yr, $9MM ($8.49MM guaranteed)
- Dane Belton, S: One yr, $4MM ($2MM guaranteed)
- Nashon Wright, CB: One yr, $3.5MM (fully guaranteed)
- Andrew Beck, FB: One yr, $1.49MM ($1.26MM guaranteed)
- Tim Patrick, WR: One yr, $1.25MM ($1MM guaranteed)
- Jason Sanders, K: One yr, $1.3MM
- Landon Young, T: One yr, $1.22MM
- Cade York, K: One yr, $1.15MM
- Gee Scott, WR: One yr, $885K
The Jets’ primary free agency focus: lifting a defense that was a non-competitive unit in 2025. Davis, now in his third stint with the Jets (2012-15, 2017), stands out as their most achieved open market pickup.
Although Davis is entering his age-37 season, the five-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler didn’t show signs of decline in his eighth and final Saints campaign in 2025. While playing the twelfth full season of his 14-year profession, Davis made 143 tackles, deflected three passes and compelled a pair of fumbles. Perhaps more impressively, Davis was PFF’s fifth-rated off-ball linebacker amongst 88 qualifiers.
Adding to an excellent mixture of durability and production, Davis has a popularity as one in all the sport’s most respected leaders. It might probably’t be quantified, however the Jets expect Davis’ behind-the-scenes impact to assist turn around what can have been a toxic locker room in 2025. Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said after the season, his first with the Jets, that “(Glenn) inherited a really cancerous, truculent group — whole, top to bottom.”
As someone who was on Recent Orleans’ coaching staff for 3 of Davis’ seasons with the organization, Glenn knows the center linebacker well. Glenn will plug within the 246-pound Davis alongside the 216-pound Jamien Sherwood, who will shift from the center to the weak side. The Jets hope the transition will result in a greater season for Sherwood, who took a step back at the start of a three-year, $45MM contract in 2025.
Ossai and Enagbare will probably be amongst the skin linebackers flanking Davis and Sherwood in 2026. The Jets paid more for the 6-4, 263-pound Ossai, a 2021 third-rounder who played his entire four-year rookie take care of the Bengals. Ossai talled 14.5 sacks in 61 games in Cincinnati. Ossai enjoyed arguably his most efficient season at the best time, his platform yr in 2025, when he tied a profession high with five sacks over 14 games and a personal-best nine starts. He also collected 43 tackles (including a career-best nine for loss), 12 QB hits and two forced fumbles. Although PFF placed Ossai just seventieth in overall performance amongst 119 qualified edge defenders in 2025, the outlet gave him a high grade against the run.
Like Ossai, Enagbare spent his first 4 years as a rotational player. The 2022 fifth-rounder and former Packer has never made greater than seven starts or topped 4.5 sacks in a season. But Enagbare has never missed a game, and he has offered consistent complementary production in each season. He wrapped up his Green Bay tenure in 2025 with 39 tackles, a career-high nine QB hits, six TFLs and two sacks in 17 games and three starts. Those numbers are essentially right in keeping with his typical output every year.
The Jets’ third-most guarantees in free agency went to Onyemata, a 10-year veteran who overlapped with Glenn and Davis in Recent Orleans for several seasons. Onyemata left the Saints for the NFC South rival Falcons’ three-year, $35MM offer in 2023. He went on to begin in 47 of 48 appearances — including all 17 last season — and average around 52 tackles, eight TFLs and a pair of.5 sacks per yr in Atlanta.
The 310-pound Onyemata only had one sack in 2025, the second-worst single-season mark of his profession, but PFF ranked him eighth amongst 134 qualified interior D-linemen against the run. He has typically held his own as a run defender, which is the foremost reason the Jets brought him into the fold. With Sweat and Onyemata joining Phillips up front, the Jets must be far tougher to take care of for opposing ground games this yr.
When previewing the Jets’ offseason, I wrote: “Wright is coming off a profession yr wherein he forced a league-leading eight turnovers, twice as many because the Jets induced as a team. That isn’t sustainable, but someone goes to pay the five-year veteran based on one big season. We’ll see if the turnover-challenged Jets make the leap.”
The Jets did indeed “make the leap” on the 6-foot-4 Wright, however it seems no person bought into his sudden takeaway outburst enough to dole out big money. That enabled Recent York to snag Wright on a low-risk, prove-it deal on the heels of his first profession Pro Bowl nod. A former Cowboy and Viking, Wright caused only one turnover in his first 4 years within the league. Surprisingly, though, he morphed right into a ball-hawking menace with the Bears in 2025. Wright tallied 80 tackles, 11 passes defensed, five INTs (including a 74-yard pick-six), three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles over 17 games and 16 starts.
Wright played 97% of defensive snaps for Chicago, however the soon-to-be 28-year-old — whom Minnesota cut on two occasions — isn’t assured a starting spot in Recent York. He may have to beat out Azareye’h Thomas and possibly D’Angelo Ponds (depending on how slot duties shake out) for the No. 2 job opposite Brandon Stephens.
The Jets didn’t spend much on offense in free agency, but they did authorize a midlevel guard pact for Parham. The previous Raider signed to exchange departed left guard John Simpson, who began in all 34 games with the Jets from 2024-25. Simpson spent 2023 in Baltimore, where he returned this offseason on a three-year, $30MM contract. The Jets paid an excellent amount less for Parham, a 2022 third-rounder who was a full-time starter in Las Vegas over his first 4 seasons.
Parham saw a number of time at each guard spots with the Raiders, but he took all 843 of his snaps on the left side last season. He was a rather above-average thirty seventh out of PFF’s 79 guard qualifiers in 2025, outdoing Simpson (fiftieth). It was the second straight 15-game season for Parham, who began his profession with two consecutive full campaigns.
If Parham and the remaining of the Jets’ starters stay healthy (except for Vera-Tucker, their O-line was remarkably durable in 2025), he’ll play with Tippmann, tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, and center Josh Myers on a weekly basis.
Re-signings:
- Andre Cisco, S: One yr, $2.5MM ($1.25MM guaranteed)
- Max Mitchell, G: One yr, $2MM ($1MM guaranteed)
- Kene Nwangwu, RB/KR: One yr, $2MM ($1MM guaranteed)
- Chukwuma Okorafor, T: One yr, $1.48MM ($1.1MM guaranteed)
- Mykal Walker, LB: One yr, $1.4MM ($188K guaranteed)
- Xavier Newman-Johnson, G: One yr, $1.4MM
- Marcelino McCrary-Ball, CB: One yr, $1.15MM
- Jowon Briggs, DL: One yr, $1.08MM
Cisco was a full-time starter in Jacksonville from 2022-24, a 46-game span wherein he deflected 22 passes and intercepted eight. The Jets brought him in on a one-year, $8.5MM deal in March 2025, but his production declined during an injury-shortened campaign. He deflected only one pass in eight games (all starts) before suffering a pectoral tear in late October. Cisco underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in early November.
Not in position to money in as a free agent this yr, Cisco re-signed with the Jets on a less expensive pact. Unlike 2025, though, the 26-year-old Queens native isn’t a lock to make Recent York’s roster this season. He may have to earn a spot in a security group that features Fitzpatrick, Belton, Malachi Moore and seventh-rounder VJ Payne.
Notable losses:
- Tony Adams, S
- Kris Boyd, CB
- Micheal Clemons, DL
- Nick Folk, K
- Khalil Herbert, RB
- Tyler Johnson, WR
- Cam Jones, LB
- Isaiah Oliver, CB
- Josh Reynolds, WR
- Khalen Saunders, DT
- John Simpson, G
- Stone Smartt, TE
- Ja’Sir Taylor, CB
- Tyrod Taylor, QB
- Jay Tufele, DT
- Alijah Vera-Tucker, G
- Quincy Williams, LB
As mentioned, the Jets’ line said goodbye to Simpson. The group also lost Vera-Tucker, who was a part of the Jets’ two-first-rounder class in 2021. Unlike quarterback Zach Wilson, the second overall pick that yr, Vera-Tucker was good for the Jets when healthy. Unfortunately, he was seldom healthy. Various injuries held the previous 14th overall pick to only 43 of 85 games during his half-decade in Recent York. The Jets kept tabs on Vera-Tucker within the lead-up to free agency, however the Pats lured him on a three-year, $42MM take care of $21MM fully guaranteed.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Jets’ defense lost more when it comes to quantity than quality in free agency. Williams, a five-year starter with the Jets, was their most noteworthy defender to walk out the door. He exited for Cleveland’s two-year, $13MM offer, however it didn’t come as a surprise that the 2023 All-Pro departed.
Williams was a a lot better fit under Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich than Glenn, who briefly benched him last fall. The Jets also discussed a trade that might have sent each Quincy and brother Quinnen to Dallas before the Nov. 4 deadline. The Cowboys did indeed land Quinnen, but Quincy rode out the season with the Jets. He finished with 83 tackles, seven passes defensed, five QB hits and three.5 sacks over 13 games and 12 starts. PFF rated Williams’ play 77th amongst off-ball LBs, placing him 72 spots behind Davis.
Consider it or not, there are few (if any) greater losses listed above than the 41-year-old Folk, who has been near automatic for 3 consecutive years. Despite back-to-back stellar seasons with the Titans from 2023-24, the well-traveled Folk sat in free agency until last July. The Jets took a $2.88MM flier on Folk, previously a member of the team from 2010-16, and reaped the rewards. Folk drilled 28 of 29 field goals, including 7 of 8 from 50-plus yards, and all 22 extra points. Since 2023, Folk has hit 79 of 82 FGs (a league-high 96.3%) and 75 of 77 PATs.
The Falcons took notice of Folk’s spectacular three-season run, evidenced by the two-year, $9MM contract they awarded him in free agency. It’s a risk when considering Folk’s age and the volatility of kickers, but his 2025 production will probably be tough to exchange for the Jets this season.
Gang Green is about to stage a camp battle between Sanders and York for the job. Sanders was effective with the Dolphins from 2018-24, but he missed all of last season with a hip injury. York also hasn’t kicked in a game in two years, as he was unable to earn a roster spot with the Saints last season. Over a combined 23 appearances with the Browns, Giants, Commanders and Bengals from 2022-24, York made just 73.3% of field goal tries (33 of 45).
Draft:
- Round 1, No. 2: David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 16 (from Colts): Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 30 (from Broncos via Dolphins and 49ers): Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 50 (from Lions): D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 103: Darrell Jackson Jr. (DT, Florida State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 110 (from Bengals): Cade Klubnik (QB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 188 (from Browns via Seahawks): Anez Cooper (G, Miami) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 228 (from Cowboys via Bills and Raiders): VJ Payne (S, Kansas State) (signed)
Everyone knew the Raiders would go along with Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall, which made the Jets’ top selection the primary real source of intrigue within the draft. The team considered Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in the course of the pre-draft process, but a few other prospects emerged as frontrunners in early April.
Some reports pegged Bailey as the favourite. Others pointed to Ohio State linebacker/edge defender Arvell Reese because the likely alternative at No. 2 overall. Reese did indeed find yourself in Recent York, however it was the Giants who took him fifth overall.
Although the Jets canceled a “30” visit with Bailey in mid-April, Mougey told reporters to not “look an excessive amount of into” it. Sure enough, in his biggest offseason swing to upgrade the Jets’ anemic pass rush, Mougey drafted Bailey second overall.
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Bailey played his first three college seasons at Stanford, where he totaled 14.5 sacks over 32 games. Bailey transferred to Texas Tech in 2025 and have become one in all the faces of a dominant defense. He matched his Stanford sack total (an FBS-leading 14.5) in only 14 games. Bailey also finished second in pressures (81) and tackles for loss (19.5), helping him to a unanimous All-America selection and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Yr honors.
While the Bailey pick was not a surprise, the Jets snagging a decent end with their second first-rounder (acquired from the Colts in last yr’s Sauce Gardner trade) was an eye-opener. Adding a much-needed pass catcher was hardly a shock, but the idea was the Jets would goal a large receiver. Even Sadiq initially feared he was the victim of a prank call when the Jets called to tell him he was the pick at No. 16. He became the Jets’ second significant tight end investment in as a few years under Mougey, who drafted Mason Taylor forty second overall in 2025.
Taylor had a pleasant rookie yr (44 catches in 13 games), but an increasing number of teams are counting on multiple-tight end sets. The Jets will add to the trend, which will probably be an adjustment for Reich. During his temporary run because the Panthers’ head coach in 2023, the last time he called plays within the NFL, Reich deployed a single tight end 87% of the time (h/t: Michael Nania of Jets X-Factor). Because the Colts’ head coach from 2018-22, the number ranged from 62% to 77%.
The 6-3, 241-pound Sadiq played three seasons at Oregon, where he broke out during a 51-catch, 540-yard junior yr in 2025. After leading all college football TEs in touchdowns (eight), he earned a second-team All-America nod and the Big Ten Tight End of the Yr Award.
If Sadiq wasn’t a surefire first-round pick already, he became one when he went to the Mix and ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.39 seconds) of anyone at his position since at the least 2003. The Jets went into the draft knowing Sadiq would require minor hernia surgery, but they didn’t see it as enough of a priority to pass on him. Sadiq must be ready for training camp.
Not content to stop at two first-rounders, Mougey acquired a 3rd when he moved up from thirty third to thirtieth in a trade with the 49ers. He used the pick on one other pass catcher, Cooper, whom the Jets were high on before the draft. During his last two years at Indiana, including a national title-winning campaign in 2025, Cooper combined for 97 receptions, 1,531 yards, 30 plays of 20-plus yards and 20 scores. He also forced 27 missed tackles last season, most amongst all receivers on this yr’s draft class.
The 6-foot, 204-pound Cooper lined up within the slot on over 83% of snaps last yr, a drastic change after he took 90% of snaps as a fringe wideout in 2024. The within-outside versatility should pay dividends in the professionals for Cooper, who could begin his profession because the Jets’ No. 3 receiver. Wilson is secure atop the depth chart, while Adonai Mitchell is reportedly the overwhelming favorite for the opposite starting job. Whether Mitchell will stay locked into that spot stays to be seen. While Mitchell showed flashes after the Jets got him because the third piece within the Gardner trade last November, he has managed mediocre overall production since he went within the second round of the 2024 draft.
A Cooper Indiana teammate, Ponds quickly reunited with him in Recent York 20 picks later. The 5-9, 173-pound Ponds is analogous in size to Glenn, who had a terrific 15-year profession as a 5-9, 185-pound corner.
Ponds was excellent in his own right in a three-year run of faculty ball divided between James Madison and Indiana, where he combined for 169 tackles, 33 pass deflections, 10.5 tackles for loss and 7 interceptions in 41 games. As a part of Indiana’s national title-winning team, Ponds led the Big Ten in PDs (11), picked off two passes, returned one for a touchdown and earned his second first-team all-conference selection in a row.
Ponds spent the vast majority of his JMU and Indiana days lining up on the skin, however the Jets also used him within the slot during OTAs and minicamp. The flexibility will make it easier for Ponds to carve out a vital role in 2026. He could start on the skin opposite Stephens, though Wright and Thomas are also candidates, or overtake Jarvis Brownlee for the slot position.
Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson (No. 13, Rams), Miami’s Carson Beck (No. 65, Cardinals) and Penn State’s Drew Allar (No. 76, Steelers) were the one QBs to return off the board in the primary 100 picks. The Jets had no probability to draft Mendoza, but they did their due diligence on Simpson, Beck and Allar. In the long run, though, the team waited until the fourth round to handle the position.
The Jets jumped 18 spots (to No. 110) in a trade with the Bengals to select Klubnik, whose stock fell during an underwhelming senior season at Clemson in 2025. As he begins his pro profession, Klubnik will compete with Bailey Zappe for the Jets’ backup job. The Jets could add one other signal-caller to the combo to affix those two and Brady Cook, but they need to judge Klubnik before acting on anything.
Other:
McDonald drew interest leading as much as last November’s trade deadline, but Mougey was more open to moving Johnson on the time. Sure enough, Mougey officially selected McDonald over Johnson within the offseason. A couple of months after dealing Johnson for Sweat, Mougey locked in McDonald through 2027 when he picked up the pass rusher’s fifth-year option. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as a hurry on the Jets’ part to supply McDonald a long-term arrangement. They’ll let him play out this season before they consider opening extension talks.
Former GM Joe Douglas took McDonald fifteenth overall in 2023, however the Iowa State product played just 16% of defensive snaps during a 15-game, three-sack rookie season. He emerged as a full-time starter under Saleh and Ulbrich in 2024 and remained a first-teamer under Glenn last yr. In 32 games and 29 starts in the course of the past two seasons, McDonald totaled 18.5 sacks. Over 15 games in 2025, the 6-5, 245-pounder led the Jets in pressures (42), QB hits (19), tackles for loss (10) and sacks (eight).
While McDonald has done a pleasant job pressuring the QB, he has been a liability against opposing ground games. PFF ranked McDonald among the many worst run defenders at his position from 2024-25. He also registered a bloated 21.1% missed tackle rate last season. Nevertheless, the Jets are willing to live with McDonald’s flaws due to what he offers as a pass rusher. Now that Glenn has a deeper group along the sting, he must be in higher position to maintain McDonald off the sector on obvious run downs.
On April 29, the identical day the Jets said yes to McDonald’s option, they declined Smith’s. That was the one possible consequence for Smith, who has been a bust since he went twenty sixth overall to the Cowboys within the 2023 draft. Recent York acquired Smith from Dallas as a throw-in piece within the teams’ Quinnen Williams blockbuster. Smith got into three games after the trade and played 54 defensive snaps, but he didn’t make a single tackle. The previous Michigan standout may have to fight for a roster spot this summer, though cutting him would save nothing on the Jets’ cap and leave them with $2.56MM in dead money.
Glenn was the the Lions’ defensive coordinator in 2024, the yr the team made Arnold the twenty fourth pick within the draft. As a rookie in Glenn’s defense, the previous Alabama star began 15 of 16 games and simply led Lions defensive corners in snaps (948). The connection to Glenn explains the Jets’ recent interest within the 23-year-old Arnold, who’s now a free agent, though his profession is in jeopardy within the wake of a late-June arrest.
A couple of days after Arnold turned himself in on eight felony kidnapping and armed robbery charges, the Lions cut ties with him. Arnold is accused of being the “primary conspirator” in a plot to kidnap and beat three men he believed robbed greater than $250K of private property from his Airbnb rental unit in Largo, Fla., in February. Arnold has vehemently denied wrongdoing, but he could face life in prison if convicted.
In a July 10 appearance in a Florida court, agent Nicole Lynn testified that the Jets and three other teams reached out regarding her client. Arnold is confined to his home in Florida as he awaits trial, but he’s allowed to satisfy with interested teams. Lynn said he worked out for the Texans and had arrange visits with two other clubs, though it’s unknown if the Jets have pursued him since then.
Geno Smith has also handled an unwelcome legal situation this summer, but he isn’t facing punishment in the meanwhile. Police were called to his home in Davie., Fla., on June 21 over an alleged battery. A girl accused Smith of running outside and attacking her, breaking her computer and stealing money from her automotive. Police reviewed the case, which they’ve since declared inactive due to a scarcity of evidence.
As of now, it doesn’t appear the league will discipline Smith under its personal conduct policy. He must be on the helm when the Jets’ season kicks off on Sept. 13 in Tennessee.
In a single final note on free agency, Wilson claimed in May that the Jets made him a proposal to function Smith’s backup. It could have been a reversal of their 2019-21 roles in Seattle, where Smith sat behind Wilson. The Jets’ interest in Wilson was reportedly “overblown,” though, and he retired in June.
Top 10 cap charges for 2026:
- Brandon Stephens, CB: $13.97MM
- Jamien Sherwood, LB: $11.5MM
- Breece Hall, RB: $11.48MM
- Garrett Wilson, WR: $10.07MM
- David Bailey, EDGE: $9.94MM
- Harrison Phillips, DL: $7.5MM
- Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB: $7.41MM
- Armand Membou, T: $7.25MM
- Olu Fashanu, T: $5.59MM
- Joseph Ossai, EDGE: $5.46MM
We saw 4 teams go from the dregs of the league to contention in a one-year span last season. The Patriots, Jaguars, Bears and 49ers each won six or fewer games in 2024, but all of them hit double digits and earned playoff berths in ’25. The Jets take can take inspiration from that group as they head into this yr, though odds are they’re at the least yet one more offseason of competent roster constructing from pushing for a playoff spot.
This can be a higher team than Glenn needed to work with last yr, however it continues to be riddled with flaws and continuing to lack a solution under center. Smith will keep the seat warm for now, but armed with three more first-rounders in 2027, the Jets are already eyeing next yr’s QB class.
This season will count as successful for the Jets if more young core members emerge and the team at the least poses a challenge regularly. Last yr’s squad lost nine games by at the least 13 points, including a humiliating five in a row by 23 or more to finish the season. Nothing like that ought to occur this yr. If it does, Glenn may not get a 3rd season to right the ship.