ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Welcome to the offseason, the place Jets followers thrive annually.
Whereas the Jets have missed the playoffs for 15 consecutive years, the offseason has persistently given Gang Inexperienced followers hope. With over $90 million in projected cash to spend this offseason, the Jets will look to shore up a number of holes following a 3-14 season in coach Aaron Glenn’s first season.
With the 2025 season over, let’s preview a Jets offseason stuffed with questions.
Defensive coordinator and different doable modifications to the employees
Glenn is anticipated to return for his second season with the Jets. However they might make a number of modifications to his employees.
First on Glenn’s agenda is discovering a defensive coordinator after he fired Steve Wilks on Dec. 15 following a 48-20 loss to the Jaguars. The Jets protection plummeted from a top-five protection in yards allowed to one of many worst models within the NFL.
Chris Harris served because the Jets’ defensive coordinator for his or her ultimate 4 video games, however the outcomes had been comparable. Wink Martindale, who has served because the defensive coordinator for the Broncos, Ravens, and Giants, may very well be a possible alternative. He was Michigan’s defensive coordinator final season. However after coach Sherrone Moore was fired and Kyle Whittingham was named the Wolverines’ new coach, Martindale will likely be a sizzling commodity in NFL circles.
Different names talked about embody Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Broncos defensive cross sport coordinator and assistant coach Jim Leonhard, who additionally performed three seasons with the Jets (2009-11). Jets defensive position coach Eric Washington’s job is also in jeopardy after the crew completed next-to-last in sacks.
Employees modifications is probably not unique to only the defensive facet of the ball. The Jets might change a few of their offensive employees, together with Charles London, who’s their quarterback coach. London’s experience is primarily working with working backs.
Discovering a franchise QB and a bridge
After evaluating the employees, Glenn and the Jets brass will head to Indianapolis for the NFL Mix in hopes of discovering their subsequent franchise quarterback. The 2 high quarterbacks on the draft board may very well be Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore. Mendoza is broadly thought of the highest quarterback accessible in April’s draft, however the Raiders can have the No. 1 decide and will determine to draft a quarterback.
Moore’s draft inventory has risen this 12 months in his first season beginning at Oregon. He has the most effective athletic construct and essentially the most upside of any quarterback who may very well be accessible in April’s draft.
What makes Moore particular is his means to increase performs together with his legs inside and outdoors the pocket. He also can make any throw on the sphere together with his accuracy, arm expertise and passing velocity. In 14 video games this season, Moore has thrown 3,280 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions for the Geese.
Mendoza and Moore will meet within the Fiesta Bowl on Friday evening, which is likely one of the School Soccer semifinals.
As well as, the Jets will doubtless want a bridge quarterback to begin video games till the rookie is able to play. Names that the Jets may very well be considering embody Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett, Commanders’ Marcus Mariota and Falcons’ Kirk Cousins.
Releasing Justin Fields
The Jets will nearly actually have a brand new beginning quarterback in 2026. Which means the doubtless, temporary finish of the Justin Fields period.
Gang Inexperienced signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract final March, hoping he may very well be the following participant to revive his profession with a unique crew after stops in Chicago and Pittsburgh. However the Fields signing turned out to be a bust, as he was benched after 9 begins through which he led the Jets to the league’s worst passing offense.
Fields is scheduled to make $20 million in 2026, together with $10 million assured. If the Jets launch Fields with a June 1 designation, they’d save $10 million.
Fields simply wasn’t a terrific match with the Jets for quite a lot of causes. One motive is his lack of accuracy and his willingness to throw the ball down the sphere. In 9 video games, Fields handed for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception.
Impending free brokers
The Jets are scheduled to have 23 free brokers this offseason. Amongst them are starters working again Breece Corridor, guard John Simpson, linebacker Quincy Williams, safeties Andre Cisco and Tony Adams.
The Jets stored Corridor after the commerce deadline regardless of dealing Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. Now they should discover a solution to preserve him long-term. With a rookie quarterback more likely to are available, the Jets should preserve Corridor, who’s a serious basis of their offensive id.
The Jets even have the franchise tag accessible if they should place it on Corridor. Nonetheless, the franchise tag tender is anticipated to be round $14.1 million for working backs.
Tons of draft capital
The Jets can have two first-round picks after buying and selling Gardner and two second-round picks after the Williams commerce. They may have eight picks in whole, and that doesn’t even embody the compensatory picks, which the Jets are projected to obtain two of them, each within the fifth spherical, based on Over the Cap.
