FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — For the previous two offseasons, the New York Jets tried to construct a greater roster for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It did not work. Their so-called championship window slammed shut with out a lot as a successful season.
So now a brand new regime is in to steer the franchise, Rodgers is out and there is a completely different means of doing enterprise.
Within the first 12 months below coach Aaron Glenn and common supervisor Darren Mougey, the Jets can reconstruct a roster with an eye fixed on tomorrow. It is not a bare-cupboard scenario. Actually, they’ve 9 former first- and second-round picks (5 offense, 4 protection) between the ages of twenty-two and 27, all in beginning roles.
“It is a proficient roster right here,” Mougey stated, “and we will proceed so as to add to it.”
They’ve loads of wants. For assets, the Jets have eight draft picks, together with three within the high 100, and may have greater than $55 million in cap area (after cuts).
Here is a take a look at their high 5 wants:
Quarterback
After they traded for Rodgers in 2023, the Jets had a succession plan: go two or three years with Rodgers, then have him move the baton again to Zach Wilson. That concept was deserted after a 12 months when Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos, leaving the Jets with no inheritor obvious — asserting final week that they’re parting methods with Rodgers.
They nonetheless have Tyrod Taylor below contract, however they might use one other veteran to reinforce the place. They might go along with an older bridge quarterback (Kirk Cousins) or a former starter with some upside (Justin Fields). Or maybe they’ll commerce for an unproven backup with the potential to develop (Hendon Hooker or Tanner McKee). Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand simply spent two seasons with Hooker on the Detroit Lions.
Selecting seventh within the April draft, they most likely will not have a shot at both of the highest two prospects, Cam Ward (Miami) or Shedeur Sanders (Colorado). So it is not a really perfect scenario for the brand new hierarchy, which is perhaps higher off ready for the loaded 2026 draft class.
“We’ll discover and exhaust each possibility,” Mougey stated.
Defensive backs
Other than cornerback Sauce Gardner and nickel again Michael Carter II, the Jets have numerous empty areas on the depth chart. Corners D.J. Reed and Brandin Echols are pending free brokers, as are their high 4 safeties — Chuck Clark, Tony Adams (restricted), Jalen Mills and Ashtyn Davis.
Glenn, whose experience is the secondary, faces a serious rebuild.
To deal with the a number of wants, the group might want to faucet into each free company and the draft. The consensus high DB within the draft is Will Johnson (Michigan), the No. 10 prospect in Subject Yates’ newest rankings.
In free company, there’s extra depth at security than nook. Security wasn’t a premium place within the earlier teaching workers’s zone-based scheme; that figures to alter below Glenn, who prefers man protection over zone. The Lions have a handful of free brokers, together with cornerback Carlton Davis III and security Ifeatu Melifonwu. Maybe Glenn will look to his earlier group to assist bolster his new secondary.
Reed might be among the many most coveted corners in free company, although the earlier regime was ready to maneuver on from him. Glenn & Co. might need a special perspective, however the worth to signal Reed to a deal most likely might be too excessive for the Jets.
“This is not my first time going by [free agency], and I am wanting ahead to it,” Reed instructed ESPN on the finish of the season. “I actually want the Jets the perfect. I would like the Jets to win. Successful in New York is completely different, you already know what I imply? When you’re in a position to win in New York, you are going to be the person without end. That was one thing I took to coronary heart and actually wished to do. Sadly, I wasn’t in a position to.”
That appeared like a goodbye.
Defensive sort out
Three of their high 4 inside linemen are pending free brokers — Javon Kinlaw, Solomon Thomas and Leki Fotu. That leaves Quinnen Williams and numerous questions. It is a troublesome state of affairs for a protection that completed twentieth in dashing EPA. It additionally must be regarding for Williams, one of the crucial double-teamed tackles within the league.
Supreme state of affairs: Mason Graham (Michigan), No. 3 within the Yates rankings, slips to the Jets at No. 7. In need of that, it’s going to take some shrewd drafting and strategic spending in free company to fill the holes. The one sort out within the Jets’ pipeline is Leonard Taylor III, who performed 261 snaps as a rookie.
Tight finish
For 3 years, they obtained constant manufacturing from Tyler Conklin, who caught 58, 61 and 51 passes, respectively, within the span. Now Conklin is heading to free company. Ditto, backup Kenny Yeboah, leaving Jeremy Ruckert as the highest participant below contract.
Ruckert (35 receptions in three years), a former third-round choose, hasn’t developed as rapidly as they’d hoped, making this a serious want. Final 12 months, the Jets handed on Brock Bowers, now a star with the Las Vegas Raiders, to handle a necessity within the first spherical — sort out Olu Fashanu. The choice does not look nice now, however Fashanu nonetheless has a ton of potential as a left sort out.
For the subsequent two months, the Jets are positive to be linked with Tyler Warren (Penn State), No. 9 within the prospect rankings.
Vast receiver
They’re superb as of this second, however the dynamic will change within the coming weeks. Davante Adams ($38.3 million cap cost) and Allen Lazard ($13.2 million) are prone to be launched, leaving Garrett Wilson, Xavier Gipson and Malachi Corley as the highest three on the depth chart.
Wilson, coming off his third straight 1,000-yard season, is a legit WR1. Neither Gipson nor Corley demonstrated the power to be a front-line receiver. Corley ought to get an opportunity, contemplating he was a 2024 third-round choose, however the brand new regime has no allegiance to him.
“All people’s below the microscope,” Glenn stated, talking about roster.
There aren’t many enticing choices in free company aside from Tee Higgins, who figures to be out of the Jets’ worth vary. A second-tier possibility is Tim Patrick, who additionally was with the Lions final season. The consensus high receiver within the draft is Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), a 6-foot-5 goal with enormous manufacturing.
