NFL
Season Outlook
The Jets had a historic 2025 – not in a good way. A grand total of zero interceptions forced was an NFL first. Their 3-14 record wasn’t exactly new, however. It marked a tenth straight losing season and the seventh time in that span they won five games or fewer. New York now looks to the future – and the past. A top-heavy draft could help accelerate a rebuild while Geno Smith rejoins the Jets a decade after he last took snaps for them.
What's Changed
Two of the three first-round picks came from in-season trades of All-Pros Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. In return, they selected edge rusher David Bailey No. 2 overall, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and receiver Omar Cooper Jr. Additionally, they picked up veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to add credibility to a secondary that needs it. At quarterback, New York shipped out Justin Fields for a late-round pick and replaced him with Smith.
Bigger Role & Sophomore Breakout
Breece Hall is the established star tasked with carrying the offense. He ran for 1,065 yards last season and will need another big year to take pressure off Smith, behind an offensive line that returns four starters and helped the Jets rank 10th in rushing. Second-year lineman second-year tackle Armand Membou played 1,047 of the Jets' 1,048 offensive snaps as a rookie and allowed just 4.5 sacks. The No. 7 overall pick out of Missouri should be better off from that amount of experience early on.
Key Question
Will Aaron Glenn survive the season? Expectations aren't high, but anything resembling last year would raise doubts about the head coach, especially given Glenn's reputation as a defensive mind leading a group that forced only four takeaways all season. It might seem unfair not to give a coach two full seasons, but there's little patience left in today's NFL.
Prediction
The Jets are bad, but just good enough to tank poorly. They go 5-12 and the only competitions they’re in are with the Dolphins to avoid last in the AFC East and the Giants for the “best” New York team. The defense, though, is markedly better. Bailey leads all rookies in sacks and the secondary creates its share of takeaways. Geno Smith’s struggles continue in New York and the lack of offensive production fails to improve the team overall.
X-Factor
Adonai Mitchell, who was acquired in the Sauce Gardner trade, has flashed talent but battled drops and fumbles through his two pro seasons. If he clicks as a real No. 2 wide receiver opposite Garrett Wilson, it validates this rebuild. Otherwise, the Jets might have to cut their losses and search for more answers.
Final Scorecard
- Offense: 5
- Defense: 6
- Coaching: 5
- X-Factor Upside: 7
- Schedule Strength: 5