Who knows?
For the first time in several years, the Jets’ offseason direction is almost completely unknown.
In 2022, the Jets had two top-10 draft picks, a boatload of cash to spend in free agency, and a slew of obvious roster holes.
In 2023, the focal point of the offseason was acquiring a quarterback, and it was only a matter of which one.
In 2024, there were several key positions to fill to try to round out a Super Bowl-contending roster.
In 2025? … How the Jets are going to approach this offseason, especially free agency, is extremely murky.
There’s no obvious direction at quarterback. If they bring back Aaron Rodgers — then what? Do they double down and really think they can plug some roster holes for another attempt to compete? Will they just go with an extremely expensive and disruptive bridge quarterback but approach the rest of the roster as a reset?
If they let Rodgers go, who will be their quarterback in 2025? Tyrod Taylor? Justin Fields? One of those and a draft pick? Overdraft a quarterback in a weak draft?
And then, the rest of the roster. The Jets currently have nine free-agent starters and may have several other holes after the first wave of cuts. They won’t have a lot of money to work with, and they won’t necessarily have a clear direction. So how will they fill the holes on their roster?
Therefore, before even looking at the names available on the free-agent market or in the draft, let’s rank the positions the Jets should target this offseason in reverse order of importance.
10. Kicker
Punter is not far behind, as Thomas Morstead’s contract exceeds his production at this point. But after the total disaster the Jets suffered at kicker in 2024, they’re once again back searching for a reliable player at the position after a two-year reprieve with Greg Zuerlein.
I would explore all avenues for the kicker. A free agent, seventh-round pick, undrafted free agent, or player from a different league or a different country.
9. Edge rusher
I honestly think this is more of a need than No. 9 on the list, but the Jets have too many other needs to put it high when they have two starting-caliber players at the position. Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald are hardly an ideal edge-rushing pair: Johnson is coming off an Achilles tear, and McDonald can’t stop the run.
But they will likely be the Jets’ starting duo next season, and chances are they’ll see a higher snap count than the Robert Saleh-Jeff Ulbrich regime preferred to give them.
Still, at the very worst, the Jets need to add depth at the position. There is no way that Micheal Clemons should be a backup, let alone a starter.
8. Linebacker
This one could go higher, too, because the Jets will clearly have a need at middle linebacker. Jamien Sherwood has already been connected to both the 49ers and Falcons with Saleh and Ulbrich taking defensive coordinator jobs in those spots.
It’s just that the Jets have so many needs, and linebacker is considered one of the less important positions in football. Ideally, the Jets can bring back Sherwood. If not, they may be able to find a stopgap or even a solid player on a cheap deal.
7. Tight end
You could flip tight end and linebacker, as Tyler Conklin seems more likely to re-sign with the Jets than Sherwood. Still, even if Conklin returns, his terrible run-blocking and uninspiring performance as a receiver make him a less-than-ideal starting tight end. There really aren’t many good options on the free-agent market.
I was extremely opposed to drafting Brock Bowers at No. 10 overall last offseason, a take that has not aged well (regardless of whether Olu Fashanu turns out to have been a great pick, Bowers became a superstar from Day 1). A consistent take would mean doubling down on that, which is still my inclination.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah recently mocked Penn State tight end Tyler Warren to the Jets at No. 7 overall. If I see what Jeremiah said about Warren’s lack of separation on film, I will almost certainly oppose drafting Warren high. The only reason I’m somewhat less against it is the belated recognition that the Jets’ offense has been significantly hindered by not having a dynamic tight end, a factor I previously dismissed.
Considering that the Jets have other needs, though, I’m still not a big fan of taking a tight end in the first round.
6. Tackle
I think the Jets should re-sign Morgan Moses as a stopgap. If not, they’ll likely need to find a player on a cheap one-year deal. But they also need two new backups given the utter futility of Max Mitchell and Carter Warren.
5. Safety
Safety has been a problem for the Jets for years. Even in their excellent 2022-23 defenses, safety was perhaps the weakest link. It became an even more glaring problem in 2024.
Tony Adams is a restricted free agent this offseason, but he’s coming off a shaky season, and I’m not sure the Jets will want to offer him a tender (which would be $3.2 million). They need at least one impactful player at the position, and they can’t really make do with an Ashtyn Davis or Jalen Mills.
4. Cornerback
As much as the Jets’ defense was predicated on their cornerback trio during the Saleh era, finding good cornerbacks is hard. Replacing D.J. Reed won’t be easy. Ideally, Jarrick Bernard-Converse and/or Qwan’tez Stiggers will be ready to step into his spot, but they were both late-round picks.
If one of those two aren’t ready, the Jets will probably need to dip into the free agency well to find at least an adequate starter. Carlton Davis is an obvious target.
3. Defensive tackle
I’m sure this one will be controversial, but hear me out. The Jets have been seeking a quality defensive tackle starter next to Quinnen Williams since they drafted him. Sheldon Rankins had one decent year in 2022, and Quinton Jefferson did an admirable job on a 49% snap count prior to injury in 2023. But they haven’t found a full-time starter to make an impact, particularly in the run game.
That needs to change. Michigan’s Mason Graham is a popular Jets mock draft target for a reason. After a decade of Jets general managers drafting interior defensive linemen in the first round (Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Leonard Williams, Quinnen Williams), Joe Douglas essentially ignored the position during his tenure, selecting just one defensive tackle in five drafts (Jonathan Marshall in the sixth round in 2021).
The Jets must find a more durable solution on their defensive line.
2. Wide receiver
This largely depends on if Davante Adams returns. If the Jets still have him, perhaps receiver moves down a tick on this list even though they will undoubtedly need a succession plan. Or maybe not — maybe it is just that critical for the Jets to have as strong an offensive arsenal as possible for whoever their quarterback will be.
From the beginning of 2023 until the Jets acquired Adams in 2024, Garrett Wilson consistently faced double teams and shaded coverage. While Rodgers was unable (or unwilling) to take advantage of the cushion Wilson received with Adams on the other side, having another weapon across from Wilson is undoubtedly a major boon to unleash his talents.
Tee Higgins is the best receiver on the free agent market, but the Jets are highly unlikely to target him. Given that the other top options on the market are older, declining, and/or coming off injury (Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin), coming to an agreement with Adams makes the most sense for the Jets by far.
But if Adams doesn’t want to stick around, drafting a receiver in the first round may just be high on the Jets’ list, as a recent mock draft suggested. Even if not, the Jets should target the position in the next round (with a better profile than Malachi Corley).
1. Quarterback… maybe?
I’m not sure whether or not to put this at No. 1 because of the difficulty of filling it. There’s a strong argument to be made that the Jets should simply roll with Tyrod Taylor in 2025 or find some other bridge quarterback. Even if the Jets do bring back Rodgers, they need a succession plan.
I have yet to see a mock draft that projects the Jets to take a quarterback in the first round. The only quarterbacks considered worthy of first-round picks are Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, who will undoubtedly be off the board by the time the Jets pick at No. 7. They are not considered prospects worthy of trading up for even if the Jets were theoretically inclined to try.
Still, Jalen Milroe has occasionally been mocked to them in the second round, and that’s enough for me to put quarterback in the conversation. I put this here with much hesitation, but if you don’t have a quarterback, you don’t have a chance. There’s no way to consider it anything but the Jets’ most important need this offseason, regardless of whether there is an easy path for them to fill it.