The 2025 NFL draft begins tonight, and Jets fans will watch intently as the new regime makes its mark.
Every pick and prospect is hotly debated. If the Jets select tight end Tyler Warren, how will they address right tackle? If they shore up the trenches in the first two rounds, who will Justin Fields throw to?
These are legitimate questions. However, the Jets may not have an answer to every one of them in 2025. Unfortunately, that is the reality Jets fans must be prepared for. After all, even the Jets’ new regime is prepared for this outcome.
Quiet free agency hints at front offices’ expectations?
The new regime’s approach to the offseason thus far gives the impression of a team that is not ready to compete in 2025.
New York’s second-biggest signing was a questionable contract for a player (Brandon Stephens) who barely passed as a starting option, let alone a top-25 contract at his position. Beyond that, the only newly signed players expected to start are quarterback Justin Fields and safety Andre Cisco.
For a team that lost five starters in free agency, these additions do little to change the prospects for a team that went 5-12 the season prior.
Jets are prepared to “re-tool” in 2025 before dreaming of contention
While the Jets have firmly denied that they are rebuilding, it is fair to say they are “retooling.”
The Jets went all-in when they traded for Aaron Rodgers. Two years later, it is entrenched as a spectacular failure. While they’ve maintained a talented young core, they lost players at key positions and stretched their future cap space on short-term veteran free agents that did not work out.
It’s unrealistic to expect the Jets to find starters at tight end, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and wide receiver in a single draft. Not to mention that the Jets could use upgrades at quarterback, cornerback, and safety as well. With this being the case, the Jets and their fans must prepare to leave the draft without addressing every need.
It’s a common phrase during the draft: “Take the best player available.” For the Jets, this could mean taking a defensive tackle who plays the same spot as Quinnen Williams, and leaving the draft with players like Chukwuma Okorafor, Stone Smartt, and Allen Lazard as projected starters.
While it’s a tough pill to swallow for fans of the only NFL franchise not to make the postseason during Pope Francis’ tenure, it’s a reality they need to prepare for. Reaching to fill those holes would give the Jets lower odds of actually hitting on their draft picks. Considering the draft is widely described as a “crap shoot,” this is a poor strategy for a rookie general manager and head coach.
The Jets must focus on adding talent to the roster, not plugging every hole on the depth chart. We’ll find out soon if Darren Mougey heeds this warning.
