On Wednesday morning, the New York Jets signed tight end Jeremy Ruckert to a two-year, $10 million extension.
The deal came just five days after the organization rewarded center Josh Myers with a two-year, $11 million extension.
First-year general manager Darren Mougey and the Jets have taken an intriguing approach to in-season extensions, which is a promising sign for the franchise’s future.
The Jets continue to reward internal growth
Mougey and the Jets’ front office are taking a proactive approach by rewarding players with in-season extensions after they exceed expectations.
This kind of stuff matters for a team attempting to rebuild its culture. When players see improvement acknowledged by the coaching staff and front office, it sends a message throughout the building. Little things like this help establish standards and set a precedent for how the Jets want to operate going forward.
Myers entered the season on a cheap, one-year free-agent deal. The former Packer was initially brought in to provide depth on the interior of the offensive line. He was expected to serve in a backup role and opened camp competing with Joe Tippmann for the starting center job.
Tippmann appeared to be trending toward winning the battle before injuries reshaped the Jets’ plans. Alijah Vera-Tucker’s season-ending injury forced the former second-round pick up the depth chart, where he took over as the team’s starting center to open the year.
Myers has been serviceable. He has not been a liability at center, but he has not distinguished himself in any particular area, either. Among qualified centers, he ranks 25th in pass protection with a 56.9 grade (via Pro Football Focus) and 27th as a run blocker at 56.5.
His extension speaks less to his ceiling as a player and more to how this franchise wants to operate. It serves as recognition of a player who admirably stepped into a larger role than anticipated, displaying internal accountability as part of a broader cultural reset.
The same can be said about tight end Jeremy Ruckert, who just re-upped with the team on a two-year, $10 million deal.
The Ohio State product entered this season with little margin for error. After a difficult 2024 campaign in which he managed just 105 receiving yards on 18 catches, it was unknown if he would fit into the team’s plans in 2025. The most glaring issue was his inconsistency in the run game, where he earned a 39.0 run-blocking grade from PFF, the second-worst mark among qualified tight ends.
To Ruckert’s credit, the 2025 season has featured noticeable progress. Through 14 games, Ruckert has already set career highs with 20 receptions for 163 yards, while making meaningful strides as a blocker. His run-blocking grade has climbed to 57.7, a mark that still leaves room for growth but places him firmly in above-average TE2 territory, ranking 28th out of 50 tight ends.
Fans should be enamored with this approach from the Jets. The organization is doing right by players who step up, setting a clear tone inside the building, and leaving the door open for others to earn that same trust before the season is over.
