Day 1 of NFL free agency is in the books, and per usual, it was a hectic day around the league, particularly for the New York Jets.
General manager Darren Mougey and Gang Green agreed to terms with six new players, all on defense, while also losing four.
Jets overhaul defense
The Jets’ action started before the legal tampering even opened. They swung a trade for five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, sending a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins. New York also signed Fitzpatrick to a new three-year, $40 million deal.
Once 12 p.m. EST hit, the Jets wasted no time continuing to overhaul their defense.
New York added three defensive linemen: edge rushers Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare, and defensive tackle David Onyemeta.
Onyemeta, 33, agreed on a one-year deal worth up to $10.5 million with the Jets. In 2025 with the Atlanta Falcons, the 33-year-old ranked among the league’s top run-defenders, per Pro Football Focus, with a run defense grade of 74.2, which was the seventh-best among defensive tackles with at least 200 snaps against the run.
The Jets and Ossai reached an agreement on a three-year, $36 million deal with over $22 million in guarantees, while the team also agreed on a one-year, $10 million deal with Engabare. Both players will be 26 this season.
Ossai was a third-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 and blossomed into a key defensive lineman for the Bengals throughout his first four seasons. In 2025, he set a career-high in pressures with 43, while earning a solid 70.7 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 15th among 64 qualified edge rushers.
As for Engabare, it appears the Jets are hoping he can be a rotational edge rusher and provide depth for a unit that lacked that last year. He was a fifth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL draft, and posted 11.5 sacks, 79 solo tackles, and 31 quarterback hits across 68 games (21 starts).
The Jets’ most noteworthy free agent signing of the day was Demario Davis.
He and the Jets agreed to a two-year, $22 million deal that will mark his third stint with the team.
Throughout his NFL career, the 37-year-old has earned five All-Pro nods, all coming from his eight-year run with the New Orleans Saints from 2018-25.
Not only is Davis an incredible leader, but he has continued to play at a high caliber despite entering his late 30s. In the 2025 season, he posted an excellent 81.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which was the fifth-best among all linebackers.
To close out the day, the Jets agreed on a one-year contract with safety Dane Belton, worth up to $6 million.
The 25-year-old ranked second on the Giants last year with 67 solo tackles while playing an integral role on special teams. He earned a 71.6 special teams grade from PFF while finishing second in snaps among the Giants’ special teamers.
Defensively, Belton added three pass deflections, two sacks, and two forced fumbles, which were tied for the most among all safeties.
In another key move for the Jets’ special teams, they re-signed fullback Andrew Beck to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
Jets lose four on Day 1 of free agency
While the Jets made some solid additions to their defense on Monday, they also lost a few players on the open market.
Offensive guard John Simpson went back to Baltimore, agreeing on a three-year, $30 million deal with the Ravens.
Nick Folk, who was one of the NFL’s best kickers last season, missing just one kick, agreed on a two-year, $9 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
Linebacker Quincy Williams landed with the Cleveland Browns on a two-year, $17 million contract, where he will reunite with former Jets linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg.
Offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker signed with the Jets’ division rival, the New England Patriots.
As Day 2 kicks off, the Jets must shift their focus towards the offensive side of the ball, particularly the wide receiver market, where a flurry of targets such as Romeo Doubs and Jauan Jennings remain available. New York also has a hole at left guard.
