A new quarterback? Check.
An infusion of pass-catching talent? Check.
A revamped defense at all three levels? Check.
Breece Hall extended? Check.
After a 3-14 season, Gang Green desperately needed talent upgrades across the board. New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey had a collection of goals and expectations to match throughout the 2026 offseason, and he accomplished most of those goals.
So, what’s next? Can New York confidently say they’re ready to compete with the likes of the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots in the AFC East?
That’s a long way off. For now, the Jets are focused on their next orders of business as they turn their attentions to OTAs in late May.
Jets offseason outlook
Before the offseason began, the Jets knew they had an immense total of cap space to play with. They needed a new quarterback, pass catchers, an offensive guard, a revamp of their edge rushing room, run-defending defensive tackles, a linebacker, and a new safety room.
To the credit of Mougey and his scouts, the team was able to solve all of these needs while maintaining cap flexibility. Heading into offseason workouts, the Jets still possess $26.9 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, ranking ninth in the NFL. They are projected to have $115.6 million in 2027, ranking fourth.
That’s with Breece Hall’s three-year, $45.75 million extension penciled in as well.
Few teams across the league have undergone the kind of revamp the Jets have. Compared to where the roster was at this time last year, there is an argument to be made that New York is one of the NFL’s most improved teams across the board.
“It’s definitely a more comfortable feeling going in knowing you have a whole year with your processes,” Mougey said following the 2026 NFL draft. ” I felt much more comfortable visualizing the board this year and kind of knowing how it was going to fall and feel really good about where we’re at as a whole staff.”
Just because the Jets have solved most of their needs, though, it doesn’t mean they are quite done shaping their roster ahead of Week 1.
There are still some things to figure out, starting with OTAs beginning at the end of this month.
Next order of business
Offseason workouts began in Florham Park with rookie minicamp this past week. With no big fish on the open market remaining, the Jets seem prepared to take their current roster onto the field.
It’s up to the coaching staff to do a better job of maximizing the roster than last year’s team. Aaron Glenn has revamped the staff on both sides of the ball with new coordinators, refreshed schemes, and a revitalized player development program. After a 3-14 season, Glenn knew major changes would be needed.
“There are things about messaging with the players that I want to improve on to make sure there’s clarity on what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to do it,” Glenn said in April. “So there’s a number of things and those are just a couple examples that I sit back and I look at. And I think every year you want to improve on those things.”
Before Glenn and his coaching staff take the spotlight in September, fans will have plenty of storylines to watch throughout the coming months.
At kicker, a competition between Will Ferrin, Cade York, and Lenny Krieg will keep fans interested in special teams workouts. New York will also need to determine what to do with Joe Tippmann’s contract.
After a successful first full season at right guard, Tippmann is set to be a free agent after this year concludes. It would behoove the Jets to find a long-term extension for one of their better offensive linemen. No agreement needs to be made yet, of course, but the Jets would be smart to find a solution sooner rather than later.
Questions about the backup quarterback position and the linebacker room are other areas to keep an eye on. The Jets are also poised to have competitions at outside corner, slot corner, safety, and wide receiver, among others.
New York should feel confident about the roster they have built at this time. While no organization is a finished product in May, it feels like the Jets can turn to their next orders of business as their veterans prepare to begin offseason workouts.
