One of the few bright spots of the New York Jets’ 2025 season was the emergence of their young, promising offensive line.

Now, entering 2026, they will be put to the test, facing several elite defensive lines this season.

Here are their three biggest tests this year.

Denver Broncos

Last season, the Denver Broncos led the NFL with 68 sacks. Jets fans saw firsthand how lethal their pass-rush was in Week 6, when they sacked Justin Fields a whopping nine times.

The Broncos had four players reach seven sacks last season; Nik Bonitto’s 14.0 finished fifth in the NFL, while Jonathaon Cooper (8.0), John Franklin-Myers (7.5), and Zach Allen (7.0) also had big years. Additionally, Bonitto’s 24% pass-rush win rate ranked second in the league, trailing Nick Herbig by 1%.

Allen was as dominant on the interior as Bonitto was on the edge, leading all defensive tackles with 74 total pressures.

Last year, Denver relied heavily on their pass rush to win games, making their matchup against the Jets’ offensive line crucial. If Gang Green’s OL can stand strong, the Jets have a chance to steal one from the Broncos in Week 14.

It will be a tough test for the Jets’ young OL, and a crucial one, as a strong performance could lead to a surprise win for New York.

Cleveland Browns

While the Cleveland Browns traded away Myles Garrett, a move that will significantly benefit the Jets, there is no doubt that Cleveland still possesses a robust pass rush.

As part of the Garrett trade, the Browns acquired Jared Verse from the Los Angeles Rams, who has made the Pro Bowl in both of his NFL seasons.

Last season, Verse’s 80 pressures ranked sixth among edge rushers, while he also finished second in hits (20), sixth in hurries (52) and stops (35), and fourth in forced fumbles (3) and solo tackles (38).

While his 8.0 sacks don’t necessarily jump off the page, he could very well take another leap with the Browns this season. Keep in mind, he is entering just his third NFL season.

His overall 83.9 grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 11th among 115 qualified edge rushers, while his 82.2 pass-rush grade finished 14th.

Mason Graham, the fifth overall pick of the 2025 draft, is expected to break out this season with the Browns after a consistent yet not too flashy rookie season in 2026. He finished the season on a strong note, as his overall grade of 73.8 from PFF finished 16th among DTs from Weeks 7 through 18.

If he beefs up this offseason, Graham could certainly live up to his top 10 billing in 2026.

Detroit Lions

Aaron Glenn’s first matchup as a head coach against his former team will present a challenge for his offensive line.

When evaluating the Detroit Lions’ defensive line, Aidan Hutchinson obviously takes center stage. Last season, Hutchinson’s overall grade of 91.8 per PFF ranked fourth among edge rushers. He finished third in sacks (16) and hurries (64), first in pressures (100), second in hits (20) and forced fumbles (4), and sixth in stops (35).

The team also drafted Derrick Moore in the second round of April’s draft, who was a machine at Michigan last season, posting 11 sacks and 41 pressures along with a stellar 92.4 pass-rush grade from PFF, which finished fourth among 852 qualified edge rushers.

Also, the context of this matchup is important. The Jets play the Lions in Week 3, and they are one of three NFC North opponents Gang Green will play over a three-week stretch. It is crucial that the Jets win at least one of those matchups against Detroit, Chicago, or Minnesota.

To secure a road victory in the Motor City, strong trench play will be required on offense.