Throughout two offseasons as the New York Jets’ general manager, extending homegrown talent and rewarding players who exceed expectations have been priorities for Darren Mougey.

This offseason, he has already locked up two of the Jets’ core homegrown pieces: Joe Tippmann and Breece Hall.

Before the 2026 season kicks off, there is one more extension candidate the Jets should reward: Ausin McNamara.

Why McNamara should be the Jets’ next extension candidate

After beating out Kai Kroeger for the Jets’ starting punter role last season, McNamara had one of the best seasons among NFL punters in 2025.

Here is a look at where his individual metrics ranked among 32 qualified punters last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

  • 4.70s average hang time (2nd)
  • 29.6% of punts returned (2nd)
  • 90.3 PFF punting grade (2nd)
  • 43.1-yard net average (6th)
  • 6.3 yards per return (2nd)
  • 18 punts downed (1st)
  • 25 fair catches (2nd)

McNamara was one of the primary forces behind the Jets’ overall special teams dominance last season.

The 4.70-second hangtime is what really jumps off the page. By leaving the ball in the air for that long, he allowed the Jets’ special teamers to get downfield and prevent returns, hence his impressive mark of just 29.6% of punts being returned, which was the second-best in football.

After signing with the Jets last summer, McNamara only has one year left on his contract with a cap hit of just over $1 million in 2026. Next offseason, he is slated to become an ERFA (Exclusive Rights Free Agent).

An ERFA is a player with an expired contract and fewer than three accrued NFL seasons. If his team from the season prior offers him a one-year deal at the league minimum, he can’t negotiate with other teams.

For example, in 2024, the Jets exercised Irv Charles’ ERFA tender, and they did the same for Jowon Briggs this offseason.

The ERFA tender gives the team plenty of flexibility, preventing the Jets from having to rush to extend McNamara. Regardless, Mougey should stay true to a core principle he has exemplified these past two offseasons: rewarding homegrown talent with multi-year extensions.

As we’ve broken down, special teams dominance is hard enough to retain year after year. For that reason, the Jets should make it a priority to retain one of the key cogs behind their historic 2025 season in that regard.

McNamara is only 25 years old and has already displayed the potential to be one of the best punters in the league, if not the best. He could help anchor an elite Jets special teams unit for many years to come.

Getting an extension done with the Texas Tech product is certainly something that Mougey should explore before the 2026 season kicks off.