A pivotal season of New York Jets football kicks off Sunday.
After a rough 2025 season under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, the team enters Year 2 with a new quarterback and more pressure. He can’t survive another three-win campaign.
Glenn also revamped his coaching staff this offseason, taking over defensive play-calling while replacing Tanner Engstrand with veteran Frank Reich.
The Jets are no longer at the beginning of their reset. They must show meaningful progress in 2026 to demonstrate that they have the foundational building blocks in place.
Sunday’s opener against the Tennessee Titans will be the team’s first test.
With another offseason of significant roster turnover, the biggest question entering 2026 is: How much will Gang Green improve?
Roster changes
Additions
- Geno Smith (QB) – Trade acquisition
- Cade Klubnik (QB) — Rookie draft pick
- Omar Cooper Jr. (WR) – Rookie draft pick
- Kenyon Sadiq (TE) – Rookie draft pick
- Dylan Parham (OL) – Free agent signing
- Anez Cooper (OL) — Rookie draft pick
- David Bailey (EDGE) – Rookie draft pick
- Joseph Ossai (DE) – Free agent signing
- Kingsley Enagbare (DE) – Free agent signing
- David Onyemata (DT) – Free agent signing
- Darrell Jackson Jr. (DT) — Rookie draft pick
- T’Vondre Sweat (NT) – Trade acquisition
- Demario Davis (LB) – Free agent signing
- Trevin Wallace (LB) – Waiver claim
- Nahshon Wright (CB) – Free agent signing
- D’Angelo Ponds (CB) – Rookie draft pick
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (S) – Trade acquisition
- Dane Belton (S) – Free-agent signing
- VJ Payne (S) — Rookie draft pick
- Blake Grupe (K) — Waiver claim
Subtractions
- Jermaine Johnson II (EDGE) – Traded to the Tennessee Titans
- Justin Fields (QB) – Traded to the Kansas City Chiefs
- Tyrod Taylor (QB) – Free agent (Green Bay Packers)
- Irvin Charles (WR) – Traded to the Seattle Seahawks
- Tony Adams (S) – Free agent (Tennessee Titans)
- Alijah Vera-Tucker (OL) – Free agent (New England Patriots)
- Quincy Williams (LB) – Free agent (Cleveland Browns)
- John Simpson (OL) – Free agent (Baltimore Ravens)
- Micheal Clemons (DL) – Free agent (Indianapolis Colts)
- Nick Folk (K) – Free agent (Atlanta Falcons)
Depth Chart
- QB: Geno Smith, Cade Klubnik
- RB: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu
- FB: Andrew Beck
- WR: Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Williams, Omar Cooper Jr., Tim Patrick, Arian Smith
- TE: Mason Taylor, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenyon Sadiq, Jelani Woods
- OL: Olu Fashanu, Armand Membou, Joe Tippmann, Josh Myers, Dylan Parham, Chukwuma Okorafor, Max Mitchell, Jordan Meredith
- EDGE: Joseph Ossai, Kingsley Enagbare, Will McDonald, David Bailey, Braiden McGregor
- DT: Harrison Phillips, David Onyemata, Jowon Briggs, T’Vondre Sweat, Darrell Jackson Jr.
- LB: Demario Davis, Jamien Sherwood, Kiko Mauigoa, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Trevin Wallace
- CB: Brandon Stephens, Azareye’h Thomas, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Qwan’tez Stiggers, Nahshon Wright, D’Angelo Ponds
- S: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton, Andre Cisco, Malachi Moore
- ST: Austin McNamara, Blake Grupe, Thomas Hennessy
Practice Squad
- Mory Bamba, CB
- Cam Camper, WR
- Jordan Clark, CB
- Paschal Ekeji, EDGE (IPP)
- Marquis Hayes, OL
- Jack Helfin, DL
- Al-Jay Henderson, RB
- Jaden Keller, LB
- Nate Lynn, EDGE
- Malik McClain, WR
- Xavier Newman, OL
- Payton Page, DL
- Jamaal Pritchett, WR
- Troy Reeder, LB
- Jason Sanders, K
- Samuel Womack III, CB
Coaching Staff
- Special Teams Coordinator: Chris Banjo
- Head Coach: Aaron Glenn
- Offensive Coordinator: Frank Reich
- Defensive Coordinator: Brian Duker
Roster notes
Geno Smith
Geno Smith enters the season as the Jets’ starting quarterback. He is coming off a rough 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he led the NFL with 17 interceptions.
However, just two years ago, Smith was playing at a Pro Bowl level. If he can return to that form, which is plausible, given his supporting cast in New York, he can will give the organization competent enough quarterback play to have a competitive season.
Despite falling off in many areas last year, Smith’s accuracy remained near the top of the league, along with his success in a clean pocket. That makes the Jets’ offensive line even more important this season.
Running back situation
Coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing season, Breece Hall signed a three-year extension this offseason. He remains one of the NFL’s most dangerous big-play threats on the ground, finishing fifth among qualified running backs in breakaway percentage last season (percentage of rushing yards coming on runs for 15+ yards).
The depth behind Hall remains questionable. Braelon Allen is entering a make-or-break third season after missing most of 2025 with a knee injury. Isaiah Davis remains intriguing, given that he’s averaged 5.6 yards per carry in 21 NFL games, but his sample size is small.
Wide receiver depth
The passing game is still expected to run through Garrett Wilson, who could be in position for his best season yet if the quarterback play holds up.
Beyond Wilson, the Jets are betting on upside. Adonai Mitchell, whom New York acquired in the Sauce Gardner trade at the 2025 deadline, has proven to separate at a high level but has not yet proven he has what it takes to be a clear-cut WR2.
First-round rookie Omar Cooper Jr. projects as the primary slot receiver, while Isaiah Williams, Tim Patrick, and Arian Smith round out the group.
It’s a stronger depth chart than last year, but outside of Wilson, the team still lacks a dependable target.
Tight end competition
At tight end, Mason Taylor is in line for a massive season as he enters his second campaign.
Despite playing with three different quarterbacks as a rookie, he caught 44 passes for 369 yards and finished second among qualified tight ends with a 78.6% contested-catch rate, trailing only George Kittle.
First-round rookie Kenyon Sadiq is an exciting player due to his off-the-charts athleticism, but a setback from hernia surgery cost him much of training camp and the entire preseason, likely meaning that he will ease into the offense the first few weeks of the season.
Jeremy Ruckert will be a primary blocker at TE, while Jelani Woods’ athleticism and experience with Frank Reich make him a worthwhile TE4.
Tight end could end up being one of the best spots on the Jets’ depth chart this season. The fact that the Jets loaded up with four tight ends (plus a fullback), one of whom is a first-round pick, suggests they could be using plenty of 12-personnel packages this year.
Offensive line shoots for elite leap
The offensive line has legitimate top-10 upside, but reaching that ceiling would require a few things.
First off, Olu Fashanu must take a meaningful step forward at left tackle as he enters his second full season as an NFL starter.
Armand Membou is coming off an excellent rookie season and has the talent to establish himself as one of the league’s top right tackles.
Joe Tippmann thrived after settling in at right guard, earning a four-year extension, while Dylan Parham looks to be an upgrade over John Simpson at left guard.
Josh Myers remains the weak link at center, and newly acquired Jordan Meredith provides valuable interior depth.
This unit could be one of the Jets’ strongest, but the performances of Fashanu and Myers will largely dictate that.
Defensive line rebuild
The Jets rebuilt their defensive line this offseason, particularly getting much stronger against the run. T’Vondre Sweat, Harrison Phillips, and David Onyemata all finished the 2025 season ranked among the top eight in Pro Football Focus’ run defense grade.
Jowon Briggs is looking to prove his 2025 season wasn’t a fluke when he broke out as one of the league’s best pass-rushing interior defensive tackles.
On the edge, Will McDonald remains a solid pass-rushing talent, but his limitations against the run are real. Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare provide run-defending pop off the EDGE and enough pass-rush juice to avoid being liabilities in that area.
No. 2 overall pick David Bailey becomes one of the defense’s most important players, and it will be interesting to monitor his immediate impact, especially with Joseph Ossai sidelined in Week 1.
Linebacker depth will be tested
At linebacker, the ageless wonder, Demario Davis, leads the way and is expected to wear the Jets’ green dot. That allows Jamien Sherwood, coming off a rocky 2025 season, to play more freely and have a better chance of returning to his 2024 level. This duo has the potential to be one of the best in the league.
The depth is concerning, though. The Jets project to run plenty of base packages under Aaron Glenn, which means the third linebacker will be used relatively frequently, and that’s a concern given the current options.
Kiko Mauigoa remains unproven as a 2025 fifth-round pick, while Marcelino McCrary-Ball is on the roster for his special teams play. Waiver claim Trevin Wallace brings excellent athleticism and coverage potential, but he has ranked near the bottom of the league against the run in each of his two NFL seasons.
Cornerback questions
Cornerback is one of the most fascinating spots on the Jets’ depth chart. Brandon Stephens is coming off an iffy first season with the Jets, where he looked solid for some stretches, but ended up allowing eight touchdowns without recording an interception.
Azarey’eh Thomas, a 2025 third-round pick, is being counted on to take a Year 2 leap and emerge as the Jets’ starter opposite Stephens.
Second-round rookie D’Angelo Ponds projects as the team’s starter in the slot, while Jarvis Brownlee Jr. will most likely be his backup. Nahshon Wright offers excellent ball skills, logging six interceptions last season, but he has also struggled to consistently hold up in coverage.
There is upside here, especially with Thomas, Ponds, and Wright, but this group remains unproven.
Safety is a strength
Safety might be the most improved position on the entire roster. Minkah Fitzpatrick remains a high-level player at the position, while Dane Belton brings versatility and turnover-generating prowess alongside the veteran.
Malachi Moore and Andre Cisco project as the backups. Compare that to last year, when they were relied upon in starting roles.
After having one of the league’s weakest units last year, the Jets’ safety room has become a strength.
Will kicking hold the Jets back?
After a near-perfect 2025 year from Nick Folk, the kicker spot is once again a concern for the Jets. Jason Sanders will be elevated from the practice squad to take the job in Week 1, despite struggling during training camp and missing an extra point and a 54-yard field goal in the preseason finale.
Sanders was excellent in 2024, converting 90.2% of his field goals and going 12 of 14 from at least 50 yards, but a hip injury wiped out his 2025 season. Blake Grupe remains on the active roster after an inconsistent career of his own, so Sanders will likely have a short leash. The team has options, but still lacks a clear-cut, trustworthy answer.
Schedule
Game-by-game predictions
- at Tennessee Titans: Win (1-0)
- vs. Green Bay Packers: Win (2-0)
- at Detroit Lions: Loss (2-1)
- at Chicago Bears: Loss (2-2)
- vs. Cleveland Browns: Win (3-2)
- at New England Patriots: Loss (3-3)
- vs. Miami Dolphins: Win (4-3)
- vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Win (5-3)
- at Kansas City Chiefs: Loss (5-4)
- vs. Buffalo Bills: Loss (5-5)
- at Los Angeles Chargers: Loss (5-6)
- at Miami Dolphins: Win (6-6)
- vs. Denver Broncos: Loss (6-7)
- at Arizona Cardinals: Win (7-7)
- vs. New England Patriots: Loss (7-8)
- vs. Minnesota Vikings: Loss (7-9)
- at Buffalo Bills: Loss (7-10)
The Jets should be much more competitive in 2026, and their opening stretch gives them a chance to get off to a hot start. Josh Jacobs and Micah Parsons will be out for Green Bay, while Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch will be out for Detroit.
Wins over Tennessee, Green Bay, and Cleveland would give the Jets the early momentum they need before the schedule really gets challenging.
There is a path for the Jets to stay “in the hunt” until late in the year. Ultimately, though, the second half of the schedule is daunting. With matchups against Kansas City, Buffalo, the Chargers, and Denver, the Jets’ record could begin to collapse. I’m predicting a 2-7 finish over the final nine games after a 5-3 start.
A 7-10 record would be a huge leap from last year’s 3-14 disaster, but it would still leave the team outside the playoffs for the 16th straight year, leaving the team with a difficult call on Glenn’s job status.
Keys to success
Smith must raise the floor
The Jets don’t need Geno Smith to recreate his 2022 season, when he threw 30 touchdowns, made the Pro Bowl, and led the Seattle Seahawks to the playoffs. As long as he cuts down the turnovers to his Seattle levels and maintains his strong accuracy, the Jets’ offense can be more than competitive in 2026.
However, if his 2025 struggles become a habit early, things could unravel quickly.
The offensive line must fulfill its potential
Strong protection is especially important for Smith, a veteran pocket passer whose production declines dramatically under pressure.
For the Jets to have the season they want in 2026, the team’s offensive line must turn its potential into results.
The young pass catchers must develop
Garrett Wilson can’t be Smith’s lone target. Adonai Mitchell must have a successful season, while Mason Taylor needs to take a second-year leap. Rookies Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq are exciting players, but the Jets are currently relying on them too much.
At least two players outside of Wilson must emerge as dependable targets this season.
Glenn must fix the defense
After finishing as one of the NFL’s worst defenses in 2025, Glenn is taking over the play-calling. The rebuilt defense should drastically improve its run defense, but generating pressure and creating takeaways will be crucial.
Fitzpatrick, Bailey, and Sweat are all going to help the unit right away, but Glenn’s play-calling must be on point.
Jets X-Factor staff predictions
| Staff member | Record prediction |
| Connor Long | 7-10 |
| Stefan Stelling | 5-12 |
| Samuel Welch | 9-8 |
| Michael Nania | 6-11 |
| Dom Cutri | 7-10 |
| Thomas Montana | 6-11 |
| Omari Brown | 7-10 |
| Joe Blewett | 6-11 |
| Robby Sabo | 5-12 |
Robby Sabo
Can the 2026 New York Jets pleasantly surprise the NFL world with a 9-8 record while finding themselves in the playoff hunt? Of course they can.
Will it happen? That’s a completely different story.
What’s often overlooked when analyzing some football teams’ chances of success are the potential contingency plans. This is football, which means nothing goes swimmingly, and on-the-fly alterations are always necessary.
Sure, Geno Smith is an actual professional quarterback, elevating the position exponentially from a season ago. Yes, Minkah Fitzpatrick’s back-end mind does wonders, and absolutely, Demario Davis’s leadership is as valuable as anything in this league.
With those three, coupled with Frank Reich’s baseline competency, the Jets could absolutely put forth a more-than-prideful season is all goes perfectly. Again, though, how often does a football season unfold perfectly?
What happens if Geno goes down? What occurs if Demario is lost for a stretch of time? How does the football team react if Minkah has lost more than just a step?
It’s the possible answers to those questions that makes it plainfully obvious that the 2026 New York Jets are living on a razor-thin edge — as it regards their chances to win more games than not.
