How Did the New York Jets Fare This Offseason?

The New York Jets came into the 2025 offseason with more questions than answers. After the previous regime fell flat, both with the roster and the coaching, the new brass have decided to make some major changes, both in free agency and the NFL Draft. Revamping the quarterback position, getting a young tackle, and even retaining a young budding star, the new head coach and general manager seem to be in lockstep in terms of roster building. After all of this turnover, how did the Jets come out on the other side?

Free Agency

The New York Jets started free agency off by retaining one of their best players in 2024 in linebacker Jamien Sherwood. Sherwood led all linebackers last season in tackles with 98, garnering some All-Pro votes in the process. The Jets handed Sherwood a three-year, $45 million deal, locking down one of their homegrown talents for the future. The Jets made significant moves outside of resigning as well. The most notable one was signing former first-round quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal, effectively solidifying him as the starter for the upcoming season, as they also moved on from former quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers later in the offseason.

While this was a major move for the team, the most controversial signing was on the other side of the ball. Cornerback Brandon Stephens, who struggled mightily in 2024, received a three-year, $36 million contract. This contract created a bit of a stir in the fanbase, with some fans expressing issues with such a large deal being handed out to a player who still had a lot to prove going into 2025. However, the coaching staff has been adamant that they can coach him up and turn him into a player worthy of the deal he received.

The Jets also made smaller moves, signing some depth pieces such as former Lions receiver Josh Reynolds. The Lions connection is significant because of head coach Aaron Glenn’s and offensive coordinator Taylor Engstrand’s history as coaches with Detroit. The Jets are hoping that he can bounce back after a down 2024 that saw him bounce around between two teams. They also signed some depth in the trenches, the most notably defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and center Josh Myers.

Free Agency Grade: B-

NFL Draft

Going into the draft, the Jets had some holes they needed to fill, and they did a decent job. The hole at right tackle was filled immediately with their first-round pick of Missouri tackle Armand Membou, a physical monster who was arguably the best tackle in the entire draft. Many fans wished they had used that pick to add Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, but were rewarded with a consolation prize of Mason Taylor in the second round, the tight end from LSU and son of NFL legend Jason Taylor. Taylor is a legitimate receiving threat as well as a good NFL-level blocker and should make an immediate impact as the Jets’ TE1. They immediately came back in the third round with a great value pick in Azareye’h Thomas, a cornerback out of FSU who was a projected first-rounder before a slow 40 time at the combine knocked him down the board.

The controversial pick of the night was Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith in the fourth round, who many Jets fans believed was overdrafted due to his drop issues in college, but as the old adage goes, you can’t teach speed, and Smith has plenty. Smith has since said that he’s aware of the issues he had in college and is confident that he will fix them in the pros, something the coaching staff clearly showed they believed in. They also took linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and edge Tyler Baron from Miami, who both project to be depth or rotational pieces. The team closed out the draft with a nice depth piece at safety in the sixth round in Malachi Moore, who should rotate in but mostly spend his time as a backup that could develop into a starter later down the road.

Draft Grade: B+

Final Thoughts

The New York Jets’ offseason was a bit different from years past. Instead of being focused on making flashy splashy moves, the team seemed more concerned with building a culture and a legitimate core to build around for years to come. The roster is far from contending status, but the team wasn’t expected to contend this year anyway after so much overhaul. The Jets are a young team with a shifting culture, and all their moves this offseason reflect that.

Final Grade: B