Grounded for much of the past decade, has Jets GM Darren Mougey finally put together an offense that can rise from total embarrassment, to mere respectability with an occasional “light up the scoreboard” type of performance?  The idea may not be all that far fetched in looking at the personnel the Jets have added.

Plenty of skeptics laughed at the addition of quarterback Geno Smith, but the fact of the matter is that Smith is a much improved player since the last time he wore Green and White, and has a chance to produce at a level the Jets haven’t seen since the days of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

If the signing of free agent guard Dylan Parham can shore up the offensive line, Smith should have plenty of time to operate with Olu Fashanu, Parham, Josh Myers, Joe Tippman and Armand Membou up front.  Darren Mougey using a pair of draft picks on Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper and tight end Kenyon Sadiq gives offensive coordinator Frank Reich some dynamic pieces to work with.

Adding the young rookies to an offense that already has Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall (for now), and Mason Taylor in place could have the Jets offense being a threat to actually put up a lot of points.

The x-factor in all of this is wide receiver AD Mitchell.  Obtained from the Colts as part of last season’s Sauce Gardner trade, Mitchell was once viewed as a first round draft pick.  While he fell out of round 1, he still went in the second round (52nd overall) and did flash at times last year for Gang Green.

If Mitchell can get even close to his ceiling in this offense, the Jets could potentially have three dynamic receivers with a pair of tight ends, especially in Sadiq, who can create a fair number of mismatches for opposing defenses.

On the latest episode of JetNation radio, we talk about the NFL draft has wrapping up and the names of undrafted free agents expected to sign with the Jets.  We discuss that and some of the more bizarre takes on GM Darren Mougey from Jets fans who have already written off many of his draft picks.

Click the video above for our thoughts on every one of the newest members of the New York Jets.

The New York Jets kicked off their first voluntary player workouts of the offseason and running back Breece Hall decided to take a pass.  No longer under contract with the Jets, Hall has been hit with the franchise tag which he is yet to sign.  The Jets have said they plan to revisit talks on an extension after the draft.  Meanwhile, Hall has made it clear in the past through his social media accounts that he’d like to move on.

Should the Jets look to shop Breece Hall when the draft rolls around in a few days?  They may want to consider it in an effort to add picks while considering a back for themselves to replace Hall.  The idea of Jeremiyah Love with the second pick may be a bit rich for some, but there would be other options later on such as Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, Mike Washington out of Arkansas or Indiana’s Kaelon Black, who the Jets had in for a 30 visit.

As far as players who could fit in nicely with the outside of round one, here are a few names they may have to take earlier than the masses are projecting as we see them as being worthy of a higher selection than the pundits.

Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF: You have to look long and hard to find somebody who views Malachi Lawrence as a first-round pick.  Projections that have Lawrence going in the top 32 are few and far between.  We think that’s where he’ll go, but if he doesn’t, the Jets should pounce with pick 32.

WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State: Ted Hurst’s biggest flaw was playing at Georgia State instead of a a bigger program.  Had he done that, he’d be garnering first-round consideration.  When all is said and done, the first round is highly unlikely, but top fifty is far more likely than many seem to believe.

OG Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech: According to nfl draft database, Rutledge is projected to go just before pick number 60 but don’t be surprised if he goes in the top fifty.  An old-school mauler who pops on film, Rutledge could go earlier than the experts are projecting.

C Logan Jones, Iowa: One of the top centers in the class, Jones would be a great addition to compete with Josh Myers for the team’s starting role and he is currently projected to be selected outside of the top 100.   When the dust settles in Pittsburgh, don’t be surprised if he’s off the board before triple digits.  Whether it’s Breece Hall, Jeremiyah Love or Emmett Johnson, any back running behind the Jets O-line with the addition of Jones would be tough to contend with.

The NFL draft is now just eight days away so it’s time to look at the top wide receivers in this year’s class as Gang Green hopes to add some help for Garrett Wilson.

Given his lengthy injury history, Jordyn Tyson is worthy of being called the top receiver in this class, but one the Jets should want no part of.  It may not matter when all is said and done as many project him to go before the Jets are on the clock, but we’ll go with the top six in all actuality with Tyson being out of the question.

Carnell Tate, Ohio State:  

Tate is able to get open at all levels, does a great job of tracking the ball and winning in a crowd.  Projected by many to go in the top five, Tate will make any team in the league better as soon as he walks in the building. Size and body control lead to eye-popping catches in tight spots.

Makai Lemon, USC: Mocked by the masses to the Jets at sixteen for well over a month now, Lemon would give Gang Green a tough, shifty receiver who rarely gets taken down by the first defender he encounters.  Has some of the best hands in this class with just four drops over the course of his college career; good enough for a miniscule drop rate of 2.8% per PFF.

Chris Brazzell, Tennessee:

One of the most polarizing receivers in the class, many fans hold the failures of previous Tennessee receivers against Brazzell.  Assuming he’s a “one trick pony” who can only run “go” routes, Brazzell is far from that.  His route tree is far more refined than that and it shows up on film.  The biggest concern with Brazzell is his effort as a blocker but when he gets after it, he shows he’s more than capable.  Is this a coaching issue or effort issue?  That will be the biggest question he’ll have to answer.

Omar Cooper Jr, Indiana:

One of the best route runners in the country, Cooper Jr. has outstanding hands and can elevate to play much bigger than his size (6′ 199) would suggest.  Another popular name linked to the Jets of late, Cooper’s ability to play inside and out with Garrett Wilson and AD Mithcell could go over well in the Jets war room.

Ted Hurst, Georgia State:

If Hurst had gone to a bigger school, we’re convinced he’d be garnering more attention as a top receiver in the class.  He’s a 6′ 4” receiver who runs like a slot guy when necessary.  Very quick feet and crisp routes lead to plenty of separation for Hurst whose impressive wingspan allows him to make catches that most guys can’t make.  When all is said and done, he’ll be a better player than a lot of guys currently ranked ahead of him.

Any of the receivers listed above would be a welcome addition to a room that already has Garrett Wilson and AD Mitchell, but if the Jets opt to wait until after pick 44 to take a receiver, keep an eye on Bronx native Skyler Bell out of UConn, Lemon’s running mate Ja’Kobi Lane, or Georgia’s Zahariah Branch.

With the NFL draft now just under two weeks away, Emory Hunt of CBS Sports and Football Game Plan joined JetNation Radio to discuss some of the top prospects in the class, along with a few names who will almost certainly be new to your watch list.

Every year we grab the Football Game Plan draft guide produced by Hunt and this year did not disappoint.  Scouting reports on 1,200 players from every level of college football that always has a handful of player rankings that will get your attention.  As usual, we asked Emory about some of his more surprising rankings and he had no problem explaining his logic.

Click the audio link above to listen in or check out the entire video episode via youtube at the top of the page.

Anyone who follows the NFL draft, be it as a Jets fan or as a supporter of any other club, knows that there’s no such thing as a “sure thing” come draft time.

Your favorite player in the class, whose game you can’t manage to find a single hole in, could easily go down as a bust within a year or two and an afterthought beyond that.  With the draft already being the crap shoot it is, can Gang Green afford to ignore some of the red flags that are in place for some of the draft’s top talent?

Perhaps the most noteworthy flag is that of Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain.  One of the best defensive players in the country last season, Bain looked like a player whose arm length would be questionable come combine time.  His 9.5 sacks and fifteen tackles for loss were put on the backburner when he measured in at 30 7/8”.  Arms shorter than any high level pass rusher over the past two decades.  In fact, it has generated so much concern that former Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko went on record in saying that drafting Bain will “get a GM fired“.  Can the Jets current GM look past the trend and use the second overall pick on him?

One of the more popular projections for the Jets with the sixteenth pick is Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.  A incredibly talented receiver who would be a great addition to the Jets offense, but one who also has a scary injury history.  During his time in college, Tyson shredded his knee, tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL before fracturing his clavicle and then missing  a huge chunk of time with a pulled hamstring.

In all he would miss 1/3 of his college contests, but is still viewed as a top 20 pick and in the eyes of some, the best receiver in this class.  The mock draft masses may be calling for the Jets to roll the dice on Tyson, but can a team with sixteen year playoff drought gamble such a high pick on a player that comes with such high risk?

Going back to edge rushers where the Jets undoubtedly need a boost, there’s a player who may be the best pure pass rusher in the class in Texas Tech’s David Bailey.  An explosive athlete with an elite spin move who terrorizes opposing quarterbacks, but who can also be a liability against the run.  This isn’t to say there aren’t flashes of being able to develop into a run stopper, but as of right now, the though of pairing Bailey and Will McDonald in any kind of running situation would be a nightmare.  Now if they were deployed on 3rd & 10 it would be a different story.

Finally, we come to Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks.  An interior defender who is capable of taking over games at times, the 326 pound Banks has suffered multiple foot fractures.  So while he may be a nice replacement for the departed Quinnen Williams in a perfect world, this is the real world, and that’s a world where Banks’ injuries should be too much for the Jets to consider him.

Darren Mougey has tons of premium picks to turn his team around with over the next two seasons.  If he starts using them on players who carry a great deal of injury risk or with noticeable holes in their game, he’ll have a hard time hanging around for very long.

The NFL draft is just over three weeks away and the Jets have reportedly met with over thirty players by way of 30 visits, pro days, interviews and on the All-Star game circuit.  Going down a list provided by NFL trade rumors, For thoughts/comments on all 35 players, check the video above, but we’ll go over some of the most interesting names right here.

LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State:

If Reese isn’t the Jets pick at number two overall, it would be shocking.  A 20-year-old linebacker with one of the highest ceilings in this class is expected to excel as an off ball linebacker before transitioning to edge.  He’s one of just two players who the Jets have reportedly met with for a 30 visit, at his pro day and for an interview at the combine.

QB Behren Morton, Texas Tech:

We said there are only two players listed as having met with the Jets through every step of the pre-draft process and Morton is one of them.  A 6′ 2” signal caller who kept his interception rate below 2.5% over his final three collegiate seasons, he relies more on touch, accuracy and ball placement than having a cannon of an arm.

QB Ty Simpson, Alabama: 

The Jets have met with Simpson at his pro day and hosted him for a dinner with all of the Jets brass in attendance.  One of the most polarizing players in the class, fans are torn between where the Jets should take Simpson (round 1 or 2), or if they should take him at all.

Edge Zion Young, Missouri:

One of the better all-around edge prospects in this class, Young plays at a high level against both the run and the pass.  For a team looking to play a fair bit of 3-4, the Jets can use a player of Young’s stature.  Insiders appear somewhat torn on Young where many see him as a round 1 pick, while others believe he’ll fall to round two.

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State:

Caleb Downs won’t be the Jets pick at 2, but if they could land a player who is arguably the best defensive player in the class at sixteen, they’d be crazy not to.

S Jalon Kilgor, South Carolina: 

The type of chess piece that defensive coaches love to have in their scheme, Kilgore is a “hair on fire” defender who attacks coming downhill and shows he can be a factor in coverage playing either the slot or safety.  He won’t back down when placed in the box and could be the perfect player to learn from veteran Minkah Fitzpatrick.

RB Chris Mosley, North Carolina Central:

A small school back who flashes three down ability on film.  Mosley accelerates and hits the hole up the middle and does a nice job of bouncing off of tacklers as he shows good contact balance.  His pass pro is further along than a lot of prospects in the class and you’ll also see him making big plays after the catch as a target out of the backfield.

While the Jets may be sitting pretty with four picks in the top 44 of the upcoming NFL draft, it’s hard not to notice the enormous gap between their fourth and fifth picks at 44th and 103rd respectively.

If you’re Jets GM Darren Mougey, you’d undoubtedly like to add another pick at some point to shorten that gap between 44 and 103 by picking up a selection in a spot where plenty of value players should still be on the board.  If he’s hoping to do so, he has a couple of players who may demand a pick in that range.

Edge Will McDonald:

With the Jets expected to move to a 3-4 base defense, McDonald may be the ideal player to shop for a premium pick.  His size should mean a reduced role as it is, so why not look to move him and draft a player who can be a bigger part of what you’re doing?  As a player who has proven he can be a 10+ sack player, it shouldn’t take much work to convince a contender that his production would skyrocket if he could play with a lead every now and then.

RB Breece Hall: 

It’s been obvious for quite some time that Hall would love to move on to greener pastures and that wish almost became a reality last season.  Darren Mougey tried to get himself a third-round pick for Hall but the best offer he got was for a fourth.  When the NFL draft rolls around, perhaps the phone starts to ring once again if a club in need of a back doesn’t land a player they’re hoping to through the first few rounds.  If the Jets still haven’t inked Hall to a long-term deal at that point, they would most certainly be willing to listen to offers.

Jamien Sherwood:

Another player who may not be an ideal fit in the 3-4 as an inside linebacker checking in at just over 220 pounds.  Perhaps the Jets move him to the weak side where he may be a better fit, but a trade may also be an option.  Sherwood wouldn’t command the type of capital McDonald and Hall would, but if the Falcons or Titans offer a day three pick, the Jets would be foolish not to consider it.

Since the start of the NFL offseason, the Jets have been one of the busiest clubs in the league by either trading for, signing or re-signing a total of seventeen players.  Most of the work Gang Green has done comes on the defensive side of the ball, but we’re going to look at each and every one right here, no matter the position.

DT T’Vondre Sweat: 

Added via trade from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive end Jermaine Johnson, Sweat gives the Jets a 366-pund mountain in the middle of their defense.  His 79.3 grade against the run was good enough for fifth in the NFL among defensive tackles with at least 100 reps according to PFF.com.

The man they call “meatloaf” won the 2023 Outland Trophy at the University of Texas and was a unanimous All-American.  Believed by some to be a first-round prospect entering the 2023 draft, Sweat would go early in round 2 with the 38th overall pick.

Safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick:

The Jets added Fitzpatrick, who was on the verge of being released, for a seventh-round draft choice.  Presumably, the Jets did not believe Fitzpatrick would sign if he were to hit free agency, so they parted with a late pick to acquire his services.

Once one of the league’s top ball hawks, Fitzpatrick spent much of last year playing the slot and intercepted just one pass.  Even with Fitzpatrick having a diminished impact, he is an upgrade over much of what the Jets rolled out at safety last season.  Exactly what his role will be with Gang Green remains to be seen but he did mention the possibility of being the Jets “big nickel”.

DE Joseph Ossai:

Signed to a 3-year deal for up to $36 million, Ossai tied his career high with five sacks in 2025 but there is some data that suggests he could be on the verge of a breakout.  Of his five sacks this season, three of those, and eight of his 12 QB hits came over the final six weeks of the season.  We’ll see if a strong finish to 2025 translates into a fast start in 2026.

A disruptive player against the run in college for the University of Texas, Ossai picked up a career-high 9 tackles for loss last season which indicates even more progress for the 6′ 4” 253 pounder.

Another encouraging number on Ossai is his total pressures as he managed a personal best of 43 after picking up 32 in 2024.  Ossai gives the Jets a high ceiling defender who is clearly trending upward.

DE Kingsley Enagbare: 

The Jets inked Enagbare to a 1-year deal worth up to $10 million after spending the first four years of his career in Green Bay with the Packers.  The 6′ 4” 258 pounder should be good fit in the Jets new 3-4 scheme as he spent time at defensive end and outside linebacker for the Packers.

Enagbare had a solid 23 stops last season as a part-time player and one thing that stands out is his pursuit/motor.  Enagbare will cover as much ground as he has to in order to get in on a defensive stop.  The exact style Aaron Glenn is looking for.

LB DeMario Davis:

Back with the Jets for a third time on a 2-year deal worth up to $22 million, what is there to say about Davis that even a casual fan doesn’t know.  A guy you can put down for 100 tackles every year as he’s missed that mark just twice since being drafted back in 2012.

Davis has spent the past eight seasons in New Orleans with the Saints where the fewest tackles he’s logged in a season was 105 back in 2021, and topping out with a career high last season with 143 at 37-years-old.

DT David Onyemata:

Familiar with head coach Aaron Glenn from their time together in New Orleans, Onyemata should be a key piece of the Jets fixing what was a putrid run defense last season.  According to PFF, the 310 pound DT was tied for 10th in the NFL with 28 stops, defined as a taackle that constitutes a failure on offense.

The durable Onyemata has started at least fourteen games in six of his past seven seasons, logging a career-high 62 tackles last season with 7 being tackles for loss.

FB Andrew Beck:

An signing that won’t move the needle for most, Beck is actually a solid player who just happens to play a position whose role has been diminished in recent years.  But if offensive coordinator Frank Reich wanted to retain Beck, perhaps he envisions a role for him in his offense.

Beck played double-digit snaps just three times in 2025 with his season high being 11 against the Bills and Jaguars.

S Dane Belton:

A potentially huge “bang for your buck” candidate as Belton got a 1-year deal worth up to $6 million after landing with the Giants as a fourth round pick out of Iowa back in 2022.  A superior athlete who shows off explosion and sure tackling, Belton could become a fan favorite in short order between his face in the fan style and big time hits on special teams.

If you were to watch Belton on just a handful of plays, you wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to learn he has an RAS (Relative Athletic Score) of 9.35.

QB Geno Smith:

The Jets sent a 2026 6th-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for Smith and a 7th-round pick.  Even knowing Smith was about to be released, the Jets wanted to avoid having Smith choose a different club so secured his services via trade.

Despite some objections from an extremely loud minority of fans, it seems Smith’s return is popular among fans.

While Smith did throw a whopping 17 interceptions last season, it’s worth noting that the Raiders were a disaster on the offensive line, didn’t have any legitimate targets for Smith to throw to, and were always playing from behind.  Add to that the fact that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was calling plays that weren’t installed during the week and it was all a recipe for disaster.

CB Nahshon Wright:

The Jets got a surprisingly good bargain with Wright who came on board for a max value deal of $5.5 million for one season.  This, despite being a young (27-years-old), 6′ 4” pro bowler coming off of a five interception season.

Clearly there are some good bloodlines in the Wright family as his brother Rejzohn is a cornerback for the New Orleans Saints.  Expect an interesting training camp battle between Wright and Azareye’h Thomas.

K Cade York: 

York was added after Nick Folk departed in free agency but he won’t be alone come camp time.  York is a long shot to make the roster so expect a rookie day 3 pick, undrafted free agent or veteran castoff to beat York out for the job.  His 73.3% conversion rate just isn’t good enough, unless it turns out Chris Banjo is a legitimate miracle worker.

OL Max Mitchell:

Mitchell returns on a 1-year deal after playing just 73 snaps last year with 52 of those coming as a run blocker.  The 2022 draft pick has had an up and down career up to this point but clearly did enough last year to at least earn himself a shot to last another year in Green and White.

OG/C Xavier Newman?

Newman has been a steadily improving player since arriving a few seasons ago and will have a shot to stick again as guard/center depth but may have an uphill battle should the Jets add an interior lineman through the draft.

LG Dylan Parham:

In need of a left guard following the departures of Alijah Vera-Tucker (Patriots) and John Simpson (Ravens), the Jets land a solid, experienced veteran in Parham.  It’s a 2-year deal worth up to $20 million.  Parham isn’t an elite level player, but has graded out as a solid pass blocker per PFF, picking up pass block grades of 60 or better in each of the past three seasons. The move also gives the Jets another versatile piece up front given the fact that  he has experience at both guard spots.

LB Mykal Walker: 

Walker quietly had a solid finish to the 2025 season as the Jets decided to bring him back on a 1-year deal.  According to NFL insider Justin Fried, Walker finished as the NFL’s 8th highest graded linebacker from weeks 14-18.  Largely unnoticed because the Jets were so bad as a unit, but obviously the front office was paying attention.

Walker isn’t a household name, but has shown he can perform as a pro.  Starting twelve games for the Cardinals in 2022, he did rack up 107 tackles, a sack and two interceptions.

OT Chukwuma Okorafor:

One of those under-the-radar moves that you just have to have as the Jets now have an experienced veteran backup tackle in Okorafor.  He has started just eight games in the past three seasons but has started sixty for his career.

S Andre Cisco: 

Cisco’s 2025 season in Green and White was a massive disappointment as injuries ended his season after just eight games in which he made no notable impact.  This will give the former Jaguar a chance to regain the form he had in his previous four seasons when he intercepted eight passes and broke up 24 more.  For Cisco it’s a 1-year deal worth up to $5.25 million.

KR/RB Kene Nwangwu:

The oft-injured Nwangwu is one of the NFL’s best return men but is rarely available due to a variety of injuries.  But it’s not every day you can find a return man with 3 TD’s of 99 yards over the course of his career.  Last season Nwangwu averaged 33.6 yards per kick return and will have a shot to earn a roster spot again for 2026.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but the NFL offseason is about to kick off and the New York Jets will be in search of a quarterback.  Yes, for what feels like the 100th consecutive offseason, quarterback sits atop the Jets list of needs.

This time around, with an extraordinarily thin quarterback market, the Jets will essentially have two choices at quarterback.  They can go with a proven veteran who has shown their ceiling to be six or seven wins.  Then there are the unproven QB’s who are young, who have flashed and may get better with increased opportunities.

And of course, there are a few names that Jets reportedly have, or at least should, rule out entirely.

Sam Howell: 

Howell has started just 17 career games, but has had some impressive outings.  In seven of his 17 starts he has thrown for at least 290 yards while racking up 300 yards on the ground.  This isn’t to say the Jets should look to add Howell and hand him a starting job, but he should certainly be an option to come in and compete.

Will Levis:

Chosen with the first pick in round 2 (33rd overall) in the 2023 draft, Levis is now nailed to the bench in Tennessee with Cam Ward holding the starting job.  There are plenty of questions surrounding Levis who has gone 5-16 as a starter thus far.  But with an actual QB guru in the building in Frank Reich, Levis may be worth bringing in for a look.

Tyson Bagent: 

Bagent stood out at the 2023 senior bowl and got on the field as a rookie for the Bears, going 2-2 and showing excellent poise.  He’s unlikely to become a high level starter, but getting a look at him would bring  more value than getting a look at many of the longer tenured veterans being mentioned.  Take for example….

Carson Wentz: 

A former first-round pick and MVP candidate, Wentz’s best days are a distant memory.  His familiarity with Frank Reich’s offense have led to some mentioning his name, but at this point in his career he’s a beaten up veteran who has a difficult time staying on the field and will likely win you no more than five or six games.

Jacoby Brissett: 

Another veteran who has already played for Frank Reich, Brissett owns a career record of 20-45 and has never won more than seven games in a season and that was back in 2019.  Another veteran who likely tops out at six wins and leaves you no better off next offseason than you are today.

Marcus Mariota:

Mariota won a career high nine games but that was the better part of a decade ago.  He was last a starting QB back in 2022 when he went 5-8 which is about where his ceiling is.  If the Jets can win five games with a dead end veteran, why not look in another direction.

Now there is another category of QB but these are true long shots for the Jets.  There are a pair of veterans who will offer great bang for buck or production that could make you competitive, but there are issues.

Derek Carr:

There have been whispers that the Jets like Carr and believe he can be had if they want him badly enough.  Problem is, as of right now he’s still retired.  Should he opt to come to the Jets in the coming weeks though, that would give the Jets a proven veteran who has been a pro bowler and has some years left in him.

Kyler Murray:

There are a million reasons not to sigh Murray, but there’s one very good one why they should.  Malik Willis may be the best free agent on the market, but Rich Cimini of ESPN New York says Gang Green won’t look to make a big splash.  If Cimini is right, the next best QB on the market will be Murray, whose contract calls for him to make the veteran minimum in 2026.  You won’t find better value anywhere.