Thirteen years is a long time to carry a story. When Geno Smith walked back through the doors of the Atlantic Health Jets facility this spring, he did so as a man who had earned that walk. Drafted here in 2013, punched in the face by a teammate in this building, booed off this field, and eventually discarded, he spent the years that followed clawing through the Giants, the Chargers, and finally Seattle, where Pete Carroll handed him a lifeline nobody else would.

He led the league in completion percentage in 2024, winning the Comeback Player of the Year award in the process. He made back-to-back Pro Bowls before a historically down year behind a porous offensive line in Las Vegas saw his stock plummet. Now, however, he’s back in the Big Apple, flanked by three first-round rookies, David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper, arriving at a franchise that just endured a miserable 2025 season with Justin Fields under center.

Smith called it “a complete full circle moment back to where it all began.” It may well be cathartic for the veteran QB, but the AFC East is more cutthroat than ever, with Drake Maye now alongside Josh Allen when it comes to the best quarterback in the AFC talk. So, where does the Jets’ new gunslinger rank alongside the AFC East’s starting quarterbacks? Let’s take a look.

Josh Allen – Bills

Josh Allen showed up to Joe Brady’s introductory press conference on crutches in a walking boot, and somehow that image captures everything about the Buffalo Bills sensation in 2025. He played through a broken bone in his right foot. He threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns in an AFC Divisional Round loss to Denver. He finished the season as the only player in football to combine 3,000-plus passing yards with 500-plus rushing yards, 4,247 total yards, 39 total touchdowns, an 87.4 PFF grade ranking sixth among 43 qualified quarterbacks. He was named an MVP finalist for the fifth time. And still the Bills went home in January in arguably their most heartbreaking playoff loss of them all.

Allen has now scored 40 or more total touchdowns in five consecutive seasons, a feat no quarterback in NFL history had managed more than three years running. He hasn’t thrown fewer than 28 touchdown passes since 2019. He is, by any reasonable measure, one of the two or three best quarterbacks alive. He also doesn’t have a Super Bowl, but online betting sites, as they seemingly do every year, think that the long wait for the Lombardi could well come to an end in 2026.

The latest odds from Lucky Rebel make Allen and the Bills a +1000 second-favorite to win Super Bowl LX next February. Not only that, but they’re also clear -130 betting favorites to win the AFC East as well. Much of those hopes, as ever, fall on Allen’s shoulders.

Drake Maye – Patriots

A year ago, Drake Maye was a promising youngster heading into his second season on a rebuilding team. Now, he’s the reason the Patriots reached Super Bowl LX, and he’s 23 years old.

His 2025 numbers weren’t just good. They were historically good. A 90.1 PFF grade, third among 43 qualified quarterbacks. 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 8 interceptions across 601 dropbacks. He led the entire NFL in EPA per play, completion percentage at 72.0%, and yards per attempt at 8.9. He finished as runner-up to Matthew Stafford for MVP. New England went 14-3, won the AFC East, and fell to Seattle 29-13 at Super Bowl LX. Maye needed a pain-killing injection in his throwing shoulder before kickoff and still played.

For many, that already puts him ahead of Allen. After all, he ripped the divisional title away from the Bills star last season before then going on to reach the Big Game in just his second year, something Allen is still waiting to do after seven straight bitter playoff exits. We have sided with the 2024 MVP’s longevity over the undeniable brilliance of Maye, but if he leads the Patriots to another AFC East title this season, he may well unquestionably be the best quarterback in the division in 12 months’ time.

Geno Smith – Jets

He’s 35. He threw 17 interceptions in 15 games for a Las Vegas team that finished 3-14 in his starts. His passer rating was 84.7. Some of that was the Raiders, weak roster, poor protection, genuinely difficult circumstances, but film doesn’t lie, and the film from 2025 was hard to explain away. Decision-making that recalled his earliest Jets years. Gifts to opposing secondaries that a quarterback with his experience shouldn’t be making.

And yet. The Jets sent a sixth-round pick to get him back for a reason, and that reason is more than sentiment. Smith is a bridge quarterback for a team in full rebuild mode, and that is precisely what this offseason required, someone to hold the position, protect the rookies around him, and keep the franchise competitive enough that the rebuild doesn’t collapse under its own weight.

Aaron Glenn has “no doubt” Smith is QB1. Breece Hall is still here. Three first-rounders are coming. A Wild Card berth would be an overachievement. The real question, whether his 2025 collapse was situational or terminal, won’t be answered until October. The same city that once destroyed his confidence is now asking him to rebuild something. That’s a heavy ask. It might also be the best possible ending.

Malik Willis – Dolphins

The Dolphins lost everything over the course of the last year. Tua Tagovailoa was benched and ultimately released for a record-setting dead cap hit. Tyreek Hill gone. Jaylen Waddle gone. Mike McDaniel fired. Chris Grier dismissed mid-season. Into that wreckage walked Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan, both arriving from Green Bay, and they immediately handed Malik Willis, Jordan Love’s backup, 22 career games, 1,322 yards, 6 touchdowns, a three-year, $67.5 million contract and the keys to a franchise in freefall.

Miami made Willis’s signature their top priority in the offseason, despite Hard Rock Stadium seemingly falling apart at the seams. One projection has Miami winning 2.5 games against the second-toughest schedule in football, projecting Willis for 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 2025 sample in Green Bay was genuinely encouraging, 85.7% completion rate, a 93.1 QBR, a brilliant game against Baltimore, but four games of backup work is not a resume. 2026 has to be the year he builds one, or a career as a perennial backup lies in wait.

On Wednesday, the NFL officially announced the 2026 preseason schedule, and the New York Jets will once again have three opportunities to evaluate their roster before the regular season begins. Here are the details on the Jets 2026 Preseason Schedule.

Aaron Glenn’s club opens the preseason at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, August 14, at MetLife Stadium. The Jets then travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Friday, August 21, before wrapping up the exhibition schedule with their annual preseason showdown against the New York Giants on Friday, August 28.

All three Jets preseason games are scheduled for prime time, giving fans plenty of opportunities to get an early look at Geno Smith and the team’s revamped roster.

Jets 2026 Preseason Schedule

Week 1

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Jets
• Friday, August 14
• 7:00 p.m. ET

Week 2

• New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
• Friday, August 21
• 7:00 p.m. ET

Week 3

• New York Giants at New York Jets
• Friday, August 28
• 7:30 p.m. ET

What to Watch

Preseason results rarely matter, but these games will provide valuable opportunities for the coaching staff to evaluate young players and roster battles before final cuts.

Fans will also get their first extended look at Geno Smith back in green and white after his return to the organization that originally drafted him in 2013. With several rookie additions expected to compete for significant roles, the preseason schedule could offer an early glimpse of how the Jets plan to build around their veteran quarterback.

The annual Giants matchup in Week 3 remains one of the more entertaining preseason traditions in the NFL. While starters typically see limited action in the final preseason game, the contest often serves as the last chance for fringe roster candidates to make their case before teams trim down to their regular-season rosters.

The Jets will conclude the preseason on August 28 and then turn their attention to preparing for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season.

The New York Jets continued OTA work this week with several young players generating buzz while Aaron Glenn’s coaching staff continued evaluating the roster. From Adonai Mitchell’s resurgence to the announcement of joint practices with Tampa Bay, here is your Jets News Roundup for June 5, 2026.

• New York Jets Flight Connections 06/05/26 – Gang Green Nation
• Jets’ Roster Overhaul Leaves Them With Prime Questions for Bridge Season – New York Post
• Jets Will Hold Joint Practices with Buccaneers During Training Camp – Gang Green Nation
• Aaron Glenn Reveals What He’s Expecting From New Jets DB Minkah Fitzpatrick – The Jet Press
• Garrett Wilson Keeps Finding Himself in Uncharted Jets Territory – The Jet Press
• Jets Have Perfect Contract Template for Will McDonald After Latest Extension – The Jet Press

OTA season is often more about storylines than results, but the Jets continue to receive encouraging reports on several key contributors. As training camp draws closer, Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey will look to turn offseason optimism into meaningful progress on the field.

Discuss these stories on the JetNation Forums:
https://forums.jetnation.com/

New York Jets great Mark Gastineau has a book out called Leaving the 99 for the one and he took the time to sit down JetNation.com as he and his wife JoAnn touched on a variety of subjects.

From a positive update on his health to his legal battles with ESPN, the current state of the Jets and his former friend and teammate Abdul Salaam.

Over the course of his career, Gastineau racked up over 100 sacks on the field, but had his fair share of legal troubles off the field.  Gastineau doesn’t shy away from any of these issues in his book which is a must-read for any Jets fan.  Gastineau also touches on his controversial playoff penalty against the Browns and repairing relationships with his adult children.

The Jets revolving door at kicker just keeps on spinning as Gang Green today added former Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders and parting ways with Younghoe Koo.

This marks the latest move at kicker for Gang Green after having already cycled through undrafted free agent Will Ferrin, and German product Lenny Krieg.  Neither of the two made it as far as training camp and Koo was added just a few days ago before being let go today.

With Cade York added earlier this offseason, Sanders becomes the fifth kicker Darren Mougey has signed as the club looks to find some stability at the position.  The Jets found themselves without a kicker when free agency got under way and veteran Nick Folk decided to depart in free agency.

Jason Sanders has been a solid pro who has battled some injuries of late.  Sanders was 12 of 14 on kicks of 50+ yards two seasons ago and 37-41 overall.  He did however miss last season with a hip injury.  If healthy, he should be the favorite to win the job.

Another practice open to the media, and another strong day for wide receiver AD Mitchell.  The Jets beat was on hand today to see what Gang Green had cooking, and it sounds as if Mitchell and a few others really impressed.

Last week onlookers applauded Mitchell for making the best play of the day with an impressive grab for 30-plus yards.  Today, it was for his route running, separation and a few more impressive grabs.  It may only be OTAs, but don’t forget that Mitchell was able to regularly get open in live action last season.  However, putrid quarterback play did limit the amount of damage he was able to do.

Who else stood out today at 1 Jets Drive?

WR Isaiah Williams: The wideout had a couple of impressive grabs, including a sliding catch on a pass from backup quarterback Baiey Zappe, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN New York.  While Williams made a name for himself as a return man last season, he did look solid in the few targets he managed to see as a pass catcher.

WR Arian Smith: Several reporters in attendance praised Smith for a good day that included an impressive leaping catch coming over the middle.  Smith was invisible on offense last season and was always viewed as a mult-year project.  If he can be even respectable as a pass catcher in 2026, the Jets stable of receivers will be quite impressive.

CB Nahson Wright: The free agent addition was one of three defenders to get their hands on a pass to break up a play as Brandon Stephens and Jordan Clark were also credited with PBUs.  Wright is an interesting player as he intercepted five passes last season after managing just 1 in the previous four years combined.

CB Tre Brown: Nick Faria of SI.com said Brown had the play of the day on defense, making a one-handed interception.

QB Cade Klubnik: A step back for Klubnik who was perfect in team periods last week but had a few hit the ground today along with an interception that was eventually called back due to pass interference.

Anyone who saw Aaron Glenn stand and watch hopelessly from the sidelines last season as teams ran the ball up and down the field against his defense are surely paying attention to what the head coach does this year.  With Glenn taking over the defensive coordinator role after Darren Mougey made plenty of upgrades on that side of the ball, Glenn’s self-proclaimed “super power” of calling plays will be tested.  Especially on the ground.

Last year’s defense, led by Steve Wilkes for most of the season, ranked 29th in rushing yards allowed, 23rd in yards per carry (4.4) and tied for 29th in rushing touchdowns allowed with twenty.  That’s just not going to cut it if Glenn and the Jets are hoping to start to turn this thing around.

Luckily for the head coach, tons of reinforcements have been brought in to fix the problem.

First and foremost, Mougey went out and traded for Tennesee Titans nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat.  A 360 lb behemoth to man the middle of the Jets 3-4 defensive front.  When the Jets switch to a 4-3, Sweat will likely see time next to free agent addition David Onyemata.  Onyemata spent some time in New Orleans with returning free agent linebacker DeMario Davis, who recently called the DT one of the top five run stoppers he has ever played with.  Davis would go on to say that having Onyemata playing on the defensive line makes a “noticeable difference”.

Then of course there’s Davis himself.  The seemingly ageless linebacker has been an elite run defender for many years now, and he’ll be playing behind Sweat, Onyemata and returning DT’s Jowon Briggs and Harrison Phillips.  And while he’s yet to be battle tested in an NFL game, fifht-round draft choice Darrell Jackson was one of the better run stoppers in college football last season.  He may not have been an early-round pick, but don’t be surprised if he sees plenty of playing time.

Add to that the fact that safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Dane Belton have come on board via trade and free agency respectively, and you’ve added plenty of experienced players who have a history of playing at a high level against the run.

This isn’t to say the Jets don’t have questions on the back end in the secondary because they certainly do.  But if you can’t stop the run, none of that will matter.  If teams are free to run at will, they’ll happily chew up the clock, light up the scoreboard and call it a day.  Here’s to hoping Aaron Glenn’s confidence matches Mougey’s added talent and the Jets can get going on the right track.

Today, New York Jets fans everywhere celebrate the 83rd birthday of one of the most important figures in franchise history, Joe Namath.

Born on May 31, 1943, in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Namath became much more than a quarterback during his legendary career. He became the face of the AFL, helped elevate professional football to new heights, and delivered the defining moment in Jets history with his famous guarantee before Super Bowl III.

Known as “Broadway Joe,” Namath brought a larger-than-life personality to New York while backing it up on the field. His confidence, charisma, and ability to perform under pressure made him one of the biggest stars the sport has ever seen. He remains the only quarterback to lead the Jets to a Super Bowl championship, earning MVP honors in the team’s historic victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.

Namath’s impact extends far beyond one game. He was the first professional quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season and helped legitimize the AFL during a pivotal period in football history. His No. 12 is retired by the Jets, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

More than five decades after Super Bowl III, Namath remains a beloved figure among Jets fans. Whether he’s appearing at team events, supporting the organization, or sharing stories from his playing days, his connection to the franchise remains as strong as ever.

From all of us at JetNation, happy 83rd birthday to Joe Namath. Thank you for the memories, the guarantee, and the championship that Jets fans will never forget.

Happy Birthday, Broadway Joe!

Jets News for May 30 includes more offseason reaction from OTAs, rookie expectations, the defensive line rebuild and a few roster battles that will carry into training camp. With Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey reshaping the roster, the focus is already shifting toward which young players can win roles this summer.

Jets News

• This NY Jets position group named among NFL’s most improved: Jets X Factor
• New York Jets rookie named as first rounder under most pressure: Jets X Factor
• Why Geno Smith is poised to unleash 2 young NY Jets WRs: Jets X Factor
• Latest A.J. Brown update could significantly benefit the NY Jets: Jets X Factor
• Jets Pass Rusher David Bailey Put on Notice Days Into OTAs: Heavy
• Teams Are Going to Regret Letting Jets Add VJ Payne: Heavy
• Cade Klubnik’s OTA Performance Showcases Why Backup QB Competition Shouldn’t Be Wide Open: Sports Illustrated
• Has time already run out on this forgotten Jets fan favorite?: The Jet Press
• The heat is still on David Bailey as Jets top pick must thrive in Year 1: The Jet Press

For more Jets talk, check out the JetNation forums where fans are already breaking down OTAs, roster battles and the latest offseason storylines.

The Jets kicked off day 1 of OTAs today at 1 Jets Drive and rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik impressed along with a couple of pass catchers in Jelani Woods and AD Mitchell.  Here’s a rundown of what those in attendance had to say about what went down.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that these practices are not padded practices so while some things can be gleaned from how players perform, it’s not worth getting too worked up over any news, be it good or bad.

Cade Klubnik: The biggest thing to look for today with Klubnik was his command and poise after having some time with his playbook and getting his first reps against NFL veterans.  According to Nick Faria of si.com, Klubnik checked all of the boxes.  And as Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic pointed out, Klubnik didn’t have a single pass hit the ground in team periods.

TE Jelani Woods: We saw Woods mentioned by at least three beat writers in attendance as he pulled in several passes over the middle.  We asked just a few days ago if the 6′ 7” Woods would have a chance to make the roster given his familiarity with offensive coordinator Frank Reich.  If he’s going to, he’ll need to consistently stand out in a crowded tight end room.

WR AD Mitchell: Mitchell had the play of the day in coming up with a 30-plus yard reception from Geno Smith.  The speedy Mitchell appears to have become an afterthought with the additions of Omar Cooper and Kenyon Sadiq, but this is a guy who has the tools to be a very good player himself.

RB Braleon Allen: Running backs don’t get a ton of value out of practices that are padded and have not contact.  But in the case of Allen, it will be important to see where he is in terms of agility/explosion as he missed all of last season due to injury.  According to those in attendance, Allen was moving well today.

Excited about the offense:

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson met with the media after today’s session and in discussing Frank Reich’s offense, said he likes that the players feel “empowered” with the scheme and he believes it will be one he looks back at as one of his favorite systems.

Back to the beginning:

Quarterback Geno Smith also met with the press and said he had some good memories of his first run with the Jets and a lot of that came back to him as he re-entered the building.  He then added that the moment was brief as it was time to focus on getting to work.

There will be more in the coming days, but fans should be encouraged to hear that Cade Klubnik looks solid, the offensive players are excited and while it’s just OTAs, there is some football to talk about.