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.

The NFL draft is in the rear-view mirror, meaning the vast majority of offseason acquisitions teams will make are in the books, and there’s a clearer picture as to what rosters will look like on week 1.  However, that doesn’t mean there are no moves to be made.  When it comes to the New York Jets, one move they should be seriously considering is adding a veteran linebacker. While activity has slowed to a snail’s pace across the league, there are still a handful of quality free agents on the market or potential trade candidates to be found.  If you think any offseason moves have greatly impacted the Jets or any other club, check out the win totals offered by a variety of sites as provided by mansionbet.com/ca/.

If you’re worried about the Jets linebacker room, you’re not alone.  Gang Green currently lists eight linebackers on their roster.  DeMario Davis is the unquestioned alpha, but at 37-years-old, how long can he be expected to play at such a high level?  Jamien Sherwood has had his moments as a pro, but he may not be a great fit when the Jets roll out a 3-4.

The rest of the group is a collection of young and unproven players.  While free agent addition Kingley Enegbare appears to be trending upward and Mykal Williams had a strong finish to the season, what can be expected from the likes of Kiko Mauigoa, Kobe King, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, or Ochaun Mathis?  Not enough to rule out the possibility of adding another linebacker. There are a few options in free agency that the Jets should consider, but you have to wonder if any interest would be mutual.

One name that jumps off the page is former Bills linebacker Matt Milano.  Would a player of his age and stature be willing to go from a perennial playoff contender?  The idea of adding veteran Bobby Wagner, but is any team really going to go with a 36 and 37-year-old in the middle of their defense?  Sounds unlikely.

If not Milano or Wagner, perhaps somebody familiar to the Jets coaching staff.  Frank Reich may be working the offensive side of the ball, but he was the head coach in Indianapolis when the Colts selected Bobby Okereke.  After spending four seasons in Indy, Okereke moved on to the Giants, where he racked up 385 tackles, 19 passes defended, and 7 forced fumbles over three seasons.  Of all the options on the table, this is one the Jets should pursue. Of course, Darren Mougey could always explore the trade market, but no matter how he gets it done, adding a linebacker should be a top priority.

Jets News for May 2 continues to roll in as the focus shifts from draft weekend to roster building. The Jets are evaluating how their rookie class fits while also looking at remaining holes, especially on defense and along the depth chart. There is still plenty to sort out before OTAs begin.

Jets News

• How David Bailey fits into the New York Jets’ defensive front – Jets X-Factor breaks down how Bailey projects in Aaron Glenn’s system, including his role in pass-rush packages and early-down usage.
• The New York Jets’ Breece Hall-contract leverage takes a hit – The discussion around Hall’s future heats up as the Jets weigh extension timing and offensive priorities.
• 2 free agent linebackers the Jets can add to improve weak room – With linebacker still a concern, this piece highlights veteran options who could step in and contribute right away.
• Jets Draft Day Three Recap: Picks, Trades and What Comes Next – JetNation breaks down the final day of the draft and how the remaining selections round out the class.
• Jets Undrafted Free Agents Tracker for 2026 – A full look at the UDFA signings as the Jets continue adding depth after the draft.
• Jets rookie class draws early reviews after draft weekend – Early impressions of the Jets’ draft haul and how it stacks up across the league.
• Jets receive mixed draft grades as analysts weigh selections – National reaction continues to come in with varying opinions on the Jets’ approach.
• New York Jets roster outlook after the 2026 NFL Draft – ESPN looks at where the Jets improved and where they still need help heading into the offseason program.
• New York Jets’ biggest needs following the 2026 NFL Draft – Jets Wire highlights the remaining holes on the roster after draft weekend.

The conversation is just getting started as fans debate the picks, track UDFAs and look ahead to camp battles. Join the discussion in the JetNation Forums and stay locked in for more Jets News.

As you’ve certainly heard by now, the Jets have hosted veteran Super Bowl winning quarterback Russell Wilson on a free agent visit to kick the tires on a potential backup. While no deal is reportedly imminent, Connor Hughes of SNY Sports says that there is “mutual interest” on both sides.  Should a deal come to fruition, it would certainly catch the attention of former Jets GM Terry Bradway.

Bradway was in the GM chair for five seasons from 2001-2005, then spent another nine years at 1 Jets Drive from 2006-2014 as a Senior Scout.  It was during the 2012 draft that Wilson was a favorite of Bradway’s as he pleaded his case with Jets execs to make the Wisconsin product the team’s next quarterback as explained by NFL.com.

According to former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, Bradway did so much talking about Wilson that he earned the nickname “Russell Bradway” as the draft approached.

During last year’s draft season, Bradway’s view on the incoming quarterback class was clear. He wanted Russell Wilson. Bradway talked about Wilson so much that the Wisconsin product was called “Russell Bradway” inside the Jets‘ building, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine told The Star-Ledger.

In time, Bradway turned out to be right, while the Jets got it wrong.  The QB would go on to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in a career that saw him earn ten pro-bowl nods while being named All-Pro three times.

Of course Wilson has endured plenty of ridicule in recent years for behavior as he appears to have alienated himself from current and former teammates, it’s being reported that one very important former teammate loves the idea of bringing him on board in Geno Smith.  Wilson served as Smith’s mentor for several years in Seattle, and apparently enjoyed his time with Wilson so much that he’s endorsing the idea of bringing him back on board.

Should things break that way, Terry Bradway will surely look back and wonder what could have been.

The Jets have announced that they’ll be exercising the fifth-year option for former first-round pick Will McDonald.  The announcement was made via the team’s official social media platforms.

Selected with the fifteenth overall pick in the 2023 draft, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for McDonald in terms of production for Gang Green.  The ultra-athletic edge rusher managed just 3 sacks in his first season before exploding in his sophomore campaign by racking up 10.5 sacks.

Expectations were high as he entered year three but McDoanld manage just eight sacks.  A respectable number, but misleading.  Of the eight sacks, half came in one contest as he racked up four against the Browns.

The fifth-year option is expected to cost the Jets just under $14 million against the cap in 2027.  A relative bargain if Will McDonald can manage to replicate his production from two seasons ago.

And while the doubters may say McDonald’s double-digit sack season was a fluke, looking back at last year’s film shows a player who was still plenty explosive off the edge, but opposing QB’s were able to dice up a weak secondary and rarely held the ball long enough to allow a play to be made.

Now set to be paired with first-round pick David Bailey and what the Jets hope will be an improved secondary in 2025, McDonald should have a chance to see a significant bump in his sack total next season.

The 2026 NFL Draft came to an end on Saturday, April 25th. After an exciting first three rounds, fans were intrigued to see how the Jets would finish out their back half of this year’s draft. They had a strong first half, picking up the likes of defensive star David Bailey, otherworldly tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the speedy Omar Cooper Jr., and a potential cornerback to build around for the future of this team, D’Angelo Ponds.

The Jets had four picks left to be made on Saturday, including two in the fourth round, one in the sixth round, and one pick in the seventh and final round of the 2026 NFL Draft. While these players may tend to be a bit of a long shot, they all still have the potential to do something great in this league, and only time will tell if they can achieve that or not. Nonetheless, here’s how the final four picks of the Jets fit into their current team.

Fourth Round: Pick No. 103, Darrell Jackson Jr., DT

The Jets’ first pick of Day Three of the 2026 NFL Draft came a mere three spots into the day.  They chose Darrell Jackson Jr, the defensive tackle from Florida State. Overall, this was a very good addition for New York. This could have been used to get an extra body on its interior defensive line. Jackson joins trade acquisition T’Vondre Sweat, Jowan Briggs, free agent signee David Onyemata, and veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips.

This is certainly a fairly deep group at the interior of the defensive line. It’s also a good mix of younger and older guys. However, this pick could spell doom for one of the veterans at the position. With Phillips entering the final year of his contract and being due $7.5 million in 2026, that salary is not guaranteed, and the Jets very well could cut him if they like what they see from Jackson at training camp. However, this is very well fairly unlikely.

Simply put, with this pick, the Jets are getting an enormous human being who has starter upside if he can develop. Not bad for someone picked in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. However, the one glaring issue with Jackson is his pass-rushing. That will need the most work. He graded out with a 58.5 in a pass rush grade, 589th among 887 players. Regardless, it was a proactive draft pick from the Jets. Their interior defensive line needed at least one more new face, considering the in-house options.

Fourth Round: Pick No. 110, Cade Klubnik, QB

This one may go down as one of my personal favorite picks of the 2026 NFL Draft for Gang Green. Cade Klubnik is an absolute dog at quarterback, and Clemson fans saw that first-hand throughout his entire college career. Klubnik had a storied yet up-and-down career as a four-year starter at Clemson. He is a pure pocket passer with impressive overall touch, timing, and accuracy. While Klubnik may not be the answer at quarterback, he certainly gives Jets fans a fun development project outside of Geno Smith.

New York clearly wanted him. They traded up with the Cincinnati Bengals, sending them No. 128 and No. 140 in exchange for No. 110 and No. 199, per NFL insider Aaron Wilson. The Jets were always going to take a quarterback in the draft. It was just a matter of who and when. Day 3 made the most sense. While this one has some fans on edge, we’ve seen a lot of good and bad from Klubnik in his time at Clemson. However, if they could harness his good qualities and develop him there, we could be in business.

In his final season at Clemson, Klubnik completed 65.6% of his passes, threw for 2,943 yards, and tossed 16 touchdowns to six interceptions. It was certainly a down year following his 2024 campaign, where the Tigers QB threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns to only six interceptions. Klubnik may eventually outperform expectations. Maybe he overachieves and, at a minimum, becomes an affordable backup quarterback on a rookie contract. Count on the Jets to draft their quarterback of the future next year.

Sixth Round: Pick No. 188, Anez Cooper, G

The New York Jets are addressing the offensive line with their sixth-round pick, and they got aggressive to get it done. While the Jets already have a young, solid offensive line, you can never add too many bodies. New York shipped picks No. 199 and No. 242 to the Seattle Seahawks to move up to pick No. 188. With that draft pick, the Jets selected Miami guard Anez Cooper, a massive human being who has a chance of developing into a potential starter sometime down the road.

Cooper stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs in at 334 pounds. A four-year starter at Miami, the 22-year-old senior was always positioned as a right guard. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 91st-best guard in college football last season among 686 qualified players. After the Jets lost Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson in free agency, they needed to add someone who could wait in the wings and develop as a long-term replacement.

The main issue with Cooper is not whether or not he’s a good blocker. There’s a ton to like about him. However, his athleticism is what comes into question. He ran a 5.52 40-yard dash and struggles to move laterally. He’s going to need some work if he wants to be an NFL starter. This is certainly something that can be fixed with hard work. He has pass protection down pat, but if he can refine his game, he can prove he can be a starter in 2027.

Seventh Round: Pick No. 228, VJ Payne, DB

With their final selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets addressed the safety position, adding Kansas State defensive back VJ Payne with the 228th overall pick. The Jets may have truly saved the best for last with this pick. The value here is out of this world for a seventh-round pick. Payne has good size for the position. He stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 208 pounds. He didn’t grade out well according to Pro Football Focus, finishing the season as their 238th-ranked safety out of 914 players, but there are still positives in his game.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Payne allowed 2.6 yards per attempt as the primary defender in coverage last season, ninth-best in college football and the best in the Big 12. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had him as the 143rd-best prospect in the class, so it seems like the Jets got some good value on their new safety. The Jets seemed to have found themselves a versatile defensive back with experience playing multiple roles on defense.

We’ll see how the Jets utilize Payne throughout his rookie season. However, it’s unlikely he receives all that much playing time. There are several players ahead of him with much more experience on the depth chart, including former New York Giant Dane Belton, 2025 fourth-round pick Malachi Moore, Andre Cisco, and, of course, Minkah Fitzpatrick. Payne is a raw prospect and is unlikely to make a large impact early on. But he certainly has a chance to learn from the veterans in front of him and turn into a long-term option for the Jets.

The 2025 season was beyond challenging for the Jets. It just didn’t work out with Justin Fields. He proceeded to rule over a dismal 3-14 campaign that saw Sauce Gardner, a cornerback they’d made the highest-paid at his position just months prior, traded away, packaged to Indianapolis in a teardown so complete it left little ambiguity about intent. Getting things right in the NFL draft woul do fo a

The Rebuild

In response, Geno Smith has been acquired from Las Vegas as the Raiders clear the way for the Heisman-winning National Champion Fernando Mendoza to take over as the face of the franchise at number one overall. He returns as a bridge option that did little to inspire much optimism, either with the MetLife Stadium faithful or online betting sites. The early NFL futures at Bovada make the Gang Green a whopping +650 outsider to reach the playoffs next season, the third longest odds of anybody behind the Miami Dolphins (+1000) and Arizona Cardinals (+1800).

Luckily, the front office seems acutely aware of just how far the Jets are behind the heaviest hitters in the AFC and has responded accordingly. The Big Apple outfit already had two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft following Gardner’s departure to Indianapolis. They would then surprisingly add a third to their arsenal when they traded with the San Francisco 49ers to secure the 30th overall pick, marking the second time in four years that they have had three picks in the opening round.

So, who did the Jets select, and what can we expect to see from each of them in 2026? Let’s take a look.

David Bailey, No. 2 Overall

David Bailey spent three seasons at Stanford, 29 career sacks across 46 games for the Cardinal, a true freshman who started from day one after choosing Palo Alto over Alabama and Penn State after being named state Defensive Player of the Year on a 12-0 championship team in high school. He was good at Stanford. Then he looked at his draft projections and decided good wasn’t enough.

The transfer to Texas Tech in 2025 was calculated. Lubbock gave him the schematic freedom and the volume of pass-rush opportunities he needed to prove what he already knew about himself. What followed was the most dominant individual edge season in recent college football memory: 14.5 sacks, co-leading all of FBS. Nineteen-and-a-half tackles for loss. Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. AP First Team All-American. And here’s the number that makes all the others land harder, 81 pressures generated on 177 fewer pass-rush snaps than Rueben Bain Jr. Bailey didn’t accumulate those numbers through volume. He maximized every single opportunity he was given.

He walks into a Jets defensive room that allowed 36 touchdown passes in 2025, recorded zero interceptions, and finished 31st in the league in sacks. The void Bailey is attempting to fill is one of an outright identity crisis. Aaron Glenn’s defense has needed an anchor, an edge-setter who opposing offences genuinely have to plan around, and now they have their man.

Jets find their guy on D with David Bailey #2

+205 pic.twitter.com/Ess5t6BX3q

— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) April 24, 2026

Kenyon Sadiq, No. 16

When the Jets submitted their card at 16, most of the draft world had wide receivers penciled into that slot. Makai Lemon’s name circulated prominently among mock draft writers who thought they’d read the Jets’ room. Then Kenyon Sadiq’s name appeared on the screen, and the experts were forced to recalibrate in double-quick time.

Instead of heading to the portal after just nine appearances and five catches in his freshman year, Sadiq stayed, developed within the program, and in 2025, he was rewarded for that patience. Fifty-One receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns, earning All-Big Ten First Team honors and the Ducks’ single-season record for catches by a tight end.

Then he ran a 4.39 at the Combine. From a 241-pound frame. A 43.5-inch vertical. Twenty-six bench-press reps. George Kittle comparisons were circulating before he’d shaken Roger Goodell’s hand, and for once, the comparison didn’t feel like hyperbole.

Pick 16 only existed because GM Darren Mougey turned Sauce Gardner into draft capital; the cornerback’s departure to Indianapolis generated the Colts’ 2026 first, which became this selection. That’s roster construction. You absorb the emotional difficulty of moving a franchise cornerstone, you convert the pain into assets, and you use those assets to land a potential franchise tight end who changes the mathematical problem defenses face on third down.

Sadiq’s formation versatility means you can’t pre-align your safety to the tight end spot and cheat coverage toward Garrett Wilson. You have to account for both of them. Every snap. That’s not a small thing for returning QB Geno Smith.

Omar Cooper Jr., No. 30

The Jets didn’t stumble into Omar Cooper Jr. They refused to let him leave the first round. The Jets traded back in surrendering Pick 33 and a fifth-round compensatory selection to San Francisco because they’d identified their target and weren’t willing to watch him disappear before they got the chance to claim him for themselves. That aggression is the opposite of sixteen years of reactive, passive draft-room culture. It’s the kind of move that tells you how a front office thinks.

Cooper is a kid from Indianapolis who attended Lawrence North High School, helped them claim their first sectional championship since 1990, stayed home when he could have gone anywhere, enrolled at Indiana, and repaid that loyalty with one of the great individual seasons in Hoosiers history. In 2025, on a 16-0 national championship team, he led Indiana with 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns, tied for third-most in FBS. Career: 115 catches, 1,798 yards, 22 touchdowns across 42 appearances, including a 75-yard rushing score that underlined the big-play upside you’re really drafting.

Now picture what Geno Smith’s weekly preparation looks like from a defensive coordinator’s desk. Wilson aligned outside. Cooper in the slot, running vertical stacks through zone coverage and pressing man with his short-area quickness. Sadiq flexed out from the formation, demanding linebacker attention on every route. Pick one to cheat toward. There isn’t a good answer, and that’s precisely the point. Bailey rushes the passer. Sadiq stresses linebackers. Cooper stretches the field. In one night, the Jets built something that looks like an actual offence and an actual defense simultaneously.

The New York Jets are officially through the 2026 NFL Draft, and now the real analysis begins. With multiple trades, a reshaped offense, and a clear direction from general manager Darren Mougey, the conversation has shifted from who they will take to how good this class can be. Across the league, analysts are breaking down the Jets aggressive moves, highlighting key additions like Omar Cooper Jr. and the overall strategy that defined their weekend. Here is your Jets News roundup for April 28.

Jets News

• Jets 2026 NFL Draft Class Gets Early Grades – ESPN
• Breaking Down the Jets Trade-Heavy Draft Strategy – CBS Sports
• Why Omar Cooper Jr. Could Be a Game-Changer for New York – Jets X-Factor
• Jets Add Depth and Speed with Day 3 Picks – Jets Wire
• Full Breakdown of Every Jets Pick in the 2026 Draft – New York Daily News
• Jets Finalize Undrafted Free Agent Class – Sports Illustrated

With the UDFA class already wrapped up, the full rookie picture is in place. For real-time reactions and deeper breakdowns from fans, jump into the discussion on the JetNation forums.

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.

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