Woody Johnson, Roger Goodell
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New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and the NFL Commish Roger Goodell having a conversation ahead of the Super Bowl.
The New York Jets have officially been put on notice.
On NFL.com, a question was posed to the panel: Which NFL team most needs to nail the 2026 draft?
NFL Media analyst Eric Edholm picked the Jets.
“How could it be anyone but the Jets? The 2027 draft could be a whopper for them, but that doesn’t lessen this year’s importance. They’re loaded with draft picks and flush with flexibility. There are holes at myriad positions. After a tough first season that ended with a five-game skid, Aaron Glenn figures to feel job pressure this season,” Edholm wrote.
“The Patriots and Bills are way ahead of them now, and the Dolphins are just starting a rebuild, so finishing behind Miami in the standings would be a horrible look for Glenn. He’s almost certainly counting on this rookie class to buoy the ship, so GM Darren Mougey needs to hit on a lot of these picks,” Edholm explained.
Don’t Put the Cart Before the Horse
Everyone talks about the 2027 NFL draft with the Jets. They have three first-round picks at their disposal in a supposedly QB-rich draft.
The problem is this isn’t a Madden video game. There isn’t a sim the season button. You can’t just skip past 2026. To get to 2027, you must go through 2026.
If the Jets don’t nail this 2026 NFL draft, head coach Aaron Glenn or general manager Darren Mougey might not make it to 2027 to make those franchise-altering picks.
Most Pressing Question for Jets Before Draft
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report revealed the biggest question every NFL team is facing ahead of the draft.
For the Jets: “Do they draft a quarterback?”
“It’s hard not to smirk at the talk of Geno Smith leading the Jets to the ‘promised land.’ We all know he is a bridge for a team that is likely to miss out on Fernando Mendoza, second overall, but has three of the top 33 selections in the draft. Do they take Ty Simpson or Garrett Nussmeier? Or is it all about the 2027 class for Gang Green?,” Gagnon openly asked.
There are so many fascinating ripple effects based on what the Jets decide to do and don’t. If they draft a quarterback early, does that automatically block them from taking one next year? If they don’t take one, will this regime be in extra danger of losing their gigs if they don’t win games?
NFL Workout Dates Officially Announced
There is no offseason in the NFL.
On Friday, April 3, the league officially announced the offseason workout dates for the 32 NFL teams.
“Offseason programs are conducted in three phases: Phase 1 for meetings, strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation, Phase 2 for individual and group drills, and Phase 3 for organized team practice activity — commonly referred to as OTAs,” the ESPN staff posted.
“Contact is not permitted in Phases 2 and 3, but teams are allowed to run 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills during OTAs,” the ESPN staff wrote. “Voluntary veteran minicamps can be held by teams with new coaches — this year, 10 teams will hold one before the 2026 NFL draft.”
The Jets’ first day is April 20, just a few days before the 2026 NFL draft. Gang Green will conduct four sections of OTA workouts:
May 27-29
June 1-2
June 4
June 8-11
The final leg of the race will be a three-day mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 16-18. There will then be a break for about a month, until training camps begin at the end of July.