The New York Jets have not made the playoffs since the 2010-2011 NFL season. New York was in the AFC Championship Game that season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jets fans are starving for this team to get back to the playoffs and end its playoff drought. However, they may still feel like they are far away from reaching the postseason.
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Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
This team has also not won the AFC East title since the 2002 season. They finished with a 3-14 record last season. The Jets made three selections in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft. New York drafted David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. They don’t have a long-term option for quarterback on the roster. Geno Smith is back as the starting quarterback for this season.
NFL Insider Believes That the New York Jets Playoff Drought Won’t End in 2026
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Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq is selected by the New York Jets as the number 16 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Zack Rosenblatt covers the Jets for the Athletic. He wrote his opinion on where the Jets stand after the 2026 NFL Draft. Rosenblatt said,
“The goal for the Jets was to raise the floor for a team that was often a disaster last season, especially on defense. It was clear Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn had to add stability after the Jets bottomed out in such a significant way at season’s end. The GM and coach did that in free agency by prioritizing proven veterans and leadership at positions of need. The way they went about the draft felt similar, especially at the top. The Jets still feel far away from the playoffs, but the goal for 2026 is about a simple C-word: competence. That’s what this offseason was about — even if that might feel like a low bar.”
With having Smith at quarterback, maybe New York will win more than three games next season. If they look bad once again in 2026, it is very possible that Aaron Glenn will not be the head coach when the 2027 NFL season rolls around. The general manager is not going anywhere. He has to rebuild this football team. The Jets will also have three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That could be the time where New York can finally turn the corner as a franchise. This was a nice start in this year’s draft, but they are still not close to being a playoff team sadly.
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