The Jets have dominated the offseason in recent years. And in the opening hours of free agency, it felt like it might be the same story after their highly praised, low-risk, high-reward pickup of quarterback Justin Fields.
But since then, there have been more questions than answers. Yes, the Jets have a starting quarterback, but after three days of free agency it’s hard to argue that new coach Aaron Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey have upgraded any position on the roster. And they have yet to fill several key needs.
Obviously, there’s a long way to go. And even after free agency, the Jets will get a chance to add talent in the NFL Draft, where they pick No. 7 overall.
But they are most definitely not winning the offseason. Glenn and Mougey have plenty of work to do. And while it’s easy to lament that in this moment, it’s not like winning the offseason has helped them in the past. So there is that.
ADDITIONS
DT Byron Cowart: This appears to be the new regime’s first step toward addressing their depth issues on the interior defensive line. Adding Cowart fits the theme of this offseason: they’re going all in on relatively young, high upside players. Cowart turns 29 in May, making him the oldest of the new additions. The former Patriots fifth-round pick didn’t appear in a game in two of the six seasons since he was drafted (2021 and 2023) but he’s coming of his best season, starting seven games for the Bears with 2.5 sacks, five tackles for a loss and four QB hits. All career highs. The Jets are looking for trouble if they are trying to plug him in next to Williams as a starter, but as a depth signing it’s a good start to addressing a problem that is far from solved.
TE Stone Smartt: The Jets are signing the former Charger to a one-year deal according to NFL Network. It’s worth taking a flyer on this 26-year-old, who has flashed some potential when he’s been able to crack into the lineup. But playing his blocking struggles kept him off the field for most of 2024 under the Chargers new staff; he played just 45 offensive snaps the first 12 games of the season, with just three catches for 44 yards. But he played 136 snaps in the final five games, and averaged three catches and 33 yards per game (which projects to 44 catches and 558 yards over 17 games). His speed and shiftiness could make him a weapon with a mobile quarterback like Justin Fields. But he doesn’t have the track record for the Jets to bank on him replacing an established tight end like Tyler Conklin.
QB Justin Fields: The Jets’ first addition of free agency was a big one. Here’s why we like it and everything you need to know about the move.
CB Brandon Stephens: Here are the details on the former Ravens starter, who seems set to fill he same role in Glenn’s secondary and why it raised some questions.
S Andre Cisco: The former Jaguars starter is likely fill a similar role on his new team. Why it revealed more about the new regime and is less questionable than the Stephens.
Edge Rashad Weaver: Not exactly a high-profile move to solve their edge rushing depth issues, as the Jets are adding Weaver on a one-year deal according to multiple reports. The former Titans fourth-round pick hasn’t appeared in a game since 2023 after spending last year on the Texans and Rams practice squad and hasn’t record a sack since 2022 when he had 5.5.
RT Chukwuma Okorafor: This signing can’t be the Jets' answer for their right tackle problem, can it? Okorafor (a Steelers' third-round pick in 2018) started 59 games for Pittsburgh in his first five seasons before he was cut after the 2023 season. Okorafor, now 27, was the Patriots' Week 1 starting left tackle but was benched after 12 snaps and left the team before the start of Week 2 and hasn’t played since...
C Josh Myers: Another trip to the free agency bargain bin for the Jets. If the Jets are signing Myers to be a backup center, as his one-year, $3.5 million contract suggests, he’ll be a strong replacement for disappointing backup Wes Schweitzer. But this deal does open the door to some potential o-line shuffling to solve the Jets' depth problems, which could be an issue. Read why here.
RE-SIGNINGS
CB Isaiah Oliver: Added last year as backup, he ended up being a versatile and useful fill-in during a frustrating season for the defense. And it made sense to bring the 28-year-old back in the same role, which the Jets did, according to multiple reports.
LB Jamien Sherwood: He suddenly emerged as one of the better linebackers in the league at the best possible time for him: a contract year. He was rewarded with a contract that paid him accordingly and it’s hard to argue with the Jets' logic as they solidified a key defensive position by bringing him back. Here’s what you need to know.
LB Jamin Davis: The Jets claimed him off waivers from the Vikings before Week 18. And Davis, who didn’t appear for the Jets in the final game of the season, confirmed a FOX Sports report that he’s sticking around on a one-year deal. Davis has played inside linebacker and on the edge and has eight sacks in his first four seasons.
KEY DEPARTURES
QB Aaron Rodgers (free agent): The Jets didn’t want Rodgers back, which was understandable for many reasons. Fans already have strong opinions on if it was the right move or the wrong move. We’ll have to wait and see. But Rodgers clearly wants to return and now the question is if if ends up across town with the Giants or with the Steelers (who play the Jets in 2025 at MetLife).
WR Davante Adams (Rams): He likely didn’t want to come back to the Jets after they moved on from Rodgers, and they had no choice but to release him after trying to trade him. But given the Jets terrible depth at receiver and Adams' solid play in his short run with the team, it’s a significant loss.
LB C.J. Mosley (free agent): It was time to move on given Mosley’s injury struggles in 2024 and the fact that his career is winding down. But he had a strange and remarkable Jets career, and they won’t be able to replace what he brought on and off the field.
RT Morgan Moses (Patriots): He proved his value last year, playing at a high level despite dealing with a significant knee injury for most of the season. But the Jets, who let him get away in 2021, couldn’t keep him from going to their biggest rival on a reasonable deal and will be hard-pressed to find a suitable replacement. More here.
CB D.J. Reed (Lions): Reed made it clear at the end of last season he wasn’t planning on sticking around. And he wasted no time agreeing to a big payday in Detroit: a three-year, $48 million deal. The Jets will have a hard time replacing Reed who teamed with Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II to give them one of the strongest cornerback groups in the league since 2022.
DT Javon Kinlaw (Commanders): He was massively hyped when he joined the defensive line as a free agent last year and never came close to living up to it. It’s not surprising that he’s playing elsewhere in 2025. It is surprising that the Commanders wasted no time committing to a three-year, $45 million deal to Kinlaw in the opening hours of free agency (a significant pay bump from his one disappointing season with the Jets).
DT Solomon Thomas (Cowboys): He was a reliable backup and a respected locker room presence for all four of his seasons in Florham Park. Now he’s headed to Dallas on a two-year deal worth up to $8 million, according to multiple reports. And while his departure will go under the radar, it’s an even bigger loss when you look at the Jets’ nonexistent depth at defensive tackle as the first week of free agency winds down.
CB Brandin Echols (Steelers): He undoubtedly had the talent to plug in as the Jets' replacement for Reed at cornerback, but the Jets didn’t see it that way (and perhaps understandably given the team’s need to add strong-tackling cornerbacks in Glenn and defensive coordiantor Steve Wilks' scheme which is likely to be heavy with defensive backs). Now he’s heading to Pittsburgh, according to multiple reports.
Edge Haason Reddick (Bucs): It’s hard to call this much of a loss given his one disastrous season with the Jets. Reddick quickly agreed to terms with Tampa Bay, and the Jets will see him this fall when they travel to Florida to face the Bucs. Here’s more on Reddick’s departure.
REMAINING CAP SPACE
The Jets begin Thursday with around $33 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. But that number is highly flexible given their decision to designate Rodgers and Mosley as post-June 1 cuts — they’ll get $13.5 million more in relief at the start of June. In other words: they have plenty of room to add a big-time free agent or make a trade.
Potential targets
The problem is, this was always a weak free agent class and there aren’t many big names out there left for the Jets to pursue. Especially given their needs: there isn’t a proven starting right tackle on the market and the defensive tackle landscape, and the same can be said for tight end. There are some big-name wide receivers still out there (and it seems highly likely the Jets will sign one of them) but all come with significant risk. Here are some free agents we think will be on their radar heading into Day 4 of free agency.
WR Amari Cooper
TE Tyler Conklin
WR Stefon Diggs
WR Keenan Allen
WR Tyler Lockett
OT Jedrick Wills
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Andy Vasquez may be reached atavasquez@njadvancemedia.com.