The Jets are trying something new, again, as they try to pull themselves out the worst stretch in franchise history.
You might think we’re exaggerating, because the Jets have had some pretty rough history. But new coach Aaron Glenn and new general manager Darren Mougey are trying to extricate the Jets from a franchise worst 14-season playoff drought, which is also the longest postseason dry spell in major North American pro sports. They’ve also had nine straight losing seasons, a stretch when their offense has never been ranked in the top 20 in points or yards.
And of course, we know now that Aaron Rodgers couldn’t fix it. So Mougey and Glenn are taking a different approach in trying to build the roster their way.
Of course, this isn’t the full picture. It’s just the first part with the NFL Draft coming up in April and the Jets with plenty of work to do, as you’ll see.
But here’s a look at every move they’ve made in free agency and what we think of it.
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.
WR Tyler Johnson: The good news is the Jets improved their depth at a position where they don’t have any proven players outside of Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard (for now). But Johnson doesn’t solve that bigger issue: defenses know that if they shut down Wilson they’re not likely to be burned by any other Jets receiver. Johnson is only 27, but he has played five NFL seasons and has the kind of career totals an average receiver would have for one season: 76 catches for 828 yards and four touchdowns (in 47 games). So if the Jets are banking on a breakout, or even on getting anything other than depth out of Johnson, it’s not a wise bet.
CB Kris Boyd: The Jets special teams unit wasn’t quite the same last year after losing Justin Hardee, who was one of the best in the league in all facets of the game. And Boyd will basically replace what Hardee did as a corner who plays almost all his snaps on special teams and is known for his work as a gunner on the punt coverage team. But Boyd will certainly be under some scrutiny after he was called for a key penalty in the Texans playoff loss to the Chiefs when he forced a fumble on the kickoff, celebrated by taking off his helmet after mistakenly thinking the Texans recoverd the ball, was flagged for a costly penalty and then shoved his special teams coach on the sideline after the mistake. The new regime has shown it is open to take on some players who have been involved with some football-related controversy, and one mistake shouldn’t define a young player. But given the Jets' history, a second mistake of a similar nature will become a referendum on the player and regime that brought him in.
DT Derrick Nnandi: Another depth signing that falls in line with the others: alone, it’s not going to solve the Jets biggest issue on the interior defensive line: Quinnen Williams is their only proven tackle. But as a depth signing it’s hard to argue with given Nandi’s durability (he has missed just one game in his first seven years) and his experience with the Chiefs, he has been with them for three championships after returning to the Chiefs on a one-year deal each of the last three seasons.
DT Jay Tufele: He became a solid backup for the Bengals last year, nearly doubling the snap count from his first three seasons by playing 29% of the Bengals defensive snaps (for a total of 243). But there was nothing in Tufele’s 2024 performance that can be seen as an argument for him to be a full-time starter in a defense where, ideally, a defensive tackle can draw attention away from Williams. It’s certainly feeling like the Jets will have to address this in the Draft.
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.
Austin McNamara, P: This wasn’t a position the Jets needed to add depth at, with Thomas Morstead still going strong at 39, but it’s a signal that the Jets want competition after Morstead wasn’t quite as good last year as he had been before. Is it the most important move the Jets will make this offseason? No. But we like the idea of bringing in competition, even if it won’t be easy for McNamara, a 2024 undrafted free agent who has never punted in a NFL game, to supplant one of the most decorated punters in the league. But McNamara clearly has talent; he averaged a Big 12 record 46-yards-per-punt at Texas Tech.
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.
KR/RB Kene Nwangwu: It’s impossible to argue with this move after Nwangwu immediately sparked the Jets when he finally got a shot to play. The problem was it didn’t come until December 1, when he took a kickoff to the house early in his season debut. That earned him a new deal and just as importantly it should have earned him an on field opportunity to get on the field when it matters in 2025.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Andy Vasquez may be reached atavasquez@njadvancemedia.com.