It’s hard to say if the Jets are having a good offseason or a bad offseason. But we do know, without question, they are having a quieter offseason than usual.
The Jets’ new regime, led by general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn wasted no time making a big signing when they added quarterback Justin Fields in the opening hours of free agency.
But since then, they haven’t signed a proven above-average starter despite having a lot of cap space and several needs. That’s resulted in a lot of consternation from Jets fans, and for understandable reasons: they’re tired of losing and rebuilding. And this timid run through free agency doesn’t exactly match up with the pledge made by Glenn and Mougey that the Jets would be doing everything they could to win in 2025.
And that’s something they have to be careful of, because this fan base isn’t going to get any more patient if they feel like they’re being sold a bill of goods as the losses keep piling up.
And at this moment, it’s hard to argue that the Jets are better at any position than they were at the end of last season.
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But, with all of that being said … here’s the thing. It’s not the end of the offseason, it’s not even the end of free agency – yes, the first wave is over, but there could still be some meaningful additions in the coming days. And of course, there’s the draft and the possibility of any trades between now and the start of the season.
So let’s wait until after the Draft, at least, before we start making any declarative statements about the Jets’ offseason.
We think it will be trouble if the Jets try to sell their fan base and locker room on the idea that they can win in 2024 by filling their key needs with perennial borderline NFL players, which is how they’ve addressed the majority of their needs in free agency. Sure, it’s fine for depth purposes. But hoping to catch a flyer on a player who hasn’t played at a high level at multiple positions, and then selling it as doing everything you can do to win isn’t going to work. And with a 14-season playoff drought, and a team coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in NFL history, the fan base isn’t going to give the new regime any sort of honeymoon.
But, with all of that being said … part of us likes what the Jets are doing right now. It shows confidence in themselves that they’re willing to attack free agency the way they believe is best for the future (starting with moving on from Aaron Rodgers) and aren’t going to get wrapped up in what the outside world is saying about them. And that’s a big deal, because here’s the thing: it doesn’t matter if the noise is loud or not so loud this time of year, it doesn’t matter if it’s positive or negative.
It just doesn’t matter. Winning games in the regular season matters. And having loud, splashy offseasons for the last six years, hasn’t amounted to any meaningful wins for the Jets on the field.
So Jets while Jets some jets fans will question their new team’s top-end talent, and the leadership of their new head coach, and the acumen of their new general manager, they should also, at least consider the possibility, that it’s a good thing their team is switching it up this offseason. Perhaps it’s exactly what they need to get back to the land of the NFL living (and winning) after years in the wilderness.
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_Andy Vasquez may be reached at_ [_avasquez@njadvancemedia.com_](mailto:avasquez@njadvancemedia.com)_._