The Athletic has dwell protection of the 2026 NFL free agency.
As lengthy as Darren Mougey is the New York Jets’ normal supervisor, don’t expect anybody in the constructing to check with them as a “Dream Team.”
That’s what Vince Young referred to the Philadelphia Eagles as after they went on a spending spree in 2011 free agency. They had been well-known final phrases. Those Eagles went 8-8, then 4-12 in 2012, and Andy Reid was fired.
Typically, it’s not advisable for a staff to construct its roster by means of costly free-agent signings. More typically than not, that strategy fails — even when there’s an occasional outlier, just like the New England Patriots this previous season.
Mougey will not be somebody who believes in buying on the prime of free agency. He’s a prudent GM who believes in constructing by means of the draft, in addition to one other fact that many in the NFL — together with, beforehand, the group he now leads — have failed to know for a very long time: There is normally a purpose gamers are hitting free agency. Just think about how a lot it was celebrated when the Jets signed left sort out Tyron Smith in 2024. Smith is a future Hall of Famer. He didn’t play like one in a Jets uniform.
That’s to not say the Jets gained’t signal any free brokers of observe. They need to, as they’ve holes at virtually each place on the roster and the cap house ($73.8 million, per Over the Cap) to fill a lot of them. They’ll add a lot of latest gamers over the subsequent few weeks.
Just don’t expect them to be significantly lively in the primary wave of free agency, when the highest free brokers typically get the most important contracts. Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, who carries a large stick on all roster choices, will be buying in the second and third tiers of free agency, looking for bargains the place they’ll.
For instance, if the Jets appreciated the thought of including large receiver Alec Pierce to their staff at one level, they didn’t as soon as they noticed what the value may very well be to signal him. Right now, the sensation is that Pierce might get near $30 million a season. That’s too wealthy for the Jets’ urge for food.
Last 12 months, the Jets signed a large receiver (Josh Reynolds) to a $5 million deal, and that was their large addition at large receiver. Their greatest splash was at quarterback (Justin Fields for $40 million, $30 million assured) and at cornerback with Brandon Stephens, the place they barely overpaid ($36 million over three years) to deliver in a participant they believed had untapped potential. Fields didn’t work out, however Stephens had a stable season.
Expect a related strategy to buying in 2026 as they give the impression of being to fill out their roster with veterans on affordable contracts. This will not be a staff that views itself as a participant or two away, however quite one which’s making an attempt to construct a tradition and wishes to seek out the correct folks on the proper positions. This will not be thought of an particularly sturdy crop of free brokers, both.
That’s the No. 1 objective: Adding veterans, leaders and tradition matches, particularly on protection.
Here’s what else I think in regards to the Jets heading into free agency, with the preliminary negotiating window opening on Monday at midday earlier than free agency begins in full on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET:
• Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson will hit free agency, and the Jets might lose each of them. Each ought to have first rate markets as starting-caliber offensive linemen, that are at all times scorching commodities. The Jets will seemingly signal a low-cost veteran in free agency much like Josh Myers, an skilled blocker the Jets signed final 12 months for $3.5 million. Drafting an offensive lineman early is in play, too.
• Expect a lot of the Jets’ motion in free agency (exterior of quarterback) to be on protection, significantly at security, linebacker and defensive finish. They want some depth added at cornerback as nicely. Indianapolis Colts security Nick Cross, Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, Lions defensive finish Al-Quadin Muhammad, Lions defensive finish Marcus Davenport and Miami Dolphins defensive again Ifeatu Melifonwu are among the many names to look at.
• I think the Jets usually tend to signal free-agent quarterbacks (sure, multiple) quite than make a commerce for any of the intriguing backups on the market. The worth for these coveted backups (Mac Jones, Tanner McKee, Tyson Bagent amongst them) is simply too excessive. Even the Arizona Cardinals don’t seem wanting to commerce Jacoby Brissett.
• The Jets will be in on the group of quarterbacks who had been reduce by different groups and have vital cash left on their contracts, which makes them less expensive to signal (as in, they’ll seemingly be signed for the minimal wage, $1.3 million). That contains Kyler Murray, Geno Smith and, if/when he’s reduce, Tua Tagovailoa. Smith feels just like the early favourite, and plenty of sources across the league expect Murray to land in Minnesota, although that’s not one hundred pc locked in. Malik Willis is predicted to be too costly for the Jets’ style. I wouldn’t expect the Jets to pursue Derek Carr at this juncture both.
• Keep an eye fixed on Carson Wentz as a potential No. 2 possibility due to his familiarity with Frank Reich. Same for Andy Dalton, although he’s presently on the Carolina Panthers’ roster. ESPN advised the Jets even have some curiosity in Buffalo Bills free-agent quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Jets plan on maintaining Justin Fields in the intervening time since there aren’t any bonuses coming that may require them to expedite his launch. It would nonetheless be a main shock if he caught round.
• I don’t expect the Jets to be concerned a lot (if in any respect) in the free-agent large receiver market, until somebody notable falls by means of the cracks and is keen to signal cheaply, a la Reynolds final 12 months. They might discover the commerce market (Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is believed to be out there, although it’s unclear at what price). The NFL Draft can be a potential avenue. Their second first-round decide (sixteenth total) and two second-round picks (No. 33 and No. 44) are prime positions.
• The Jets have an interest in bringing again kicker Nick Folk, however he’s anticipated to discover his market. Linebacker Quincy Williams, security Tony Adams and security Andre Cisco aren’t anticipated to return.
