NFL free agency: Jets have triple option of positions to upgrade roster — QB, LB, WR
Kyler Murray warms up prior to a game on Sep. 14, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. Credit: Getty Images/Norm Hall
Aaron Glenn overhauled his coaching staff. It’s time for the Jets to do the same thing to the roster.
Glenn hired 14 new assistant coaches after a 3-14 season. Now he and general manager Darren Mougey will turn to team-building.
The Jets will have roughly $74 million in cap space when free agency begins on Monday and assets for Mougey to make trades.
“I’m excited about the cap space,” Glenn said. “I’m excited about the draft capital that we have, and I know me and Mouge are going to do a hell of a job of trying to make sure that we bring guys on this team that fit exactly what we’re going to do.”
Here are three areas the Jets must address before the draft:
1. QUARTERBACK
The Jets whiffed on the Justin Fields signing last year. He’s expected to be released.
The Jets could acquire two veteran quarterbacks and draft one for new coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave to work with and develop.
“I do feel like there’s some good options out there,” Mougey said.
Malik Willis will be in demand, and the Jets should be in play for him unless they don’t see him as their future franchise quarterback. The Jets may want only a one-year bridge quarterback, making Tyler Huntley or Marcus Mariota possibilities.
The Jets have three first-round picks in 2027 in a draft that could feature Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Texas’ Arch Manning and Oregon’s Dante Moore. The Jets could put all their eggs for a franchise quarterback in that basket.
Kyler Murray, 28, is a former two-time Pro Bowl quarterback who could be signed for the minimum after he’s released by Arizona next week. Another Cardinals quarterback makes sense for the Jets via trade. Jacoby Brissett played for Reich with Indianapolis.
Derek Carr and Kirk Cousins have been linked to the Jets. Cousins and the Jets might not be a match, but Carr has a relationship with Glenn. However, he said that if he comes out of retirement, it will be to play for a contender. We’ll see how that plays out.
Some backups the Jets might consider are Tanner McKee, Mac Jones, Davis Mills, Tyson Bagent, Spencer Rattler, Will Levis and Jarrett Stidham, who has ties with Mougey from Denver. The Jets won’t give up too much for what could be a short-term rental, though.
2. DEFENSIVE HELP
With Glenn calling the defense, expect him to bring in guys who played for him.
Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone will be a main target. Quincy Williams is unlikely to return. Anzalone and Glenn were together in Detroit and New Orleans and are close. Glenn could pursue others from his past after tearing down the defense.
The trade of edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to Tennessee left Jamien Sherwood and Will McDonald as the only starters remaining from the 2024 Jets. Sherwood could be the next to go.
Needing defensive ends and secondary help, Glenn could reach back to his days as Detroit defensive coordinator for edge rushers Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport, cornerback Amik Robertson and cornerback/safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, who was with Miami last season. New Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker was on the Dolphins’ staff.
Players not from Glenn’s past that the Jets could pursue are edge rushers Boye Mafe and Odafe Oweh, cornerbacks Nahshon Wright and Alontae Taylor and safeties Bryan Cook, Nick Cross and Keith Byard III. Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick could be an option through a trade.
3. WIDE RECEIVER
The Jets have to pick a guard to re-sign: Alijah Vera-Tucker, who missed last season with a torn triceps, or durable, oft-penalized John Simpson.
Adding playmakers is a must, too.
The Jets put the franchise tag on 1,000-yard rusher Breece Hall on Tuesday. Now they can focus on the receiver room and giving their new quarterback a weapon to play with Garrett Wilson and talented yet still unproven Adonai Mitchell.
Colts big-play threat Alec Pierce played for Reich and would be a good addition to push the ball downfield. If Pierce costs too much, the Jets could pivot to Romeo Doubs, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jauan Jennings or Christian Kirk.
Let the overhauling begin.
Notes & quotes: The Jets exercised the exclusive-rights tender to retain defensive tackle Jowon Briggs and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball. Briggs was a bright spot last season and McCrary-Ball was a special teams ace and captain. The Jets also re-signed tight end Jelani Woods.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
