3 biggest Jets questions entering the 2026 NFL offseason

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The Jets had a quiet offseason a year ago. That’s the way Aaron Glenn liked it. Too long they’d be crowned “champions” of the weeks where no games are played. This was about setting a foundation to build on, and eventually, they’d have year after year success.

Quiet won’t work this time around, though. The Jets have issues, and they need to fix them in order to reach even a baseline of competence to justify sticking with this regime.

Here are the top three questions they must answer over the coming months.

Can they get their quarterback?

This feels eerily reminiscent to 2020. That season, the finished 2-14. There were some within the organization that, during portions of the miserable campaign, viewed it all worth it because it would land them phenom Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 selection.

Then the Jets beat the Rams. Then they beat the Browns. They picked second, not first, and ended up with Zach Wilson.

The Jets finished this season 3-14. They were a game away from the No. 1 overall selection, which now belongs to the Raiders. They will almost assuredly draft Fernando Mendoza.

Which leaves the quarterback-starved Jets with … whom, exactly?

Maybe Oregon’s Dante Moore commits. That would be significant. Things get pretty murky if not.

There are some who prefer the Jets wait until 2027 to draft their quarterback, where prospects like Arch Manning await. That’s a risk considering the heat already under the seat of Glenn. Patience is a present within Jets decision makers until it's not.

The Jets need to find their quarterback this year. Somehow, someway.

How aggressive will they be in free agency?

The Jets coach and general manager vacancies were considered among the more desirable last offseason because of the perception the roster was close to contention -- that proved to be a miscalculation.

The Jets enter this offseason needing a QB, WR2, WR3, a G, DE, DT, LB, S and two CB’s.

Of those players, several need to be legitimate game-changers, they sorely lack that.

That’s quite the shopping list for one offseason. The draft will draw most of GM Darren Mougey’s focus, but his cache of picks might be depleted if he has to trade up for a QB. That leads New York to free agency, which features a lackluster crop of player on expiring deals.

Handing big contracts to B-tier players happens every offseason. The Jets did a decent job of avoiding the overpay in recent years, but could they look to change that in order to help this roster reach competence a bit faster?

Are staff changes to come?

The Jets already fired one of their coordinators -- Steve Wilks. The Jets are not expected to make any changes at head coach, but it will be worth monitoring if changes could come at any additional spots on staff.

The offense, under Tanner Engstrand, ranks 28th in yards per game and points. Even if Engstrand returns, the Jets could prefer changes on the positional ranks. Time will tell.

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