As the holiday season swiftly approaches, anticipation fills the air.
Yet, with a disappointing 2-8 record, the Jets have found themselves on the wrong side of Santa’s list, paving the way for yet another winter without playoff action.
Despite facing a season seemingly set in stone, the Jets aim to secure a few wins to build a sense of optimism heading into a pivotal offseason for head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. Following recent trades involving Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, the team now boasts valuable draft picks, with a top priority being the pursuit of a franchise quarterback.
Potential quarterbacks for the next draft include Fernando Mendoza from Indiana, Ty Simpson from Alabama, and Dante Moore from Oregon. However, the Jets could also benefit from bolstering their receiving corps and enhancing a defense that struggles on crucial third downs.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s dive into the latest Jets mailbag to address some fan queries.
What should the Jets football team be thankful in this season of Thanksgiving? — @MrEd315
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Jets can express gratitude for their draft assets and the flexibility they provide for future planning.
Gang Green will enter the offseason with two first-round picks in 2026, its own and the Colts’ after the Gardner trade. In addition, the Jets will have the Cowboys’ second-round pick and their own to help replenish a roster that needs an abundance of talent. Obviously, the quarterback position will be discussed at nauseam for the next five months.
But the Jets also have roster holes at receiver, cornerback and safety. They also may need two offensive linemen, depending on what happens with guards John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, who both are impending free agents.
The Jets are projected to have close to $100 million of salary cap space at their disposal. The 2025 season has clearly been a nightmare, but the Jets will have an opportunity to add many players who could help them next year, assuming they choose wisely.
If they fall out of the top 4 in the draft and you’re not totally sold on Mendoza or Simpson enough to trade up, would you then use the first-rounders on other needs & use the early second-round pick on the OU or LSU QB if they’re available at that point? — @heshsson
My plan for the Jets next offseason is to find a veteran quarterback like Jacoby Brissett or Marcus Mariota who can right the ship for a bit before starting a rookie. No matter if it’s Mendoza or Simpson, I believe the Jets shouldn’t throw a rookie quarterback into the fire immediately. We’ve seen that story before when the Jets drafted Zach Wilson in 2021, and, obviously, that did not work out well.
In your scenario, it would benefit the Jets to surround the quarterback with the best talent possible. They clearly need a couple of receivers opposite Garrett Wilson and possibly a new starting running back, depending on what happens with Breece Hall, who will be an unrestricted free agent in March. A couple of college prospects who would be an upgrade include Washington’s Denzel Boston and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion.
The Jets should take the best available player if they are not in love with moving up to select a QB. There will be so much talent in the 2026 draft that teams shouldn’t have to trade up to find players who can make an immediate impact.
How many winnable Jets games are left on the schedule? — @brubeedoobee
Three games stick out in terms of possible wins during the Jets’ final seven. Atlanta didn’t look like a possible win at the start of the season, but with Michael Penix Jr. out for the season and Kirk Cousins now at quarterback, the Jets could certainly win that game.
Miami and New Orleans are also games the Jets have a good shot to win. The Dolphins, while playing better lately, have been largely inconsistent. The Saints could be the worst team in the NFL and have an equally bad quarterback situation with Tyler Shough.
I would be surprised if the Jets lost all their remaining games, because the players, whether they are here or elsewhere next season, have pride and are playing for their next job.
At what point is this regime going to be expected to make the playoffs? — @Bone_Shaw
Jets fans aren’t the most patient people in the world. But they may have to wait another season or two for a possible playoff appearance.
It’s going to be challenging to place playoff expectations on a rookie quarterback next year, especially when the Jets are likely to make wholesale changes to a roster that’s still full of players from the Robert Saleh era. Could it happen, yes, of course, especially since we saw the Commanders with Jayden Daniels take a team all the way to the NFC title game in Year 1 last season.
This is why the Jets can’t wait until 2027 to draft a franchise quarterback. Fans want to see results now, or at least progress that makes them believe the Jets will eventually have a chance to contend.
Really, Glenn and Mougey should be expected to take the Jets to the playoffs by 2027. Three seasons is a decent amount of time to flip a roster and contend in this league, assuming they find the right players on both sides of the ball.
