The Jets have spent the offseason making moves, and that has naturally stirred up the kind of hope that follows any team trying to reset its image. But for all the optimism building around New York, there’s still a hard truth hanging over the conversation: this is a franchise that has given people plenty of reasons to doubt it.
That’s the backdrop for Aaron Glenn’s first season as head coach, and he isn’t pretending otherwise. The Jets know last year didn’t meet the standard, and Glenn made it clear that the work is still very much in progress.
"We're still a long ways away," Glenn said, per the team. "When you finish a season 3-14 and you go into this year and you feel good about some of the things that you've done, you want to see how all those things come together, like from OTAs and training camp and going into the season. So that's a hard question to answer, really.
"But I do know this: Everything we wanted to do as an organization, you're starting to see it come together. And again, we still have a long way to go, but I do like the direction that we're going right now."
That’s the balance the Jets are living with right now. There’s a belief inside the building that the pieces are being put in place, but there’s also no escaping the reality of a 3-14 season.
Glenn’s message wasn’t one of victory laps. It was a reminder that progress has started, even if the finish line is still far off.
In Other News...
Jets Franchise QB Search May Already Have A Surprise New Focus
The Jets quarterback hunt is already pointing toward the 2027 NFL Draft, a class they are positioned to attack with three first-round picks. General manager Darren Mougey has made it clear the process will be open-minded, and that means looking beyond the obvious names as the team tries to identify the passer who could eventually become its next franchise answer.
One of the more intriguing early evaluations is coming from Minnesota, where Drake Lindsey put together a promising first season as a starter. He completed 63.2 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions, and if that growth continues, he could push himself into first-round territory by the time the Jets are ready to make their move. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Suddenly Have A Backup Quarterback Problem Behind Geno Smith
Geno Smith is locked in as the Jets Week 1 starter, but the picture behind him is still unsettled, and that matters more than it might in a typical summer quarterback competition. Bailey Zappe, rookie Cade Klubnik and Brady Cook are all in the mix, with the team still sorting through what it wants in a backup and how much experience it needs in reserve.
Mason Rudolph has emerged as a possible outside answer, and his profile is easy to understand for a team trying to stabilize the position. He is an eight-year veteran with 19 career starts and looks like a solid depth option, though not necessarily the kind of long-term emergency plan a team wants to lean on if things go sideways. His contract situation also adds another layer to the decision, especially with the Steelers having added another young quarterback to their pipeline, which could make Rudolph harder to keep in Pittsburgh for long. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Camp Could Finally Settle A Backfield Question Fans Know Well
Isaiah Davis enters training camp with a real chance to answer one of the Jets quieter backfield questions. The fifth-round pick from the 2024 draft has already shown enough efficiency in his first two NFL seasons to put himself in the conversation behind Breece Hall, and the team has come to value the way he fits into multiple parts of the offense and special teams.
Davis has been productive on limited work, and his next step is to turn that trust into a clearer role as he heads into his third year. Braelon Allen is also in the mix, but Davis appears to be the back the Jets are leaning toward as camp opens, which makes this one of the more interesting position battles to watch when practices begin. [Read more 🡒]