The New York Jets have been handed a pretty optimistic 2026 outlook from ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano, who sees a team that could put together a far more dangerous offense than people might expect.
Graziano pointed to Geno Smith as the biggest reason for that belief, writing, "I don't know what they're going to get out of quarterback Geno Smith, but it's reasonable to think he'll be better than he was last season in Las Vegas," Graziano wrote. "Several QB-needy teams were interested in him this offseason, as many around the league believed the surrounding circumstances had more to do with the Raiders' 2025 offensive failures than Smith did. This summer, the Jets saw a lot more good than bad from Smith; he formed a strong connection with No. 1 wideout Garrett Wilson and No. 2 wideout Adonai Mitchell -- a talented player the Jets believe is poised to take a massive leap.
"The contract the Jets gave Breece Hall tells us what they think he can be in their offense, and they also love running back Braelon Allen behind him. They've spent high draft picks on the offensive line in recent years and should be able to get the plays blocked. I'm not saying to expect the 1999 Rams here, but the Jets could score a lot more points than you might think, and they might not be an easy team to play."
For the Jets, the whole thing comes down to whether Smith can rediscover the version of himself that showed up with the Seattle Seahawks. That was the stretch where he posted his two best NFL seasons in 2022 and 2023, made the Pro Bowl both years and won the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Last season in Las Vegas, Smith led the league in interceptions. He enters this year with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions, along with a 42-56-0 record as a starter.
The Jets are trying to climb out of a brutal 3-14 season, one that saw them become the first team in NFL history not to record a defensive interception and to lose five straight games by 23 or more points in the same season. It was a nightmare first year in the Aaron Glenn era.
Garrett Wilson is already looking ahead. Now entering his fifth NFL season, the former Ohio State standout said he believes the Jets will be playing "meaningful football in December" in 2026.
In Other News...
Jets Trade Just Put Mougey's Roster Strategy Under A Brighter Spotlight
The Jets added another piece to their offensive line plans by striking a deal with Las Vegas for Jordan Meredith, sending a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Raiders and getting back a 2029 seventh-rounder along with the veteran lineman. Meredith then agreed to a restructured one-year contract with New York worth $2 million plus incentives, with $1.9 million guaranteed, a move that points to the team continuing to shore up the interior after the trade.
For the Jets, the timing matters as much as the price. Meredith is being brought in to provide depth on the inside for the 2026 season, and his arrival fits a roster-building approach that has leaned on targeted additions rather than splashy overhauls. The question now is how the Jets plan to sort out the rest of the interior rotation once training camp and the competition for snaps really start to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Kicker Search Just Took A Turn Fans Will Hate
The Jets search for kicking help has turned into one of those midseason roster chores that never feels simple, especially when the options under review come with very different levels of comfort. New York has been looking beyond Blake Grupe and Jason Sanders, and the list of names it has worked out includes Justin Tucker, Michael Badgley and Joshua Karty, a mix that underscores how urgently the team is trying to sort out the position.
Tucker, of course, is the name that jumps off the page, even after a rough recent stretch and the fact that other teams passed on him after tryouts. He was also recently suspended for 10 games in the 2025 season following an NFL investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior dating back to 2012 through 2016, which only adds to the unease around any possible move in his direction. For a team still weighing its kicking options, the Jets are clearly leaving no stone unturned, even if some of those stones are a lot heavier than others. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Franchise QB Search Just Took A Familiar Draft Turn
The Jets spent the 2026 offseason addressing the quarterback spot by bringing in Geno Smith from the Raiders, and for now he is expected to open the upcoming season as the starter. Even so, the long-term search at the games most important position has not really gone away, which is why the clubs draft capital keeps drawing attention as the next possible route to a franchise answer.
One projection has New York using a pick it acquired from the Colts to target Carr in the 2027 NFL Draft, a familiar kind of quarterback swing for a team that has spent years trying to get this part of the roster right. Carr arrives with real college production behind him after a strong 2025 season at Notre Dame, and if the Jets do go that direction, it would signal a willingness to keep building beyond the short-term fix and bet on a younger option with starter upside. [Read more 🡒]