The Raiders may have handed the Jets a useful lesson in how to build the next winner, even if the two teams arrived there in very different ways.
New York lost 38-33 to Las Vegas in Week 8, and the box score won’t tell the whole story for the Jets. Fernando Mendoza and No. 2 pick David Bailey didn’t even take the field, but the matchup still offered a glimpse at a path the Jets could borrow as they look toward 2027.
Las Vegas has at least started to show signs of life in 2026. With the AFC West looking softer as the Los Angeles Chargers implode and the Kansas City Chiefs no longer carrying the same shine they once did, Klint Kubiak and John Spytek are assembling something that could turn into a real problem soon enough.
That’s where the Jets come in. New York has already done a lot of the hard work Las Vegas still needs to finish, especially on the offensive side around a future young quarterback. But in other areas, the Raiders look like the model the Jets should be studying.
Geno Smith’s season has been far better than anyone likely expected, and that alone changes the conversation. It would be hard to justify moving on from him before the 2027 season. Las Vegas is taking the approach of letting Mendoza develop behind Kirk Cousins, and that’s the kind of setup the Jets should consider copying.
For a team that has already seen Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson go through rough situations, Smith has brought the kind of steadiness New York has been chasing for years. The Jets can use that stability to stay competitive now, then hand things over to the younger quarterback later.
The Raiders’ defense still isn’t finished, but they’ve poured real money into it with major additions. The results have been mixed - Nakobe Dean has been a hit, Kwity Paye a miss - but the Jets have no reason to sit on their hands in 2027.
They’ll have plenty to work with. New York has three first-round picks and Darren Mougey will have a lot of cap space to spend. That opens the door to adding a No. 1 cornerback, pass rush help alongside David Bailey, and a defensive tackle who can step in for Harrison Phillips.
The final piece could be the coaching choice. A younger offensive coach in the Kubiak mold, ideally someone with championship or play-calling experience, would fit the plan best. After Glenn and Robert Saleh both came up short, another first-time defensive-minded hire may not be the answer for this roster.
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Jets Offensive Line Suddenly Has A Building Block Fans Didn't Expect
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Parhams impact has been one of the more encouraging developments on the roster, especially for a player brought in to fill a need and instead turned into a genuine difference-maker. When he has been on the field, the Jets have run the ball more effectively and given the quarterback noticeably cleaner pockets, which makes his presence even more valuable as the season moves on and the line tries to keep building on that progress. [Read more 🡒]