If you're a Jets fan, January has become a familiar kind of quiet. For the 15th straight year, Gang Green is watching the playoffs from the couch instead of the field. But while the postseason doesn’t feature any green and white, it could offer a glimpse into the Jets’ future.
With holes all over the roster and a new front office ready to make its mark, free agency is going to be a major tool in the 2026 rebuild. And several players lacing up this weekend could be suiting up in Gotham Green next fall. From the secondary to the interior offensive line, the Jets have clear needs-and some of the league’s playoff contenders just happen to have pending free agents who fit the bill.
Let’s take a closer look at four names to watch this weekend-players who could be high on the Jets’ radar once the offseason kicks into gear.
Jaylinn Hawkins - Safety, New England Patriots
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Jets’ safety room is in rough shape. Tony Adams and Andre Cisco have both battled injuries, and neither has locked down a starting role with consistent play. Dean Clark hasn’t shown enough, and while rookie Malachi Moore has flashed as a tackler, his coverage remains a work in progress.
Enter Jaylinn Hawkins.
The sixth-year safety out of Cal has quietly put together a breakout season in New England after stints in Atlanta and a brief stop with the Chargers. In 15 games this year, Hawkins posted a career-high four interceptions, tied his best marks in solo tackles and passes defended, and became a key cog in the Patriots’ defensive resurgence.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hawkins earned an 83.3 overall defensive grade in 2025-a massive leap from his 2024 campaign. His run defense (87.4) and coverage (81.1) numbers are particularly impressive, and his tackling grade (72.2) shows he’s no liability in space.
At a projected $7.3 million per year, Hawkins won’t come cheap-but for a Jets team desperate for immediate help on the back end, he’d be a plug-and-play starter from Day 1. If Aaron Glenn wants to bring some stability to the secondary, Hawkins should be one of the first names on the list.
Ed Ingram - Guard, Houston Texans
One look at the Jets' offensive line this season tells you everything you need to know: Joe Tippmann is promising, but beyond that, the interior is a revolving door of inconsistency. If the Jets want to protect whoever’s under center in 2026-whether that’s a veteran or a rookie-they need to invest heavily in the trenches.
That’s where Ed Ingram comes in.
After three up-and-down years in Minnesota, Ingram has found his footing in Houston. The 6-foot-3, 307-pound guard has been a steady presence for the Texans, grading out at 74.2 overall on PFF’s scale, including a strong 78.3 in run blocking. He’s shown the kind of power and poise that the Jets have sorely lacked in the middle of their line.
Ingram is set to hit unrestricted free agency at just 26 years old, and Spotrac projects his market value at around $13 million per year. That’s a hefty price tag-but when your offensive line is this broken, you can’t afford to bargain shop. Ingram would bring immediate stability and physicality to a unit that’s been far too easy to push around.
Kamren Curl - Safety, Los Angeles Rams
Back to the secondary, because the Jets need more than just one new face back there. Kamren Curl, a sixth-year safety out of Arkansas, has been one of the league’s most consistent-and underrated-defensive backs since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2020.
Now with the Rams, Curl just wrapped up a career year, racking up 122 total tackles and 79 solo stops-both personal bests. He’s a reliable tackler (87.8 grade via PFF), strong against the run (86.5), and still solid in overall defense (74.1). At 27, he’s smack in the middle of his prime and brings the kind of versatility the Jets could use-able to line up as either a strong or free safety.
Curl’s not flashy, but he’s steady. And for a defense that’s searching for a reliable foundation in the secondary, that could be exactly what the Jets need.
Jaquan Brisker - Safety, Chicago Bears
Yes, another safety. No, it’s not overkill.
Jaquan Brisker has been a mainstay in Chicago’s defense since being drafted out of Penn State in 2022. He’s physical, aggressive, and consistently productive. Brisker topped 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons, and even with a slight dip to 92 this year, he remains a force near the line of scrimmage.
He also chipped in eight passes defended and eight quarterback hurries-showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. His PFF grades in run defense, tackling, and pass rush are all solidly above 70.0.
The only red flag? A down year in coverage, where he graded out at just 50.4.
But given that his average coverage grade over his first three seasons was 63.3, it’s fair to chalk this up as an outlier rather than a trend.
Brisker is only 25 and entering his first shot at a big payday. If the Jets want youth, toughness, and upside in the back end, he checks every box.
Final Thoughts
No, the Jets won’t sign all three safeties-and they probably won’t go on a spending spree across the board. But with glaring needs at both safety and interior offensive line, they will be active in free agency. And this weekend’s playoff games offer a live look at some of the most logical targets.
So while the Jets aren’t playing in January, their future might be. Keep an eye on Hawkins in New England, Ingram in Houston, Curl in L.A., and Brisker in Chicago. Because come March, one-or more-of them could be walking through the doors at One Jets Drive.