The New York Jets may not be ready to break out of their slump just yet, but one NFL analyst thinks there’s at least a real reason to keep them on the radar.
In a Bleacher Report feature, NFL analyst Alex Kay pointed to one thing for every team that could help it outplay expectations in 2026. He framed it this way: "With Week 1 still on the horizon, every NFL team can make a legitimate argument to exceed expectations during the 2026 season," he says.
For the Jets, Kay’s case comes down to a blend of youth and experience. He wrote that the team has "Young players emerging alongside proven vets." That matters, he argued, because even if the upcoming season is "largely expected to be more disappointment for a team mired in the league's longest playoff drought, the promising prospects this organization has been collecting could become the type of impact players capable of swinging games."
Kay still doesn’t see New York as a likely playoff contender. He said the Jets "probably won't be in the playoff hunt, but they should at least represent a tougher challenge for opponents this year."
That leaves the Jets in a familiar spot: not a team anyone is rushing to crown, but one with enough pieces to make things interesting. Geno Smith and the crew could catch people off guard, and there will be plenty of attention on rookies like D'Angelo Ponds and David Bailey working alongside veterans such as Demario Davis and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
In Other News...
Jets Camp Just Took Another Hit At Tight End
The tight end room took another turn this week when rookie Kenyon Sadiq was sidelined after a setback in his return from a hernia injury. His absence has already cost him some practice time, and head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed the situation as the Jets try to keep camp moving without one of their young pass-catching options.
Sadiq is now expected to miss additional time as he keeps working through rehab, which could open the door a little wider for Mason Taylor. Taylor has already earned praise from the coaching staff, and with the depth chart around him thinned out, his opportunities in camp may keep growing while the Jets wait for Sadiq to get back on track. [Read more 🡒]
Davante Adams Wild Jets Story Reminds Rams Fans What They Landed
Davante Adams brief stop with the Jets is already the sort of footnote that tends to age into a bigger story, and his recent podcast recollection only added to it. The dispute centered on No. 17, a number Adams wanted after arriving in New York, and it involved a rookie wide receiver who was not eager to hand it over. Adams said he had to take the issue all the way to owner Woody Johnson before the jersey situation was resolved.
For Jets fans, it is one more reminder of how strange that summer felt, while Rams fans can look back at what came next and appreciate the payoff. Adams eventually landed in Los Angeles and gave the Rams a productive 2025 season, finishing with 60 catches, 789 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. The jersey saga may have been the odd little subplot, but it now sits inside a much larger reminder of what the Rams believed they were getting when they brought him in. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Rookie Is Suddenly Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Role
The Jets defensive tackle group got a little thinner to open training camp, and that has opened the door for Darrell Jackson Jr. to get more work than anyone might have anticipated. With TVondre Sweat sidelined to begin camp, Jackson has been taking advantage of extra practice reps, and early reports have him standing out in a way that could change the complexion of New Yorks interior line rotation.
Jackson entered camp with the idea that his first year might be more about learning than playing, but injuries can quickly reshape those plans. If the Jets keep dealing with absences up front, his path to a larger role may come faster than expected, giving the rookie a chance to turn a temporary opening into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]