Aaron Glenn has to like what he’s seeing when it comes to the Jets’ long-term outlook.
New York is coming off a 3-14 season, but the conversation around this team is starting to shift toward what comes next. One of the biggest reasons is the age of the roster.
The Jets aren’t built like a team trying to squeeze one last run out of a veteran core. They’re built around youth, and that’s exactly the kind of profile that can matter for a coach heading into his second year.
That point showed up in a Wednesday ESPN piece by Aaron Schatz, who ranked the Jets as the No. 7 best team in the NFL for their age. His list focused on teams powered by under-25 talent, and New York made a major jump, climbing from No. 28 last season to No. 7 now.
Schatz pointed to edge David Bailey and offensive tackle Armand Membou as the Jets’ blue-chip pieces. He also noted that the team does not have a young starting quarterback, “unless you want to count 22-year-old fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik,” Schatz says.
“No, the leader of the youth for the Jets is No. 2 pick Bailey, who will be 23 in August,” he says. “The Jets' defense also has 24-year-old safety Malachi Moore, 22-year-old cornerback Azareye'h Thomas and 21-year-old nickelback D'Angelo Ponds. On offense, the young talent is led by the bookends of the line, with left tackle Olu Fashanu now 23 and right tackle Membou just 22.”
That’s a lot of young talent packed into one roster, and it gives the Jets a foundation they can actually build on. For Glenn, that’s a ranking worth paying attention to.
In Other News...
Jets Quarterback Situation Just Drew A Brutal National Verdict
The Jets are heading into the next season with plenty to clean up after finishing 3-14, and the quarterback room is already drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. Aaron Glenn and Geno Smith are trying to build something sturdier for 2026, but the depth chart behind Smith is thin enough that it has become a talking point well before camp opens.
CBS Sports added to the noise by placing New Yorks quarterback group among the leagues weakest, with Cade Klubnik, Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook also in the mix. For a team that spent last season searching for answers, the verdict only sharpens the pressure on Glenn and the front office to prove the position can be more than a liability. [Read more 🡒]
Geno Smith Faces The Jets Fit Question Fans Have Waited Years For
Geno Smiths fit with the Jets has become one of the more interesting subplots of the upcoming season, especially when the numbers are stacked against how defenses choose to line up. Outside Zone Football Analytics shows Smith has been far more efficient against man coverage than zone in 2025, and that matters in New York because Garrett Wilson has already built a reputation as one of the leagues better man-beating receivers.
Wilsons production against man coverage since 2022 gives the Jets a possible pairing worth watching if the offense can find the right rhythm early. Smith is being asked to steady the group more than transform it, but if his strengths and Wilsons route-running continue to mesh, the Jets may have a connection that can keep defenses honest even before the rest of the passing game catches up. [Read more 🡒]