The Jets may still be waiting on the Geno Smith legal case to get sorted out, but the rest of the league is already handing out its verdict on New York’s offseason - and it’s a pretty favorable one.
NFL.com gave the Jets an A-, pointing to a busy and aggressive rebuild that included three first-round draft picks, a three-year extension for Breece Hall, and the trade that sent Jermaine Johnson II to the Vikings in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
The outlet highlighted the Jets’ draft haul as the headliner, noting the team took edge rusher David Bailey second overall before adding tight end Kenyon Sadiq, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. It also mentioned the addition of cornerback Nahshon Wright and the trade for bridge quarterback Geno Smith.
On Hall, NFL.com wrote: “Extending Hall for three years -- a move i don’t particularly love for a team that’s a ways from contending -- solidified a respectable skill-position group (after also extending Garrett Wilson last summer) for a future franchise quarterback. New York still might be one of the favourites for the first overall pick in 2027, but this offseason set the stage for a better future.”
That kind of summary makes it easy to see why there’s some optimism building around the Jets, even if the bigger picture is still a work in progress.
The Johnson-for-Sweat move has also drawn a positive read around the league, and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell offered a strong endorsement of the direction Darren Mougey is taking in New York. Speaking to the NY Post, O’Connell said: “Most of the time I was complimenting him on whether it was a great draft they had, or how they handled some of their internal situations there - getting their running back (Breece Hall re-signed),”
He added: “I just think the plan that he’s had has been really well thought-out. It’s one thing - a lot of teams put the time and the energy in to have as much good planning as you can - but it’s about the execution of those plans. The way Darren has gone about it doesn’t surprise me.”
O’Connell continued: “I know there’s not a day Darren shows up to work that he doesn’t feel prepared - and I think that’s proving to be the case,” O’Connell said. “He’s not afraid to make difficult decisions, and I think that’s because it’s in alignment with the process that he has.
He’s attempting to execute a vision that he has for that organization. As a former Jet, it’s always good to see the organization in good hands - and they certainly are with Darren and A.G. (head coach Aaron Glenn).”
That lines up with the way Mougey has looked from the outside so far: organized, deliberate, and willing to make the kind of calls that shape a roster fast. If Aaron Glenn doesn’t work out, it’s not hard to imagine O’Connell and Mougey being linked down the line.
For now, though, the Jets are in a quiet stretch while they wait for the Geno Smith situation to be resolved before training camp later this month. The last thing they need is a legal cloud hanging over the building as they keep pushing toward the 2026 season.
And if you’re looking for one more reason to feel better about the direction of the roster, the Sweat addition stands out. Johnson was a player plenty of Jets fans liked, but Sweat brings a different kind of value - a real body in the middle of the line to eat space, clog lanes, and help keep opponents out of third-and-short.
In Other News...
Jets Fans Won't Agree On This Latest Quarterback Trade Idea
The Jets quarterback search has a way of circling back to the same question: how much sense does it make to chase another young arm, especially when the answer might be more about patience than certainty? With the Browns carrying a crowded quarterback room and a former third-round pick still trying to carve out a clearer path, the idea of a trade has enough logic on paper to get attention in New York, where the position has been a source of frustration for years.
For the Jets, the appeal is obvious enough. A backup with some starting experience and room to grow can look like a worthwhile swing if the price is modest, and this is the kind of move that can divide fans between those craving upside and those who have seen too many false starts at quarterback. The real question is whether adding another developmental passer changes anything meaningful for a team still trying to find stability at the most important spot on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Jets May Finally Have A Smarter Backup QB Option
The Jets still have plenty to sort out when it comes to the quarterback room, and the backup spot feels just as important as the long-term answer under center. With the team looking for a developmental option who can grow in the system and be ready if called upon, the idea of adding a young passer with real game experience has become a logical place to look.
One name that has come up in that conversation is a former starter who already has some NFL reps and a manageable contract, which makes the fit easier to imagine from a roster-building standpoint. The wrinkle is whether his current team is willing to keep him in place as insurance, especially with other quarterbacks in the mix, so this is still more of a possibility than a finished deal. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Just Got Another Unsettling Reminder About The Next QB
The Jets still have Geno Smith under center, but the conversation around what comes next keeps circling back to the same uneasy place: there is not much proven help waiting behind him. The Athletic recently took a look at the quarterback picture and pointed to a pair of possible fallback options, which is a reminder that even with a starter in place, the depth chart is still drawing scrutiny.
One of those names comes with only a small NFL sample, while the other has earned respect for his intelligence and presence in the room without yet convincing evaluators that his game is ready for the league. For a team that has spent years trying to stabilize the most important position in sports, that kind of uncertainty is exactly the sort of detail fans notice, especially when the discussion is less about a solution than about how thin the options remain. [Read more 🡒]