The New York Jets may not have earned a perfect offseason report card, but they did enough to make people take notice.
That’s the big takeaway after NFL.com handed New York an A- for the work it did this spring and summer, a grade that reflects a roster that looks noticeably stronger than the one the Jets rolled out a year ago. There’s still plenty to sort out, especially at quarterback, but the talent level has clearly been raised.
The quarterback piece is still the part that keeps this from feeling like a finished product. Geno Smith might be a bit better than everybody not named Aaron Rodgers the Jets have had in quite some time, which is encouraging, but there are still questions hanging over how far this group can actually go.
Even so, the offseason work itself drew praise. Matt Okada of NFL.com pointed to the way the Jets attacked the draft, free agency and trades as the reason for the strong grade.
"Now that we're into July, the roster-construction period of the offseason has all but concluded and the preparing-for-the-season part has started," Matt Okada of NFL.com wrote. "After the frenzy of free agency, a flurry of blockbuster trades and a fresh influx of talent in the draft, the vast majority of key moves have been made ... which means we can now grade every team's 2026 offseason."
"They [the Jets] had a much higher-profile draft, snagging edge rusher David Bailey second overall before adding top tight end Kenyon Sadiq, highly rated wideout Omar Cooper Jr., and top-50 prospect D'Angelo Ponds at corner. They also swapped [Jermaine] Johnson for a talented young defensive tackle in Sweat, signed promising corner CB Nahshon Wright and traded for bridge QB Geno Smith.”
That’s a pretty clear outline of why the Jets got the bump. They added impact talent in the draft, made moves in the secondary, and found a veteran quarterback to hold things together for now.
The question, of course, is whether all of that turns into actual wins. That part is still unresolved. But from a roster-building standpoint, New York looks like a team that moved in the right direction, and that alone is enough to make this offseason feel different from the ones that came before it.
In Other News...
Jets Still Have One Defensive Weak Spot They Cannot Ignore
The Jets have spent plenty of time trying to shore up the defense, but one spot still looks vulnerable enough to keep the front office shopping. Linebacker depth has become a real concern, with age and possible regression around the current group pushing New York to at least consider outside help rather than hoping the room sorts itself out on its own.
Several veteran names fit the kind of short-term fix the Jets could use, including Jerome Baker, Matt Milano and Elandon Roberts. Bobby Okereke also belongs on the radar, though he may not be eager to come in as a backup, and Milano brings the kind of upside that always tempts teams even if his availability makes the calculation a tricky one. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Added A Defensive Piece Who Comes With One Big Catch
The Jets kept working to shore up their defensive front by signing former Packers lineman Kingsley Enagbare to a one-year contract, another move aimed at making the run defense sturdier. Enagbare gives New York a familiar kind of depth piece for this stage of the offseason, the sort of player who can fit into a rotation and help the line hold up better against physical opponents.
What makes the signing interesting is the role the Jets appear to have in mind for him. Enagbare is expected to be used more as a dependable run defender than as a consistent pass-rush threat, which means the fit matters as much as the name on the transaction wire. With T'Vondre Sweat, David Onyemata and Darrell Jackson Jr. already in the mix, the Jets are clearly building with a specific need in mind, and the next question is how much pressure Enagbare can actually add when the game plan asks for more than just setting the edge. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Trade Idea Targets A Fix For Their Biggest Defensive Hole
The Jets have spent the offseason trying to patch the middle of their defense, and a new trade proposal points them toward a linebacker who could help stabilize that area without requiring a major investment. SirVocea Dennis has been viewed as an intriguing fit because of his range and upside, and the idea is simple enough: add a young defender who could grow alongside Jamien Sherwood while giving New York another option in a spot that has been a concern.
It is still just a speculative concept, not a confirmed move, but it speaks to where the Jets are right now. They have been active in trying to reshape the roster, and a low-cost deal for a player who might be squeezed out in Tampa Bay would fit the kind of opportunistic approach teams often take when they believe a clear need is staring them in the face. [Read more 🡒]