The Jets’ rebuild is already showing up where it matters most: on the age-based talent charts.
ESPN slotted New York seventh in its ranking of NFL talent aged 25 and under, a huge jump from 28th a year ago. That rise comes after a miserable 3-14 season that left the roster short on appealing young pieces and forced general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn to attack the problem head-on.
What makes the climb stand out is that the Jets did it without a young quarterback waiting in the pipeline. They may not pile up wins in 2026, but the roster is being shaped for the next time they decide to make a move at the game’s most important spot.
One key detail: Breece Hall and Joe Tippmann, both of whom received multi-year contracts from the Jets, no longer count in these under-25 rankings because of their age.
Still, the foundation looks sturdier. Except for veteran starting quarterback Geno Smith, every projected starter on offense is under contract through the 2027 season. The offensive line is a big part of that picture, with Olu Fashanu at left tackle and Armand Membou on the right giving the Jets a pair of young bookends to build around.
The skill group has been stocked, too. Even without Garrett Wilson in the mix, New York has a tight end duo that should be worth watching in No. 16 pick Kenyon Sadiq and Mason Taylor, while Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper Jr. give the receiver room more youth and upside.
On the other side of the ball, No. 2 pick David Bailey is the headliner up front for a revamped defensive line. In the secondary, the Jets could have three young pieces they can live with for a while in safety Malachi Moore and cornerbacks Azareye'h Thomas and rookie D'Angelo Ponds.
That’s a sharp contrast from last season, when the Jets were trying to survive the fallout from Joe Douglas’ draft misses and a batch of one-year veterans who never gave them a real path forward. The stopgaps brought in this year are a better class of player, and the early results suggest the roster is finally being built with a plan.
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