With the 2026 NFL regular season drawing closer, the New York Jets are suddenly looking like a team people are willing to talk themselves into. Geno Smith has given the starting offense a cleaner look in its latest preseason outing, the defense has stayed away from penalties, training camp has produced plenty of encouraging snaps from the right players, and the noise around the team has been unusually quiet.
That shift in perception is showing up beyond the building, too. ESPN analyst Mike Clay recently slotted the Jets’ linebacker group as the best in the league entering 2026, and he also placed New York’s wide receiver room eighth in the NFL. For a team that didn’t produce a 400-yard receiver last season, that’s a notable show of faith.
At the center of that ranking is Garrett Wilson. The numbers haven’t yet pushed him into the top tier at the position, but the talent has never really been in question. The bigger idea here is simple: if Wilson finally gets competent quarterback play, the kind the Jets think Smith can provide, he has the look of a player who can become one of the league’s most productive pass-catchers.
There’s also a clear bet on Adonai Mitchell. The 2024 second-round pick is still just 23, and he’s been building a strong connection with Smith through camp and the preseason. Mitchell’s upside is obvious from the separation numbers he’s put together over his first two NFL seasons, and Smith appears to be the quarterback best positioned to unlock it.
New York’s rookie first-rounder Omar Cooper Jr. adds another layer to the mix. He seems to be closing in on the starting slot job, and he arrived from college as one of the most elusive and physical wideouts in the sport last season.
The depth chart still has some holes, but Isaiah Williams has turned himself into a name worth watching. The 25-year-old former UDFA was already a roster lock after winning Team MVP honors as a returner in 2025, yet he’s also been challenging Cooper for first-team slot reps thanks to a string of acrobatic downfield grabs during training camp.
And then there’s Tim Patrick, the veteran who gives the unit a steady finishing piece. He profiles as a dependable fourth or fifth option, and he’s scored three touchdowns as a complementary target in each of the last two seasons. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, he also brings size and blocking value to the room.
In Other News...
Jets Could Still Land Needed O-Line Help From An Unexpected Cut
The Jets are heading into roster cutdown week with one of the more familiar late-summer worries in the NFL: offensive line depth. Even after getting through camp with a clearer picture up front, the line still feels one injury away from becoming a problem, which is why any available veteran with starting experience is worth a look.
Andrew Vorhees could end up being one of those names if Baltimore decides to move on. The Ravens guard started every game last season, but his performance grade was a concern, and that kind of profile can make him a candidate to be available via trade or a waiver claim. For the Jets, it is the sort of low-cost, low-risk move that can matter a lot when building out the backup side of the offensive line. [Read more 🡒]
Jets May Be Testing Will McDonald In A Risky New Role
Will McDonald arrived as a first-round pick in 2023 with the kind of pass-rushing upside the Jets have wanted off the edge, and that part of his game has already shown up. The bigger question has been how to make the rest of his profile fit, because run defense and coverage duties have been tougher asks for him as he settles into the league.
Under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, the Jets are at least exploring a more unusual answer: using McDonald in coverage as an outside linebacker in the new scheme. It is an intriguing way to squeeze more value from his burst and athleticism, but it also comes with obvious risk given his limited experience and tackling concerns, which is why the staff may look for other players to help handle some of those coverage snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Finally Have A Reason To Expect A More Competitive Season
After a 3-14 season, the Jets spent the offseason trying to look like a team that understands where the holes were. They added Geno Smith, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Demario Davis and Tim Patrick, then used the 2026 draft to keep filling out the roster, giving the group a far different feel than the one that stumbled through last year.
Ben Solak sees enough of those moves to expect a more competitive season, especially with upgrades on both sides of the ball. Even so, the bar still looks modest for now, with New York projected to fall short of the playoffs as the team tries to turn roster repairs into actual results. [Read more 🡒]