The New York Jets are heading into the offseason with something they haven’t had in a long time: flexibility - and a whole lot of it.
Armed with significant cap space and a growing stockpile of draft picks, the Jets are quietly building one of the most intriguing arsenals in the NFL. It all started with a pair of bold moves at the trade deadline, when they dealt cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys. Those trades netted five draft picks, including two that will be in play this April.
As it stands, New York holds four picks in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. That alone would be a strong foundation for any team looking to retool. But the Jets might not be done stacking chips just yet.
According to Over the Cap projections, the Jets are in line to receive two compensatory fifth-round picks this spring. Those come as a result of losing edge rusher Haason Reddick and offensive tackle Morgan Moses in free agency last offseason. On paper, Day 3 picks might not move the needle for fans the way a first-rounder does, but in the NFL’s chessboard of roster construction, they matter - especially when you’re trying to maneuver in the draft or sweeten the pot in trade talks.
If those compensatory picks come through, the Jets will have four fifth-round selections and a total of 14 draft picks in the upcoming draft. That’s a lot of capital to work with, whether they use it to move up the board, stock the roster with developmental talent, or swing deals for proven veterans.
And that’s just the short-term outlook. New York also owns three first-round picks in 2027, giving them long-range flexibility that most franchises would envy. It’s a rare position of strength for a team that’s spent much of the past decade trying to claw its way out of irrelevance.
Of course, draft picks and cap space don’t win games on their own. The real test will come in how general manager Darren Mougey and his front office deploy these assets. But credit where it’s due - Mougey has the Jets well-positioned to reshape their roster in a meaningful way, both now and in the years ahead.
Jets fans have every reason to be cautiously optimistic. The past 15 years haven’t exactly inspired confidence, and patience has worn thin.
But this isn’t just another offseason of hope. This time, the Jets have the resources and the runway to make real progress.
Now it’s about execution. The foundation is there - it’s time to build.