For Jets fans, the 2025 NFL season has been banished to the past. Filed away in the “do not access again” archives for eternity. A record of 3-14 goes down as one of the worst seasons in franchise history, surpassed only by 1996 (1-15) and 2020 (2-14). There was very little to cheer at either end of the field, with an impotent attack backed up by a leaky defense that did not make a single interception all season. Building the Jets roster the right way is long overdue, but imperative to turning things around.
However, hope springs eternal, and Jets fans can once again look to a new season as a fresh opportunity to build toward another Super Bowl run. To get there, familiar failures will need to be addressed in the upcoming NFL Draft if the team wants to improve on its disappointing 2025 metrics. So, where do the main concerns lie for head coach Aaron Glenn?
The first position to fill is arguably the most essential: quarterback. After Aaron Rodgers vacated the role, big things were expected from Justin Fields, who secured a two-year, $40 million contract in March 2025, despite the move being viewed as something of a gamble. Although the deal was only short-term, Fields struggled to orchestrate a toothless attack and finished the season with just 1,259 passing yards.
In fact, it became clear by mid-November that Glenn had decided Fields’ time in New York was up, choosing instead to split responsibilities between Tyrod Taylor, who made six appearances, and Brady Cook, who played in five games over the rest of the campaign. Fields won only two of his nine appearances, against the Bengals and Browns.
With the Jets looking to turn over a new leaf at quarterback, several names have been linked to the position. Is the frontrunner Kyler Murray, who was replaced by Jacoby Brissett as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback. Plenty of other names have also been mentioned, including Brissett, Geno Smith with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns, who could be selected with one of the Jets’ two first-round picks.
What is certain, though, is that the Jets need wins if they are going to make any noise in American football betting odds, and a quarterback who can maximize an offense featuring talents like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson could go a long way toward changing the outlook.
At the other end of the field, the defense also needs serious attention. By failing to record a single interception all season, the Jets ended up in the history books for all the wrong reasons. The trade of Sauce Gardner in November 2025 did nothing to help a struggling unit. However, the first-round pick acquired from the Indianapolis Colts as part of that deal could give the Jets a chance to add some much-needed steel to the back end.
One name being talked up for the 2026 Draft is Arvell Reese of Ohio State. The linebacker has been praised for his athleticism and tenacity, two traits the Jets are desperately lacking right now. Whether he lands in New York with the second overall pick or at No. 16 in the first round remains to be seen, but many believe the defense has to be the priority.
With two first-round picks, the Jets have a major opportunity to improve an ailing roster significantly. NFL fans are awaiting the 2026 Draft in April with the usual anticipation and excitement. For a Jets team desperate to make its mark, this draft could be a decisive one as Glenn’s squad looks to set itself up for the coming season and beyond.