This is a crucial offseason for the New York Jets, and they’re going to need to hit home runs in free agency, because the 2026 class projects out to be much better than 2027.
There’s a lot of focus on the quarterback position and who the Jets should draft, and rightfully so, but free agency is going to be a crucial point for the franchise. This year’s free agency can make or break the continued building of the franchise. They’re going to need to be wise in their selections and not play it like last season. They will need to be aggressive and might have to overspend, even though that’s the norm for free agency anyway.
Who should they target, though? Let’s dive in.
Malik Willis
The current Green Bay Packers backup quarterback is likely to hit free agency, and the Jets could work out a deal that allows them to hedge their bets. On one hand, Malik Willis could turn into a viable starting quarterback in the league, and, on the other, he could be a valuable bridge to 2027-28.
Willis can sign with the Jets for a pseudo-long-term deal. While also still being a bridge. Basically, it can be a five-year deal with an out after two, but guaranteed money for multiple seasons. So, if he becomes your quarterback for the future, he gets good money.
Renegotiation later is also possible if needed, for a pay raise.
Tyler Linderbaum
The Jets recently signed Josh Myers to an extension, presumably to play center. However, it appears that current Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum will be allowed to test free agency. The Jets should swoop in and sign him, despite having Myers.
Myers’ position versatility means he could start at guard for Gang Green next season while they develop someone, so they wouldn’t necessarily have to draft a guard early. However, Myers could also be a versatile backup, if they draft a guard, and he wins the job.
The potential pay of $6,060,000 in 2025-26 shouldn’t scare the Jets off of signing Linderbaum at all.
Tyler Linderbaum Should Be a Top Target for Jets in Free Agency
It appears that the Baltimore Ravens will allow center Tyler Linderbaum to hit the free agent market, and, if he does, he should be near the top of the list for the New York Jets.
John Franklin-Myers
It’s time to bring back JFM. The Jets need help on both the interior and on the edge. Much like Myers, JFM brings them a player with versatility, buy his age could be an issue, as he’s 30. That said, defensive tackles tend to age much better than many in the NFL.
The Jets could give him a contract like this, and it would give him $12.5 million per season (based on the total value of the contract).
With this contract, they’d have a year-by-year option, but they’d only have until the Friday after the Super Bowl to make a decision. If he’s on the roster for the next two seasons, his contract is effectively $22 million guaranteed. It would be $35 million over the 2026-28 seasons.
The Jets could also extend him at any point, turning the 2030 void year into a real year. The dead cap charge would be $9.754 million in 2029.
Jowon Briggs (ERFA Tender)
The Jets must bring back Briggs using the ERFA tender. The tender will likely be $1,005,000, though the Jets can make it more. The combination of the JFM and Briggs additions will make the Jets IDL depth at the top will be Briggs, JFM, and Harrison Phillips.
Breece Hall (Re-sign)
The Jets must re-sign Breece Hall. He might seek $12 million per season, and that shouldn’t stop the Jets from re-signing him.
So, a 4-year, $48 million contract could work. Also, give him $19.715 million guaranteed as signing. Finally, 2028 becomes fully guaranteed in March of 2027.
John Metchie III (RFA Tender)
The second round restricted free agent tender is $5,658,000. That’s not a huge amount of money, and the combination of the Likely signing and this tender gives the Jets a good group of pass-catchers, and good enough to be competitive.
This also allows the Jets to fill other holes early in the draft, especially at edge, safety and linebacker, as they can now use earlier picks on safety and linebacker without having to force a pick at wide receiver.
Just like at quarterback, with this tender, they could afford to wait until 2027, if, at that point, they were to feel like they need to add a wide receiver.
Marcelino McCrary-Ball (RFA Tender)
McCrary-Ball has done well enough on special teams to warrant a right of first refusal RFA tender, which currently is projected by Over the Cap to be $3,453,000. It’s highly unlikely for a team to offer him a tender, and he could stil develop into decent depth at linebacker. The Jets would still need a second main linebacker for the base 4-2-5 defense.
With these acquisitions, the Jets would still need to add 20 more players over the course of the offseason to get to a 53-man roster. From a Week 1 lens, they’d still have $95,480,866 in cap space to maneuver throughout the season, when factoring in projected cuts to current active players and the practice squad already being added.
Darren Mougey is set up for a good offseason, if he and Aaron Glenn can convince free agents to come here.