The holiday season is rapidly approaching.
But at 2-8, the Jets have been on Santa’s naughty list the entire year, which will likely result in another frosty winter without a playoff appearance.
Although they are just playing out the string of the regular season, the Jets hope to get a few victories along the way and create some positive momentum heading into a critical offseason for coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey. With all the draft capital they acquired by dealing both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams this month, at the top of the Jets’ wish list is a franchise quarterback.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Oregon’s Dante Moore are possible QB options in next year’s draft. But also, how about some receivers and a defense that can make a stop on third down?
But before getting too far ahead of ourselves, let’s answer a few fan questions in our latest Jets mailbag.
What should the Jets football team be thankful in this season of Thanksgiving? — @MrEd315
Draft capital and flexibility are the two things the Jets organization should be thankful for ahead of the holiday season.
Gang Green will enter the offseason with two first-round picks in 2026, its own and the Colts’ after the Gardner trade. In addition, the Jets will have the Cowboys’ second-round pick and their own to help replenish a roster that needs an abundance of talent. Obviously, the quarterback position will be discussed at nauseam for the next five months.
But the Jets also have roster holes at receiver, cornerback and safety. They also may need two offensive linemen, depending on what happens with guards John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, who both are impending free agents.
The Jets are projected to have close to $100 million of salary cap space at their disposal. The 2025 season has clearly been a nightmare, but the Jets will have an opportunity to add many players who could help them next year, assuming they choose wisely.
If they fall out of the top 4 in the draft and you’re not totally sold on Mendoza or Simpson enough to trade up, would you then use the first-rounders on other needs & use the early second-round pick on the OU or LSU QB if they’re available at that point? — @heshsson
My plan for the Jets next offseason is to find a veteran quarterback like Jacoby Brissett or Marcus Mariota who can right the ship for a bit before starting a rookie. No matter if it’s Mendoza or Simpson, I believe the Jets shouldn’t throw a rookie quarterback into the fire immediately. We’ve seen that story before when the Jets drafted Zach Wilson in 2021, and, obviously, that did not work out well.
In your scenario, it would benefit the Jets to surround the quarterback with the best talent possible. They clearly need a couple of receivers opposite Garrett Wilson and possibly a new starting running back, depending on what happens with Breece Hall, who will be an unrestricted free agent in March. A couple of college prospects who would be an upgrade include Washington’s Denzel Boston and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion.
The Jets should take the best available player if they are not in love with moving up to select a QB. There will be so much talent in the 2026 draft that teams shouldn’t have to trade up to find players who can make an immediate impact.
How many winnable Jets games are left on the schedule? — @brubeedoobee
Three games stick out in terms of possible wins during the Jets’ final seven. Atlanta didn’t look like a possible win at the start of the season, but with Michael Penix Jr. out for the season and Kirk Cousins now at quarterback, the Jets could certainly win that game.
Miami and New Orleans are also games the Jets have a good shot to win. The Dolphins, while playing better lately, have been largely inconsistent. The Saints could be the worst team in the NFL and have an equally bad quarterback situation with Tyler Shough.
I would be surprised if the Jets lost all their remaining games, because the players, whether they are here or elsewhere next season, have pride and are playing for their next job.
At what point is this regime going to be expected to make the playoffs? — @Bone_Shaw
Jets fans aren’t the most patient people in the world. But they may have to wait another season or two for a possible playoff appearance.
It’s going to be challenging to place playoff expectations on a rookie quarterback next year, especially when the Jets are likely to make wholesale changes to a roster that’s still full of players from the Robert Saleh era. Could it happen, yes, of course, especially since we saw the Commanders with Jayden Daniels take a team all the way to the NFC title game in Year 1 last season.
This is why the Jets can’t wait until 2027 to draft a franchise quarterback. Fans want to see results now, or at least progress that makes them believe the Jets will eventually have a chance to contend.
Really, Glenn and Mougey should be expected to take the Jets to the playoffs by 2027. Three seasons is a decent amount of time to flip a roster and contend in this league, assuming they find the right players on both sides of the ball.
