How Much Will the Dial Move for the Jets in 2026?

After another difficult season, Jets fans now face nine months of speculation over whether the team’s hierarchy can move enough pieces on the chessboard to make a difference next season. It’s the fervent hope of every fanbase after a losing season sure, but there is possibly a feeling among Jets fans that things can’t really get any worse.

We know, of course, that the front office does have arrows in its quiver. The Jets have the No.2 overall draft pick, with a few more first-round picks already in the bank for 2027, which gives them room to maneuver. Most expect the arrival of a quarterback in the draft, and perhaps another veteran QB to boot. There will be movement, too, on the coaching staff as the club searches for a long-term successor
to Steve Wilks as defensive coordinator.

Expectations were low going into the season

Looking back, though, even though few fans thought this was going to be a golden season, the Jets still underperformed expectations. They were never considered contenders in the Super Bowl LX betting odds, sure, but there was an expectation that the team would scrabble together more than three wins.

The Jets were given season over/under win totals of 6.5 games by sportsbooks, and something around that would have been acceptable, perhaps even a sign of progress after a 5-12 season in 2024. NFL.com’s preseason predictions put 5.3 wins as the team’s floor, with eight as the ceiling. At no point in the season did it feel like the Jets would get near the latter target. Even the ‘floor’ felt out of reach.

Yet, we are interested in what those targets will look like in early September 2026. Indeed, when we look at teams like the Patriots, who went from 4-13 in 2024 to 14-3, and the Jags, who transformed themselves from a 4-13 team to a 13-4 one, there
should be at least the case for a little optimism that things can turn around quicker
than expected.

More than just a quarterback is needed

One of the problems, however, is that it is easier said than done to turn things around. If the QB position is the most significant to address, then it’s worth noting that there is not a lot to aim for in the draft. Fernando Mendoza looks highly likely to be picked up at No.1 by the Raiders. The Heisman winner looks like the most ‘oven-ready’ option for an NFL team. With Donta Moore announcing his return to college, it becomes a one quarterback draft.

There is a dearth of talent at QB after those two, meaning the Jets will have to get creative. You might hear all sorts of names, from Kyler Murray to Geno Smith, named as a potential target for the Jets, but there are no guarantees. It does make sense for the Jets to add a veteran so they can ease someone like Dante Moore gently into life in the NFL.

And while a lot of focus will go on QB, it’s worth remembering that the Jets need help all over the field. Over 500 points conceded was pretty abysmal, as was the paltry return of 17.6 pts per game. They need to rebuild a defense that was gutted mid-season, as well as discover some cohesion in attack. It’s going to take a lot more than the draft to fix that.

As such, when we ask the question of where the Jets will be in early September, we simply don’t know. It would be nice to say that a turnaround season will be predicted, even nicer if the Jets actually turn it around, but there is a lot of work to do in the coming months.

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