Updated on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 @ 11:13p
TRADES
3-10-26
The New York Jets traded a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for QB Geno Smith and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick. Glass half-empty — Smith turns 36 in October and is coming off a disastrous one-year stint in Las Vegas where he led the NFL in interceptions.
Glass half-full — in 2013 he was being asked to become the Jets savior, now he is being asked to bring a modicum of competency to the Jets offense until the future franchise quarterback arrives.
I’m not going to lie, I didn’t want Smith in 2013, and I never envisioned a reunion. However, the Jets’ options were limited. QB Malik Willis wanted to join his former Green Bay Packers coach Jeff Hafley in Miami, and the rumored price to acquire QB Mac Jones from the San Francisco 49ers is at least a second-round draft pick. Therefore, while I’m not excited about Smith’s return, I understand.
Grade: C
3-9-26
The New York Jets traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for S Minkah Fitzpatrick — who subsequently agreed to a 3-year, $40m contract extension. The 29-year-old Fitzpatrick is a five-time Pro Bowler, and three-time All-Pro. He’ll solidify one safety position and tutor his fellow Alabama alum Malachi Moore at the other.
Statistically, Fitzpatrick is not the ball hawk he was earlier in his career, but he is still a productive player. Acquiring a player of his caliber for a seventh-round draft pick is tidy work by Mougey.
Grade: B+
2-26-26
The New York Jets traded EDGE Jermaine Johnson II to the Tennessee Titans for NT T’Vondre Sweat in a deal that is a better scheme fit for both teams. Johnson, 27, made the Pro Bowl under Robert Saleh in 2023, and now joins HC Saleh and DC Gus Bradley in Tennessee.
In New York, HC Aaron Glenn and DC Brian Duker are expected to play a base 3-4 and needed a player capable of playing over the ball. Sweat is three years younger, $13.4 million cheaper, and has two years left on his contract compared to one remaining for Johnson.
Despite the fact that Sweat may never become the consistent three-down player that Johnson showed before tearing his Achilles, I’m giving the Jets a high grade for a multitude of reasons: 1) The $13.4m savings made it easier for the Jets to retain Breece Hall (see below). 2) The top of the April draft is projected to be deeper at EDGE/OLB than DT/NT. In ESPN’s latest mock draft by Jordan Reid — Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr, and Sonny Styles go two through five. 3) The Jets gave up 139.5 rushing yards per game which placed them 29th in the NFL. According to PFF, Sweat ranked fourth among all interior linemen against the run, and fifth overall.
Grade: B+
EXTENSIONS
3-5-26
The New York Jets resigned TE Jelani Woods and exercised exclusive tender rights on DT Jowon Briggs and LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball.
The 27-year-old Woods flashed potential in 2022 for the Indianapolis Colts but has been struggling to get healthy since. Briggs, 24, was a revelation when he arrived last fall in a trade with the Cleveland Browns — producing 38 tackles, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble. McCrary-Ball, 26, was named a team captain prior to the 2025 season based on his attitude and special teams play. These were all low-cost, no-brainer decisions for Mougey.
Grade: B
3-3-26
The New York Jets retained RB Breece Hall by announcing that they were designating him with the non-exclusive, $14.293m franchise tag. This is a move that GM Darren Mougey signaled at the NFL Scouting Combine and had been encouraged by many of the NFL’s top pundits — including yours truly here and here.
Consider the sheer number of holes that the Jets have to fill this offseason, the lack of playmaking skills on both sides of the ball, and the fact that the 24-year-old Hall is equally explosive in the passing and running game — this was also no-brainer.
Grade: A
FREE AGENTS
3-10-26
The New York Jets signed CB Nahshon Wright to a 1-year, $5.5m deal. In retrospect, this is a signing we should’ve predicted. The 27-year-old had a breakout season with five interceptions — tied for most in the NFL by a cornerback, and second overall. Meanwhile, the Jets famously set an all-time record by recording zero interceptions in 2025.
Grade: B
3-9-26
The New York Jets signed DE Joseph Ossai to a 3-year, $36m deal. Ossai, 25, is a former third-round EDGE/LB who has had 14.5 sacks in 61 career NFL games. Considering the Jets are giving him $22.5m guaranteed, they are paying him based on his potential, not his results.
Grade: C
3-9-26
The New York Jets signed DE Kingsley Enagbare to a 1-year, $10m deal. The 26-year-old Enagbare was ranked as the 75th best available free agent by Gregg Rosenthal from NFL.com, touting him as “a young edge player who creates havoc in the running game”.
Grade: C
3-9-2
The New York Jets signed LB Demario Davis to a 2-year, $22m deal. This is a move I foreshadowed in “Mac’s Picks for Week 16” on December 20, 2026. Here’s an excerpt of what I wrote:
When Aaron Glenn looks across the field this week, he’ll see something else his defense is missing. Veteran leadership. 36-year-old LB Demario Davis is still going strong for the New Orleans Saints with 123 tackles in his 14th season. While the Jets defense is young and will be getting younger with their upcoming bounty of draft picks, they need to find their own Davis to finally replace CJ Mosley who retired in the offseason.
Could a reunion with Davis be in the cards? His contract is up at the end of the year, and he’s expressed a desire to keep playing. Plus, he has a fan in Glenn, a former Saints assistant coach.
“He is probably one of the best leaders that I’ve ever been around,” Glenn said. “Emotionally, man, there are a number of things I can say about that player because of how he carries himself. He’s a man of faith. I think he’s 37 (36) years old playing that position, and you hardly ever see that. So, nothing but respect for him. I love the player, and I love what he brings to the table.”
Grade: A+
3-9-26
The New York Jets signed DT David Onyemata to a 1-year, $10.5m deal. The 33-year-old veteran is also reuniting with Glenn after playing under him with the Saints. Pro-Football Focus (PFF) had him ranked as the 52nd best available free agent coming off a season where they ranked him 8th among all interior defensive lineman.
Grade: B
3-9-26
The New York Jets signed S Dane Belton to a 1-year, $4m deal. Belton, 25, will be switching locker rooms at MetLife Stadium following a four-year stint with the New York Giants. He will compete with second-year man Moore for the safety spot alongside Fitzpatrick.
Grade: C
DRAFT
The NFL Draft runs from April 23 through April 25 in Pittsburgh. Following the Jets recent trades with the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins, they have nine selections.
- Round 1 (2nd overall)
- Round 1 (16th overall) (Sauce Gardner trade)
- Round 2 (33rd overall)
- Round 2 (44th overall) (Quinnen Williams trade)
- Round 4 (103rd overall)
- Round 4 (140th overall) (Compensatory)
- Round 5 (179th overall) (Compensatory)
- Round 7 (228th overall) (Geno Smith trade)
- Round 7 (242nd overall) (Jowon Briggs trade)
2 thoughts on “New York Jets Offseason Primer: Live Tracker & Analysis”
You are giving the Geno Smith trade a C? It’s an F. It’s dysfunctional. He was terrible on the Jets. Had some success when he left, and will be terrible again. Why go back to something that has demonstrated failure? He is going into his age 36 season. He was 2-13 last year with the hapless Raiders. He ranked 35 out of 42 in passer rating, and lower in QBR. He threw 17 interceptions, and was sacked 55 times. Leading the league in both categories. There’s nothing interesting or exciting about this. Maybe the Jets plan on activating Ray Lucas to be the starter?
There’s no doubt that bringing Geno Smith back has been triggering for Jets fans. I understand your pain. His first tour in NY was a disaster and his return is not exciting. But the Jets were not looking to make a splash with this move. They are simply looking for a QB that is capable of throwing the ball downfield — something Justin Fields was unable to do in 2025. The Raiders were a mess last year with Chip Kelly as their offensive coordinator. Their o-line was a mess. Jets new OC Frank Reich is a professional and the Jets have an above average o-line. As I said in the post, I’m not a Geno Smith fan, but based on the low cost, I don’t have a problem with him being a bridge to a future “TBD” QB. p.s. I haven’t heard anything about Lucas but I can confirm Mark Sanchez is unavailable.