New York Jets: Grading Every Offseason Move

Updated Friday, March 13, 2026 @ 8:13p

The New York Jets General Manager Darren Mougey and Head Coach Aaron Glenn are off to a fast start in this vital offseason for the beleaguered franchise — making 3 trades, signing 8 free agents, and extending 9 players. We are tracking, grading, and analyzing every move.

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 29^th in the NFL. According to PFF, Sweat ranked fourth among all interior linemen against the run, and fifth overall.
Grade: B+


EXTENSIONS

3-13-26
The New York Jets resigned S Andre Cisco to a 1-year, $5.25m contract. Cisco, 25, was signed a year ago to provide stability to the Jets secondary. However, he only played in 8 games before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury. Now, he’ll be competing for playing time with second-year-man Malachi Moore, and free agent signee Dane Belton.
Grade: C

3-13-26
The New York Jets resigned LB Mykal Walker and OT Chukwuma Okorafor. Walker, 28, had stints in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Washington prior to joining the Jets in 2025. He finished with 31 tackles in 14 games. Okorafor, also 28, also joined Gang Green last season and appeared in 14 games.
Grade: C

3-12-26
The New York Jets resigned OL Max Mitchell.  Mitchell, 26, served as the Jets’ “sixth-man” in 2025, being the primary backup at both guard and tackle spots, while also being used as a tight end in running situations. The former 2022 fourth-round draft pick has started 17 games in his NFL career.

Mitchell’s value can be summed up by the fact that he is being retained by his second GM (Joe Douglas, Darren Mougey), third head coach (Robert Saleh, Jeff Ulbrich, Aaron Glenn), and fifth play-caller (Mike LaFleur, Nathaniel Hackett, Todd Downing, Tanner Engstrand, Frank Reich).
Grade: B+

3-12-26
The New York Jets resigned FB Andrew Beck and OL Xavier Newman. These low-cost signings bring back two players familiar with Florham Park who bring depth and flexibility.

Beck, 29, was GM Darren Mougey’s first signing back on February 7, 2025, and he played in all 17 games including 319 special teams’ snaps. The versatile Newman, 26, has played both guard and center in his first three years with the franchise.
Grade: B

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

3-11-26
The New York Jets signed G Dylan Parham to a 2-year, $16m deal. Parham, 26, started 63 games for the Las Vegas Raiders after they selected him 90^th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Parham is the favorite to replace Baltimore-bound John Simpson as the Jets’ starting left guard. Along with the rest of the Raiders’ offensive line, he had a down year in 2025 but PFF still graded him as the 38^th guard among the 81 eligible.
Grade: B+

3-11-26
The New York Jets signed K Cade York. York, 25, was drafted 124^th overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2022. He lasted only one season and has since kicked in only six games in the last three years. Our assumption is the Jets will add competition before training camp begins in July.

Meanwhile, the real issue is why did the Jets let K Nick Folk leave the building? While we don’t yet know what the Atlanta Falcons are paying Folk, we do know that he was a perfect 41 for 41 on kicks less than 50 yards in 2025 (field goals and extra-points). And yes, he’s lost a little boom in his 41-year-old right leg, but he was still 8 for 9 in kicks beyond 50 yards.
Grade: D

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 75^th 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 14^th 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 52^nd best available free agent coming off a season where they ranked him 8^th 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.

1. Round 1 (2^nd overall)
2. Round 1 (16^th overall) (Sauce Gardner trade)
3. Round 2 (33^rd overall)
4. Round 2 (44^th overall) (Quinnen Williams trade)
5. Round 4 (103^rd overall)
6. Round 4 (140^th overall) (Compensatory)
7. Round 5 (179^th overall) (Compensatory)
8. Round 7 (228^th overall) (Geno Smith trade)
9. Round 7 (242^nd overall) (Jowon Briggs trade)

ICYMI: “New York Rangers Final Deadline Trade Grades”