Bleacher Report revealed the one reason New York Jets fans should have hope for the 2026 season.
The New York Jets went 3-14 last season and became the first team in NFL history not to record a defensive interception and to lose five straight games by 23 or more points within a single season. They were a walking disaster in Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn era.
However, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton believes Jets fans should have hope for the 2026 season.
"Geno Smith will play behind what projects as an improved offensive line than the poorly coached, injury-riddled Las Vegas Raiders' unit that struggled to protect him while he took a league-high 55 sacks last season," Moton wrote.
The only way the Jets can shock the world and make the playoffs this season is if Smith turns back the clock and plays like he did when he was with the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith's best seasons in the NFL came with the Seahawks in 2022 and 2023. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and won the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Smith led the NFL in interceptions last season with the Raiders. The veteran enters this season with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions in the NFL. His starting record is 42-56-0.
Garrett Wilson is entering Year 5 in the NFL, and the talented playmaker believes this season will be different for the better. The Ohio State product thinks the Jets will play "meaningful football in December" in 2026.
"I believe we have the pieces in place that will get us to playing meaningful football in December, something I've dreamed about doing for a long time," Wilson told ESPN.
In Year 2 of the Glenn era, the Jets face the Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.
In the 2026 draft, the Jets did pretty well. They selected David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr., D'Angelo Ponds, Darrell Jackson Jr., Cade Klubnik, Anez Cooper and VJ Payne.
Before the draft, the Jets acquired Smith from the Raiders, Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins and T'Vondre Sweat from the Titans and signed Demario Davis and Tim Patrick in free agency.
It will be fascinating to see how many games NYJ wins in 2026. The Jets are actually best suited to have a bad record again so they can have a high pick in the 2027 draft and select Arch Manning or Dante Moore, but Glenn may lose his job if New York finishes with one of the worst records in the league again.
