As the New York Jets enter the 2026 NFL offseason, general manager Darren Mougey will have a tough task of rebuilding the struggling franchise before next season.

The defense suffered multiple significant blows during the trade deadline, as Mougey’s fire sale saw star cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams depart from the organization. Both trades now give the Jets two first-round picks in 2026, along with three in 2027.

However, there are loads of concerns surrounding the offensive side of the ball heading into the 2026 season. Quarterback Justin Fields failed to establish himself as a starter, and with running back Breece Hall set to hit the free agency market this offseason, the Jets’ lone weapon on offense right now is wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

The front office will have to add a playmaker to the mix prior to next year, but the question now becomes who New York should target.

One name that is beginning to gain traction is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver and 2020 first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk, who has made it clear that he does not want to play with the organization in 2026.

Coming out of Arizona State, Aiyuk was a highly-touted pass catcher in his draft class after finishing with 1,192 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 65 receptions in his final year with the program. His smooth route-running ability caught the attention of many scouts, which led to Aiyuk being selected with the No. 25 pick.

In his first two seasons with the 49ers, Aiyuk showed flashes of promise, as he recorded 1,574 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns over both years. The talented receiver would then go on to have a breakout season in 2022, posting his first-career 1,000-yard season at the NFL level.

This was quickly followed up by one of his best seasons in 2023, where he finished with 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games.

Unfortunately, Aiyuk’s off-field issues and his rough injury history are the key reasons why the Jets must avoid making a move for the 27-year-old.

Despite only playing in seven games during the 2024 season due to a season-ending ACL tear, Aiyuk managed to land a massive four-year, $120-million deal with the 49ers last offseason. And when it was time to hit the field in 2025, he would not be part of the team’s playoff run.

When asked about Aiyuk ghosting the team this past season on Wednesday, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan did not give a promising update on his star receiver:

“Eventually, there’s not much of an explanation because it’s really hard for us and anyone else to understand. That’s why it’s something I’ve never seen in 22 years of coaching,” Shanahan told reporters.

While it’s obvious that New York will need to add a complementary piece to Wilson this offseason, the off-field concerns should be an automatic red flag for an organization that is looking to reshape the culture in 2026.

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