The New York Jets will head into the 2026 NFL season and be viewed through a tough lens by fans and the media, and ESPN’s latest power rankings only show the battle facing the franchise as it is in one of the worst spots it has ever been in.
In ESPN’s early rankings, it slotted the Jets 31st out of 32 teams heading into next season, which wasn’t just based on last year’s record, but on the questions surrounding the roster, coaching, and quarterback situation moving forward.
It’s a tough ranking for a team that entered the Aaron Glenn era hoping for change, defensive toughness, and success. Instead, Year 1 was filled with more questions than answers.
ESPN’s Jets reporter Rich Cimini was fair with hisremarks.
“Very few positives came out of coach Aaron Glenn's first season (3-14), so the Jets are resetting in key areas -- two new coordinators and (probably) a new quarterback. Glenn overhauled his staff (10 departures), creating the perception of a dysfunctional team starting from square one,” he wrote.
The positives: four of the top 44 picks in the draft and about $80 million in cap room, per OverTheCap.com. The question is, will the Jets use the resources wisely?”
From a roster-building standpoint, the draft situation is the most intriguing. Holding four picks inside the top 44 gives New York flexibility to make major changes, whether that’s a quarterback, skilled player, or edge rusher. There’s no reason not to get these picks right.
Financially, the cap space helps a ton, too.
With roughly $80 million available, the Jets have the funds to be aggressive in free agency, though they might have to overpay due to players possibly not wanting to play for a team that’s expected to struggle.
Still, cap space and draft picks only matter if the franchise does what’s need, something the team has struggled with historically. The picks have been fine but without a quarterback, none of it matters much.
The quarterback decision will form all the narratives this offseason. Whether that means drafting a rookie, signing a veteran, or exploring the trade market, the Jets have a lot of questions to answer on that front without great options to choose from.