2026 New York Jets in Three Players
The offseason is upon us. Let's take a look at all 32 teams.
The 24th edition of our offseason series is here!
Instead of reviewing all 32 drafts and adding casual commentary, I will be doing this instead.
We will go through every single team, in alphabetical order, and quickly discuss three players:
a favorite free agent signing
a favorite draft pick
and a player already entrenched on the roster
Not necessarily the best, or the top, or the one's who will play the biggest role, just one of choice.
Onto the New York Jets.
Free Agent Signing
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick is entering Year 9 in the NFL and started 14 games in Miami last season.
The Jets extended the veteran to be a versatile piece in their defensive backfield, for a 3 year, $40m contract this offseason.
Here is a cut-up of the good from Fitzpatrick's 2025 season.
The Jets have added to their secondary over the last two seasons:
CB Brandon Stephens - 3 year, $36m contract in 2025
CB Azareye'h Thomas - 2025 3rd round pick
S Malachi Moore - 2025 4th round pick
CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr - traded for in September 2025
CB Nahshon Wright - 1 year, $5.5m contract in 2026
CB D'Angelo Ponds - 2025 2nd round pick
And Minkah Fitzpatrick joins the group.
There has been discussion about Fitzpatrick playing more in the slot, which he began to do more last year in Miami.
Over 53% of his snaps came from the slot, LB, or EDGE positioning in 2025.
The Jets have accumulated a group of guys who are all capable of taking NFL snaps, they just need to find who fits best where.
I was surprised to see the rumor of Fitzpatrick projecting as a potential slot guy in New York for a couple reasons.
For one, Brownlee took a lot of snaps there in 2025, and Ponds, as a smaller guy, projects as an NFL nickelback to many scouts.
The second reason is Fitzpatrick's play in 2025.
As a slot guy, he often got exposed.
His man coverage skills are not great, he just isn't an elite mover at this point to stay with guys in tight spaces. Fitzpatrick also go outrun very often underneath and towards the sideline. He couldn't bring down receivers consistently, they would pull away from him when running towards the sidelines.
Also, despite being a physical player and a good tackler, he struggled getting off WR blocks on screen passes. He did not play well on the perimeter slot, making little impact.
Now, with all of Fitzpatrick's flaws in 2025, they can potentially be answered easily.
The Dolphins had the worst secondary in all of football last season, Fitzpatrick was surrounded by dreadful talent. The pass rush was not great either, which put the already poor secondary in unfortunate cover situations.
In general, Fitzpatrick is a very high IQ player, but it shows up better on the backend rather than down low.
He's still a very solid tackler, especially coming into the box, and is very smart with how he plays against the run.
Minkah Fitzpatrick needs to perform better in 2026 in order to actually benefit the Jets. I believe he should be used on the backend of the defense or in the box. As long as the slot role does not expand to the perimeter(which it will), Fitzpatrick should play well.
He's a bit slower these days, but Fitzpatrick should provide a steady hand in the safety room for New York.
Draftee
WR Omar Cooper Jr
Cooper Jr was made the 30th pick of this year's draft out of Indiana University, and yet was the third selection by the Jets.
Cooper put up career highs in his first full season starting in 2025, with 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 TDs on the National Champion Hoosiers.
Here is a cut-up of Cooper Jr's 2025, courtesy of @KurtBenkert on Twitter/X.
The Jets receiving room looks to be in better shape going into this season, and it's largely because of Omar Cooper Jr.
He has an opportunity to be the immediate WR2 behind Garrett Wilson.
Cooper primarily played in the slot at Indiana in 2025, but that was due to the nature of the RPO heavy offense. He has showed the ability to play outside in the past, and I have confidence that this can continue at the NFL level due to his thickness and acceleration.
I also believe Cooper will have a solid floor as a rookie due to his ability after the catch. His acceleration and toughness make for productive YAC. Now, Cooper was in a lot of great YAC situations due to his college QB and system. But his tenacity and separation play apart of those situations too.
Omar Cooper may be imperfect as a rookie. The contested catch situations may be below average, but Cooper can be tough in diverse situations. His run blocking may be imperfect, but it should not keep him off the field in New York.
Cooper will see the field and see opportunities as a rookie, and it could set him and the Jets up well for the future. He and Garrett Wilson can compliment each other well on the inside and outside, especially if New York uses more 12 personnel with the TEs they have drafted highly over the last two years.
In-House Player
EDGE Will McDonald IV
McDonald was the Jets 1st round pick in 2023 and has totaled 21.5 sacks over three seasons.
He put up a career low pressure rate in 2025 at 9.7%, but still put up 8 sacks. McDonald was drafted by a different Jets regime, but had his 5th year option picked up this offseason.
Here is a cut-up of the good from McDonald's 2025 season.
After trading 2022 1st round DE Jermaine Johnson, the Jets EDGE room was barren around McDonald.
This offseason, they made three notable moves.
Joseph Ossai - 3 years, $36m contract - 5 sacks on 13.2% pressure rate in 2025, consistently has a pressure rate above 10%.
Kingsley Enagbare - 1 year, $10m contract - 2 sacks on 10% pressure rate in 2025, rotational DE but has edge setting ability and has posted a 15% pressure rate in 2023.
David Bailey - 2nd overall pick - 14.5 sacks at Texas Tech in 2025
New York also paid veteran DT David Onyemata and acquired NT T'Vondre Sweat.
All of a sudden, the Jets have a talented defensive front around McDonald.
Will McDonald is a lighter, incredibly athletic edge rusher.
He comes in at just 236lbs, but his athleticism and length makes up for some of this. McDonald has nearly 35 inch arms, which open up his pass rush arsenal.
Despite not having great power, the arm length allows McDonald to dictate some of his reps by laying hands on the offensive lineman first. It also allows him to set up his rush, and win, by barely being touched. He's light on his feet and athletic enough to bend the corner. McDonald can set the tackle up with his footwork, swat the hands, and bend the corner straight to the QB.
And yet McDonald's favorite pass rush move is his spin move. He would marry the spin move if he could. It's incredibly entertaining, and fairly effective. Occasionally he moves himself out of his rush lane, but not as much as you'd think. A fantastic go-to move to have, considering how rarely tackles see it.
With all of this, McDonald generates incredibly quick pressures, finishing 18th in the NFL in 2025 and 12th in 2024.
In the run game, McDonald's size gives him a natural disadvantage.
With his length, he can be decently effective holding the point of attack on the edge. He's not consistently great because of his strength, but the length does help.
It also helps when chasing ball carries down the line of scrimmage.
And speaking of chasing, McDonald has great closing speed. His stride length and arms help him close the gap quicker than expected, and he'll end up tallying a few extra sacks or tackles for loss because of it.
Will McDonald is a very talented pass rusher who will now have a lighter load in the 2026 Jets defensive end room. Whether he is the beneficiary of the one on one matchups or not, the pass rush should be better for New York as a whole.
Whether or not McDonald gets extended will likely depend on how big a leap he can take, considering the Ossai addition and the David Bailey draft pick. But if McDonald reaches his dozen sack ceiling, he could be due for a decent payday.
Thanks for reading through our 24th edition of previewing all 32 teams in 3 players! We are working our way to be completed by the time the preseason begins!
Let me know who else on the Jets is worth monitoring this season, good or bad!
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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