The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL free agency.
As long as Darren Mougey is the New York Jets’ general manager, don’t expect anyone in the building to refer to them as a “Dream Team.”
That’s what Vince Young referred to the Philadelphia Eagles as after they went on a spending spree in 2011 free agency. They were famous last words. Those Eagles went 8-8, then 4-12 in 2012, and Andy Reid was fired.
Typically, it’s not advisable for a team to build its roster through expensive free-agent signings. More often than not, that approach fails — even if there’s an occasional outlier, like the New England Patriots this past season.
Mougey is not someone who believes in shopping at the top of free agency. He’s a prudent GM who believes in building through the draft, as well as another truth that many in the NFL — including, previously, the organization he now leads — have failed to understand for a long time: There is usually a reason players are hitting free agency. Just think about how much it was celebrated when the Jets signed left tackle Tyron Smith in 2024. Smith is a future Hall of Famer. He did not play like one in a Jets uniform.
That’s not to say the Jets won’t sign any free agents of note. They have to, as they have holes at practically every position on the roster and the cap space ($73.8 million, per Over the Cap) to fill many of them. They’ll add a lot of new players over the next few weeks.
Just don’t expect them to be particularly active in the first wave of free agency, when the top free agents often get the biggest contracts. Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, who carries a big stick on all roster decisions, will be shopping in the second and third tiers of free agency, trying to find bargains where they can.
For example, if the Jets liked the idea of adding wide receiver Alec Pierce to their team at one point, they didn’t once they saw what the price could be to sign him. Right now, the feeling is that Pierce could get close to $30 million a season. That’s too rich for the Jets’ appetite.
Last year, the Jets signed a wide receiver (Josh Reynolds) to a $5 million deal, and that was their big addition at wide receiver. Their biggest splash was at quarterback (Justin Fields for $40 million, $30 million guaranteed) and at cornerback with Brandon Stephens, where they slightly overpaid ($36 million over three years) to bring in a player they believed had untapped potential. Fields didn’t work out, but Stephens had a solid season.
Expect a similar approach to shopping in 2026 as they look to fill out their roster with veterans on reasonable contracts. This is not a team that views itself as a player or two away, but rather one that’s trying to build a culture and needs to find the right people at the right positions. This is not considered an especially strong crop of free agents, either.
That’s the No. 1 goal: Adding veterans, leaders and culture fits, especially on defense.
Here’s what else I think about the Jets heading into free agency, with the initial negotiating window opening on Monday at noon before free agency begins in full on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET:
• Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson will hit free agency, and the Jets could lose both of them. Each should have decent markets as starting-caliber offensive linemen, which are always hot commodities. The Jets will likely sign a low-cost veteran in free agency similar to Josh Myers, an experienced blocker the Jets signed last year for $3.5 million. Drafting an offensive lineman early is in play, too.
• Expect much of the Jets’ action in free agency (outside of quarterback) to be on defense, particularly at safety, linebacker and defensive end. They need some depth added at cornerback as well. Indianapolis Colts safety Nick Cross, Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, Lions defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport and Miami Dolphins defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu are among the names to watch.
• I think the Jets are more likely to sign free-agent quarterbacks (yes, more than one) rather than make a trade for any of the intriguing backups out there. The price for those coveted backups (Mac Jones, Tanner McKee, Tyson Bagent among them) is just too high. Even the Arizona Cardinals don’t appear eager to trade Jacoby Brissett.
• The Jets will be in on the group of quarterbacks who were cut by other teams and have significant money left on their contracts, which makes them much cheaper to sign (as in, they’ll likely be signed for the minimum salary, $1.3 million). That includes Kyler Murray, Geno Smith and, if/when he’s cut, Tua Tagovailoa. Smith feels like the early favorite, and many sources around the league expect Murray to land in Minnesota, though that’s not 100 percent locked in. Malik Willis is expected to be too expensive for the Jets’ taste. I would not expect the Jets to pursue Derek Carr at this juncture either.
• Keep an eye on Carson Wentz as a potential No. 2 option because of his familiarity with Frank Reich. Same for Andy Dalton, though he’s currently on the Carolina Panthers’ roster. ESPN suggested the Jets also have some interest in Buffalo Bills free-agent quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The Jets plan on keeping Justin Fields for the time being since there are no bonuses coming that would require them to expedite his release. It would still be a major surprise if he stuck around.
• I don’t expect the Jets to be involved much (if at all) in the free-agent wide receiver market, unless someone notable falls through the cracks and is willing to sign cheaply, a la Reynolds last year. They could explore the trade market (Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is believed to be available, though it’s unclear at what cost). The NFL Draft is also a potential avenue. Their second first-round pick (16th overall) and two second-round picks (No. 33 and No. 44) are prime positions.
• The Jets are interested in bringing back kicker Nick Folk, but he’s expected to explore his market. Linebacker Quincy Williams, safety Tony Adams and safety Andre Cisco are not expected to return.
