FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets brought in four seasoned veterans this offseason — safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, linebacker Demario Davis, defensive tackle David Onyemata and quarterback Geno Smith — combining for 44 years of NFL experience in hopes of supplying leadership to a young roster.
The moves come as second-year head coach Aaron Glenn enters the season with a 3-14 record. Players say the atmosphere around the team has tightened. Center Josh Myers said there is a “real sense of urgency” from the coaching staff down through the roster, citing Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich.
Team brass is counting on the newcomers to help change the trajectory. The Jets sit second to last in ESPN’s initial 2026 Football Power Index and are not expected to make the playoffs, according to ESPN. Last season’s minus-203 point differential was the worst in the league since the 2021 Jacksonville Jaguars (-204), and the franchise has now endured 10 consecutive losing seasons and 15 straight years out of the postseason.
Glenn pushed for a different approach after Year 1, making it clear offseason work would be purposeful, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said. Fitzpatrick credited Glenn with learning from his first year and said the coach wants to show he knows how to win, a dynamic players say raised the intensity of offseason preparation.
The Myles Garrett blockbuster with Cleveland also has ripple effects for the Jets. In the short term, Garrett will not visit MetLife Stadium on Oct. 11. Garrett has 11 sacks against the Jets — more than he has against any non-AFC North opponent — in seven games. The Browns received a 2027 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Rams, joining the Jets as the only teams currently holding multiple first-round selections in next spring’s draft.
That draft capital could matter in a potential quarterback market. The Jets own three first-round picks, including two acquired previously, which could factor into trade-up scenarios. According to ESPN analytics, the teams with the best chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick are, in order, the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Jets and Browns.
Fitzpatrick, who wants to be used as a versatile “chess piece,” played 333 snaps at free safety and 289 in the slot last season. His most productive years — 17 interceptions from 2019-22 — came when he was deployed predominantly as a free safety. The Jets, who recorded zero interceptions last season, will look to leverage his versatility on defense.
