2026 NFL offseason: New York Jets free agency recap

The new 2026 league year is officially underway in the NFL, and the New York Jets wasted no time making moves to upgrade their roster. Armed with plenty of salary cap space, general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn went to work finding their answer at quarterback as well as fixing a defense that finished last year with no interceptions. While on paper, there is plenty to be excited about, we’ll know more about this team once the 2026 season begins in September.

Here are a few observations after a very busy week for the New York Jets: A Full Circle Moment Leading up to free agency, there were so many rumors as to who the quarterback for the Jets this season would be, it was tough to keep up. From Jacoby Brissett to Kyler Murray to Carson Wentz, there were plenty of names being mentioned and some were more welcoming than others. With reports that Murray was headed to the Minnesota Vikings and Tua Tagovailoa almost immediately signing with the Atlanta Falcons after being released, the options were dwindling fast.

Rather than wait for their answer at quarterback to be released and losing him to another team, the Jets chose to be proactive and acquired old friend Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2026 pick swap between sixth and seventh round selections. Smith returns to the team that selected him with their second-round pick in the 2013 draft, well-traveled and more mature. Despite a rough 2025 season with the Raiders where he threw 17 interceptions, Geno still completed over 60% of his passes and threw for over 3,000 yards.

He makes his return to Florham Park with plenty of playmakers in the Jets offense under new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Garrett Wilson will be fully healthy after missing nine games last year and Breece Hall should be back as well with both sides working on an extension. Tight end Mason Taylor will be looking to build off a promising rookie season and Adonai Mitchell will play a bigger role in the offense after being acquired in the Sauce Gardner trade during November's deadline.