With over $90 million in cap space and coming off a three-win season in 2025, the New York Jets know they have to add as much quality talent to their roster as possible in the 2026 offseason.

They have plenty of resources to do so, and there are many ways for them to achieve improvement in the coming months. Along the way, the front office has plenty of questions to answer.

Should the Jets target a quarterback in free agency like Malik Willis? What would the quarterback trade market look like? Should they focus on bolstering the defense before the draft? What will the team do with some of their players on expiring contracts?

For now, we’ll focus on some of the top players the Jets should prioritize targeting on the free-agent market to fill various holes on their porous roster.

Jets’ free agent hopes

New York should be “in” on almost every top free agent this year. Outside of offensive tackle, the Jets help at every position on the field.

The hard part will be convincing the best free agents to come to Florham Park. For that reason, it’s easy to figure that the Jets may need to overpay for top talent in order to be in the conversation.

With so much money at their disposal, though, they are in a position to do that. Still, the Jets should be careful to spend wisely.

That leaves three names for the team to place atop its wish list.

Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum

Although the offensive line was New York’s best position group between the offense and defense, there is reason to suspect the team will still look to improve it this offseason. The center and left guard positions can use an upgrade.

Tyler Linderbaum is expected to be the top offensive lineman on the open market this year. A three-time Pro Bowler, he is going to be among the highest-paid centers in football.

The Jets did re-sign Josh Myers, but he projects as more of a high-end backup. It would make sense for the Jets to try and raise their ceiling offensively.

There will be many teams interested in Linderbaum, but Gang Green should do everything in their power to bring in the former first-round pick. With Linderbaum alongside players like Armand Membou, Olu Fashanu, and Joe Tippmann, the Jets could have one of the best lines in football.

Colts WR Alec Pierce

The Jets’ offense needs playmakers—simple as that. Alec Pierce certainly fits the bill.

The 2022 second-round pick has established himself as one of the league’s premier deep threats. Pierce led the league in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons and is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season.

With plenty of questions to answer across their roster, the Colts may be willing to let Pierce walk in free agency to a team that is eager to overpay him, such as the Jets. That’s okay for New York, though.

Desperate for playmakers to take attention off of Garrett Wilson, the Jets’ offense would benefit immensely from adding Pierce.

Colts EDGE Kwity Paye

Kwity Paye has turned in a quality NFL career, but certainly not one worthy of the first-round pick Indianapolis used on him in 2021. The Rhode Island product (a connection he shares with yours truly) has 30.5 sacks in five years, including just four in 17 games this past season.

More importantly, though, Paye’s size (6-foot-3, 265 pounds) has helped him become a plus defender against the run, which is something the Jets badly need on the edge. Paye has 37 career tackles for loss, does not miss many tackles, and consistently grades as a quality run defender.

Paye shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg for the organization, making him a cost-effective option to provide a skill that the Jets desperately need at his position.