In the coming days, I’ll be doing brief synopses for each NFL team regarding their current cap situation and offseason approach they should take.
We’ll start with the teams that have the most cap space available, then work our way down to those teams who have less cap space, to those who have work to do to gain cap space.
Each synopsis will look at cap space (or how much over the cap), players under contract, total draft picks, any players with a fifth-year option decision ahead and notes about the most notable free agent, the most likely player cut and the quarterback situation.
Up next in this series is the New York Jets.
Players under contract for 2026: 56
Projected cap space: $74.3M
Total draft picks: 10 (No. 2 and No. 16 in first)
Most notable free agent: Breece Hall
Most likely roster cut: Justin Fields
Fifth-year option decision: Will McDonald IV, Mazi Smith
Quarterback situation: Justin Fields didn’t work out and Tyrod Taylor is a free agent. The Jets need to add another veteran and will have to determine if a QB like Ty Simpson is worth taking at No. 2 overall.
The ideal offseason approach:
The Jets desperately need to get their quarterback situation addressed. They need to add a veteran and several who may get cut are due a lot of guaranteed money from their current teams. However, it’s not a given that one of those QBs will want to sign.
Because Aaron Glenn may be on notice to improve in 2026 or lose his job, general manager Darren Mougey needs to build the roster with the idea that nothing is guaranteed after this season. That may mean looking for value in free agency rather than taking a big swing.
The Jets won’t lack for draft capital but have to ask themselves how much they like QB prospects such as Simpson. If they love Simpson, they should take him at No. 2 overall, regardless of what draft analysts may think.