A new general manager, a new coach, a new quarterback, an infusion of young players, and savvy moves in free agency and the NFL draft have landed the Jets among the half-dozen teams NFL.com ranks among the most improved in the league ahead of the 2025 season.
"I've loved the Jets' approach since they hired Aaron Glenn as their new coach in January," according to Nick Shook, the site's Around the NFL Writer. "For the first time in years, New York did not strike a false offseason note, at least to my ears."
Still several months away from the start of the regular season in September, Shook acknowledged the moves the Jets have made. Also on his list, in alphabetical order, are Arizona, Chicago, Las Vegas, Minnesota and the Jets' AFC East rival New England.
The Green & White earned a place on Shook's list by "bolstering the defense with veterans like DL Derrick Nnadi and S Andre Cisco while using a first-round selection on Armand Membou, who should pair with 2024 first-rounder Olu Fashanu to give the team a nice set of bookend tackles."
Among the Jets' eight rookies selected in late April, the team's "best pick of this year's draft might end up being tight end Mason Taylor (Round 2, No. 42 overall), a polished pass-catcher with the potential to make a difference from Day 1."
For Shook, one of the keys to the Jets' season will be QB Justin Fields, who was signed in free agency.
"The big question mark is Justin Fields, a quarterback who needs to prove himself now that he's with his third NFL team in as many years," he wrote. "Then again, this feels like his best opportunity to do so, compared to previous situations in Chicago and Pittsburgh."
Fields was drafted No. 11 overall by the Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft where he set the single-game regular-season record for quarterback rushing yards and became the third NFL quarterback ever to have a 1,000-yard rushing season. After three seasons in Chicago, Fields was traded to Pittsburgh where he had a 4-2 record as a starter for the Steelers.
The Jets open their 2025 season on Sept. 7 against the visiting Steelers.
See photos of the Jets' roster heading into 2025 training camp.
RB Braelon Allen - 0
CB Sauce Gardner - 1
QB Tyrod Taylor - 2
WR Xavier Gipson - 3
QB Brady Cook - 4
WR Garrett Wilson - 5
WR Malachi Corley - 6
QB Justin Fields - 7
S Andre Cisco - 8
Edge Will McDonald - 9
WR Allen Lazard - 10
Edge Jermaine Johnson - 11
P Austin McNamara - 14
QB Adrian Martinez - 15
WR Tyler Johnson - 16
CB Kris Boyd - 17
K Andres Carlson - 18
WR Irvin Charles - 19
RB Breece Hall - 20
CB Brandon Stephens - 21
S Tony Adams - 22
CB Azareye'h Thomas - 23
S Jarius Monroe - 25
CB Isaiah Oliver - 26
DB Malachi Moore - 27
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse - 29
CB Michael Carter II - 30
RB Isaiah Davis - 32
CB Jordan Clark - 33
RB Kene Nwangwu - 34
S Dean Clark - 35
WR Dymere Miller - 35
WR Jamaal Pritchett - 36
S Jaylin Simpson - 36
CB Qwan'tez Stiggers - 37
RB Zach Evans - 38
WR Quentin Skinner - 39
RB Donovan Edwards - 40
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball - 41
LS Thomas Hennessey - 42
K Caden Davis - 43
LB Jamien Sherwood - 44
P Kai Kroeger - 46
FB Andrew Beck - 47
LB Aaron Smith - 48
LB Jackson Sirmon - 49
LB Jared Bartlett - 50
LB Francisco Mauigoa - 51
LB Jamin Davis - 52
LB Zaire Barnes - 53
LB Ja'Markis Weston - 54
Edge Braiden McGregor - 55
LB Quincy Williams - 56
DL Eric Watts - 58
OL Kohl Levao - 60
OL Max Mitchell - 61
DL Fatorma Mulbah - 62
OL Gustav Hartwig - 63
OL Leander Wiegand - 64
OL Xavier Newman - 65
C Joe Tippmann - 66
OL Carter Warren - 67
OL Obinna Eze - 68
OT Armand Membou - 70
C Josh Myers - 71
DL Micheal Clemons - 72
OT Olu Fashanu - 74
OG Alijah Vera-Tucker - 75
OG John Simpson - 76
DL Michael Fletcher - 77
OL Marquis Hayes - 78
OL Chukwuma Okorafor - 79
WR Ontaria "Pokey" Wilson
WR Arian Smith - 82
WR Josh Reynolds - 83
TE Stone Smartt - 84
TE Mason Taylor - 85
TE Neal Johnson
WR Brandon Smith
TE Zack Kuntz - 88
TE Jeremy Ruckert - 89
DL Derrick Nnadi - 91
DL Jonathan Kingsley - 92
DL Byron Cowart - 93
DL Tyler Baron - 94
DL Quinnen Williams
DL Leonard Taylor III - 96
DL Jay Tufele - 97
DL Phidarian Mathis - 98
DL Rashad Weaver - 99
