Building the NY Jets into a 2025 Super Bowl Contender
The Jets are in an interesting situation. They have to make a major decision at QB and when they do, it will dictate how they operate in 2025
The NY Jets General Manager has 2 options for the 2025 season. It all starts with what you would do with your QB situation. You have 2 options. Bring Rodgers back for 1 more year, draft the QB of the future and make 1 run at it. Option B would be to draft a QB and hand him the reigns, thus cutting Rodgers and absorbing a huge cap hit. Then get Adams situation resolved.
As the Jets GM I think you roll it back with Rodgers, restructure Devontae Adams and get him on board for 1 more year with a fair cap hit.
What went wrong in 2025:
The Jets couldn’t run the ball consistently. That was a major problem. They were terrible blocking on the perimeter at OT, TE and WR. This killed their run game. With Rodgers, you need to be a top 10 rushing team in order to have success. The Jets were towards the bottom in every rushing category. This has been a consistent problem over the years.
For the 2nd year in a row, they drafted a player in the 1st round based on potential not on performance in college. What I mean is they drafted a 220 LB DE who needed to pack on weight to be a run defender. Mc Donald struggles in the run game. Fashanu was a very weak run blocker in college and there were other OT ready to play that were more well-rounded. In the 1st round, with the exception of QB you draft players ready to start.
They only had 1 legitimate passing threat until they got Adams. Mike Williams was a bust and did not play well. I don’t know if Garrett Wilson is a #1 WR. No one else gave them matchups in the passing game. TE’s need to be able to win matchups vs safeties and LB and Conklin and the rest of the crew didn’t do that.
They brought in 3 offensive line free agent players on the offensive line and 2 that are at the ends of their career. Smith and Moses are adequate but Moses didn’t have a great year. Simpson was a very good pickup.
The defensive side was a major problem. They went discount shopping on the defensive line and it didn’t pay off. Defensive Tackle was a major problem as Fatu and Kinlaw were coming off terrible years. Mc Donald can’t play the run so he is a situational pass rusher. Reddick held out and was not the same player. The safety position is awful and needs 2 starters. The back end was a major problem and cost them several games late this year.
The kicking game was abysmal as Greg Zeurlein had 2 big misses early in the year. He went from MVP to really struggling this past year.
The Jets blew 6 4th quarter leads. They were winning in 6 of their losses going into the 4th quarter and blew everyone. They couldn’t close out games late. Again, they have 2 very good CB in Reed and Sauce, but the safety position and LB with WIlliams are liabilities in the passing game. They blew leads against the Bills, Dolphins, Vikings , Colts, Seattle and New England. That’s just unacceptable.
Injuries happen, but losing Mosely and Johson on the defensive side were big blows. The defense fell apart after Mosely got injured.
The Jets have the following picks in 2025:
NY Jets 2025 draft picks
Jets 2025 draft picks
Round 1 (Jets)
Round 2 OR Round 3 (Jets) [Conditional/Raiders] The Jets will probably have their 2nd round pick unless Adams is an all pro! Not happening
Round 3 (Lions)
Round 4 (Jets)
Round 5 (Jets)
Round 5 (Steelers)
Round 6 (Jets)
Round 6 (Chiefs)
Free Agency
Losses:
The Jets have many free agents for the 2025 year and I don’t think I would bring many back.
On the offensive side:
Offensive Line-Moses and Smith will be free agents. Expect to sign a OT in in free agency and a swing tackle as a backup.
TE- Conklin and Yeboah won’t be back and think you need to bring in a #1 and #2 TE
Potential Signings
These are some names but let’s see how it plays out with roster cuts. You will need to sign 1 from each group as starters.
OT- Jakson-Rams, Robinson- Vikings, Stanley-Ravens or Wilis Browns
DT- Reed-Bengals, Poona Ford-Chargers,
DE-Mack-Chargers, Sweat- Eagles or Judon- Falcons(coming off a bad year)
Safety- Budda Baker, Hufanga-49ers, Holland-Dolphins, Bynum-Vikings, Smith-Vikings
ILB-Nick Bolton-Chiefs, Zach Baun-wishful thinking, Greenlaw-49ers, Roberts- Steelers
CB- Reed-Jets, Ward-49ers, Samuel-Chargers
WR 3- Keenan Allen-Bears, Hopkins-Chiefs, Cooper-Bills, D Johnson-Ravens
TE- Johnson- Saints, Gesicki-Dolphins
FB-Draft one late
Defensive Side
Defensive Line- Reddick, Fotu and Kinlaw won’t be back on the defensive line. They were 1 year rentals. Solomon Thomas will be a free agent as well. The Jets will target 2 big names on the defensive line.
LB- Sherwood was an adequate backup but you may want to look at other options.
Safety-Davis and Clark are free agents and an upgrade is needed in coverage at the position.
Corner Back- DJ Reed will be a free agent. I would consider bringing him back.
Depth Chart
Here is my preliminary depth charts for 2025. Then we can talk about restructures and everything else.
The one thing the Jets should add is a fullback. That could help them become a top 10 rushing team.
They will need a LT, interior backup and swing tackle. I would restructure Adams so you have 2 good wide receivers going into 2025. With Lazard out, you need a WR 3 as well.
Offense
QB-Rodgers, 1st round pick, Travis, possible vet WR-G Wilson WR- Adams, Corley FB- TE1- TBD TE 2- TBD TE 3- Ruckert LT/RT- TBD LG-Simpson C- Tippman RG- Vera-Tucker LT/RT- Fashanu, Mitchell , Juries still out on Carter Warren RB- Hall, Allen, Isaiah Davis WR 3- WR 4- K- P-
Defensive Depth Chart
They have many holes to fill on the defensive side. A starting defensive end, maybe 2 depending on Johnson, as well as on the interior. They need to upgrade significantly on defense to be a major player in 2025.
The Jets have drafted 4-3 players in the past and based on what they have with Johnson and Mc Donald, they are built for a 4-3 base. If you wanted to go 3-4 on early downs. you would have to draft a certain way and bring in a true nose and some more OLB types. They can get into some under and over fronts from their 4-3 personnel as well.
Let’s just say they stay 4-3 because that’s what they’ve had personnel wise.
You would need 4 defensive lineman and 3 LB for your base 4-3. A nickel Sam linebacker which they have in Carter but may want a more physical Sam LB.
The Jets will spend in free agency and replenish a few spots in the draft. They need a starting DE and DT on the defensive line. A real run plugger inside on early downs. A starting Sam and Will LB in 4-3 personnel. Lastly, they need 3 starters in the secondary. I may move Clemons inside or release him.
DE- Johnson, McDonald, DE-? DT- Q Williams, Clemons, ?, ? DT-? WLB- Q Williams SLB-? MLB-?, Sherwood Nickel-Michael Carter or another option CB- Sauce, Echols CB-? S-? S-?
Cap Casualties
Devontae Adams will not be back at 35 million dollars. If you bring him back expect a 3 year deal with the last 2 years being voidable. Somewhere in the 15-18 million dollar range. All guaranteed is what I would pay. If he doesn’t want it ,he can become a free agent.
Allan Lazard will be cut and save $11 million
CJ Moseley will not return at 8 million dollars.
Tyrod Taylor’s money will be allocated to a rookie QB and save $6 million dollars
Michael Clemons and Carter are on the bubble.
Draft
Other than QB in the first round, the Jets will fill holes at other positions. That will play out after free agency.
NY Jets 2025 draft picks
Jets 2025 draft picks
Round 1 (Jets)
Round 2 OR Round 3 (Jets) [Conditional/Raiders] The Jets will probably have their 2nd round pick unless Adams is an all pro! Not happening
Round 3 (Lions)
Round 4 (Jets)
Round 5 (Jets)
Round 5 (Steelers)
Round 6 (Jets)
Round 6 (Chiefs)
The draft will play out after free agency. They will have many needs. Expect a DT, safety, , Mike LB, TE and those type of players after free agency plays out.
All in all, the Jets can be a great team in 2025 with Aaron Rodgers at QB. They just have to be built and constructed the right way!