New York Jets News

The New York Jets signed former Chicago Bears Pro Bowl cornerback Nahshon Wright to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million on Tuesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Wright will head to Gang Green to try to help their secondary after having a monster 2025 campaign with the Bears. The 27-year-old former third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 out of Oregon State had by far the best season of his career, tallying 80 tackles (54 solo), a career-high five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 17 regular-season games played. Wright should be a starter on the outside for the Jets in his first year with the team under head coach Aaron Glenn. In his first four NFL seasons with Dallas and Minnesota (one year), Wright only had 37 tackles (27 solo), one interception, and five pass breakups. He came out of nowhere to finish as the No. 3 defensive back in fantasy points in IDP leagues.

The New York Jets are acquiring veteran quarterback Geno Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round selection, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Going into his 13th year in the NFL, the 35-year-old signal-caller will reunite with the organization that took him 39th overall in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft out of West Virginia. Justin Fields failed miserably as a big free-agent acquisition for the Jets last year, so now they will bring Smith back and have him likely compete with another free-agent veteran addition to the QB room. There has been a lot of smoke about Minnesota Vikings backup QB Carson Wentz as another option. Smith was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 in Seattle, but he flopped in 2025 with the Raiders, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 picks. If Smith wins the starting QB gig in New York in 2026, he'll be a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues, at best.

SNY's Connor Hughes reports that "all signs right now are pointing" to former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith returning to the New York Jets this offseason. The Jets failed miserably with the free-agent acquisition of QB Justin Fields last March, so this year, they are looking to bring in two cheap veteran options at the position to compete for the starting job this summer. Other than Smith, the Jets are high on Minnesota Vikings veteran backup Carson Wentz. The 35-year-old Smith was drafted by the Jets back in 2013 out of West Virginia in the second round, and he played the first four seasons of his NFL career in New York. The 35-year-old was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 with the Seattle Seahawks in a late-career resurgence, but he was one of the worst signal-callers in 2025 with the Raiders, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions in 15 starts. Smith would probably be the favorite if he's competing against Wentz, but not many fantasy managers will want much to do with him, even as a low-end QB2 in superflex formats.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed kicker Nick Folk to a two-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Folk spent 2025 with the New York Jets and is now heading to Atlanta for his 20th season in the NFL. He has played for four teams over five years, making appearances with the Patriots, Titans, Jets, and Falcons. He was a rare bright spot for New York last year, going 28-for-29 on field goals and 22-for-22 on extra points. The 41-year-old should benefit from a move to Atlanta, where he'll spend at least half of his games kicking inside a dome. He'll also offer the Falcons a refreshing upgrade at kicker after they trotted out a combination of Parker Romo and Zane Gonzalez in the aftermath of Younghoe Koo's early-season release.

Five-time Pro-Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been traded from the Miami Dolphins to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, according to Adam Schefter, who also reports Fitzpatrick will sign a three-year, $40 million deal with the Jets. The 2018 first-round pick will now play for his third team in as many years after being traded from the Steelers to the Dolphins before the 2025 season. The Jets come into the new league year flush with both draft capital and money to spend, and they have made their first splash of the 2026 offseason. While Fitzpatrick is no longer the game-wrecking ballhawk that made him a First-Team All-Pro three times between 2019 and 2022, he should serve as a versatile piece on the back-end of Aaron Glenn's defense.

The New York Jets re-signed tight end Jelani Woods to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to Eric Allen of NewYorkJets.com. Woods was initially claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts last August. The 27-year-old played 60 offensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps over four games with the Jets in 2025, catching just one of three targets for four yards. He missed the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Indy due to hamstring and turf-toe injuries. Woods was the 73rd overall pick in the third round by the Colts in 2022 out of the University of Virginia. He caught 25 of his 40 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games (two starts) in his rookie year before the injuries hit. At best, Woods will enter the 2026 campaign in New York as the TE3 behind Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert. He's off the fantasy radar in all formats.

Veteran kicker Nick Folk plans to return in 2026 for a 19th NFL season, and he is expected to be one of the top options on the kicking market at age 41, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Folk is the league's most accurate kicker (96.3%) since 2023, missing just one field goal per year while going 18-for-20 from 50-plus yards and 75-for-77 on his extra-point tries. In his return to the New York Jets last year, Folk made 28 of his 29 field-goal attempts (7-for-8 from 50-plus yards) while making all 22 of his extra points in 16 games. He was money for the Jets, as he's been in the last three years, but he finished as just the No. 21 kicker in overall fantasy points because the Jets' offense was so bad. The former sixth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 out of Arizona has aged like fine wine and has made at least five kicks from 50-plus yards in each of the last three years. Folk isn't getting any younger, but he could certainly be a trustworthy fantasy option in 2026 if he lands in a better offense.

The New York Jets are officially placing the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Breece Hall on Tuesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The tag in 2026 for RBs is set at $14.29 million. Both sides are motivated to get a long-term deal done by the deadline on July 15, but for now, Hall will be off the free-agent market in 2026. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of Iowa State would have been at the top of the RB market if he had reached free agency after running for a career-high 1,065 yards and four touchdowns on 243 carries in 2025. Hall added 36 receptions for 350 yards and another score in 16 games last year. For fantasy purposes, leaving New York would have been ideal, but Hall will return to Gang Green looking for a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. It could prove difficult, depending on how the team addresses the quarterback position this offseason.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is coming off a season-ending knee injury he sustained in December. Wilson was shut down in the middle of the 2025 season to avoid major injury and focus on a full recovery. In a limited season, Wilson had 36 catches for 395 receiving yards with four touchdowns on 59 targets. The 25-year-old was averaging over nine targets per game and was on pace to clear 160 targets. Heading into 2026, the Jets' future is very murky with no clear starting quarterback in place and Breece Hall potentially departing during free agency. Wilson will remain a fringe WR1 in dynasty based on his talent as a receiver alone, but his ceiling will continue to be capped due to the poor offensive ecosystem around him.

The New York Jets are acquiring nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday in exchange for defensive end Jermaine Johnson, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Sweat, a second-rounder by the Titans in 2024 out of the University of Texas, had 34 tackles (16 solo) and two sacks in 12 games for Tennessee in his second year in the NFL. The 24-year-old interior defensive lineman missed five of the first six games due to an ankle injury, but he finished strong. Sweat will now head to New York and bolster the interior of their D-line. Johnson, 27, didn't look the same last year after tearing his right Achilles tendon in September of 2024. The former 26th overall pick in 2022 had 43 tackles (22 solo), three sacks, five tackles for loss, six QB hits, and two pass breakups in 14 games played. Johnson will be playing on his fifth-year option in 2026.

After being acquired by the New York Jets from the Indianapolis Colts at the 2025 trade deadline, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell saw the best opportunity for consistent playing time of his young career. The 23-year-old recorded 32 receptions for 464 yards and zero touchdowns across the first 25 games of his career with the Colts. Across eight games with the Jets after the trade, Mitchell hauled in 24 catches for 301 yards and two scores. Mitchell played at least 80% of New York's offensive snaps in six of his eight contests, and he averaged over seven targets per game. In 2026, the Jets will welcome back star wideout Garrett Wilson (knee) from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season prematurely. Wilson will be the team's clear number one pass-catcher, but the Jets appear to have plenty of opportunity for secondary pass-game options to emerge. As a former second-round pick who has flashed upside at different points in his first two NFL seasons, Mitchell could have the inside track on the team's WR2 job heading into 2026.

The New York Jets will use the franchise or transition tag on impending free-agent running back Breece Hall if they can't get a contract extension done before the March 3 deadline, general manager Darren Mougey told Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. The franchise tag would take Hall off the market completely this offseason, while the transition tag would allow him to receive offers from other teams, but the Jets would have the right to match any offer. The transition tag will save the Jets a little more money and seems like the expected course of action here with the 24-year-old, who had a career-high 1,065 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 243 carries in 16 games in 2025. Hall also added 36 catches for 350 yards and a receiving score. A move out of New York would probably be best for Hall's 2026 fantasy value given their uncertain situation at QB, but there's no questioning that his stock is on the rise as an RB2 going into next season after his strong performance in 2025.

The Arizona Cardinals, who are now coached by former New York Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, could be a "potential suitor" for Jets impending free-agent running back Breece Hall, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. If Hall makes it to the open market in March, he'll be one of the best available offensive players in free agency, and the Jets would like to prevent that from happening. It means there's a good chance the Jets will slap the franchise tag on the 24-year-old. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, "there's a current belief in league circles that the Jets eventually will apply the transition tag." The transition tag is projected at $11.5 million and would give the Jets the right of first refusal if another team offers Hall a deal. The franchise tag would cost roughly $14.5 million for 2026. A tag-and-trade scenario could also be in play. Hall's explosive-run percentage dropped in 2025, as did his average speed, but he was still one of the Jets' top offensive playmakers as he ran for a career-high 1,065 yards.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt believes that the New York Jets could release quarterback Justin Fields this offseason. The Jets are going to land in the range of $70 million to $80 million in salary cap space in 2026 without cutting anyone, and they don't have a ton of options for cap savings. Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal in free agency ($30 million guaranteed) last year, but he was a disaster in 2025 and was eventually benched in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor. It's unlikely that a team will want to trade for the 26-year-old. If they outright cut him, they'll incur a $22 million dead-cap hit and only $1 million in savings. If they designate him as a post-June 1, they can spread the cap hit out over two years and save $10 million. Rosenblatt believes the Jets will outright cut Fields since they aren't lacking in cap space. The former 11th overall pick has elite rushing upside, but he just has not improved as a passer. Fields could compete for a starting gig elsewhere, but nothing will be guaranteed going into 2026.

While playing all 17 games in 2025, New York Jets second-year running back Isaiah Davis put up 422 total yards on 64 touches. While the efficiency he displayed in his rookie season remained evident, his lack of usage was a disappointment, given fellow sophomore back Braelon Allen missed all but four games. With Breece Hall set to hit free agency following a true workhorse season in which he handled 283 opportunities, there is a chance he moves on, and Davis could help to absorb some of those vacated touches. However, the Jets have both the cap space and the will to secure Hall's services for the long-term, and if they do, Davis will again be forced to fight with a presumably healthy Allen for limited time on the field. Until a decision is officially made on Hall, Davis remains a dynasty hold, but he could be heading toward cut territory if the Jets run back the same room in 2026.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that "the winds have been blowing in the direction" of the New York Jets using the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Breece Hall since the trade deadline. At that time, general manager Darren Mougey resisted overtures from other teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, who offered a fourth-round pick for Hall. The feeling is that Hall "would like to test free agency," so by placing the franchise tag on him, the Jets would have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. If no deal is reached, Hall would be under contract in 2026 and then become a free agent in 2027. If Hall makes it to free agency, he's expected to be a "hot commodity" and would be considered the top free agent at his position. Hall reached 1,000 rushing yards in 2025, the first time a Jet has done so since 2015. He also ranked 10th in scrimmage yards, ninth in explosive plays, and had the best third-down conversion rate among all RBs with at least 100 carries. Hall and the Jets may not be on the best of terms, but Rosenblatt argues that the Jets simply cannot let talent like that just walk out the door. Tagging Hall and trading him could be a possibility.

New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor finished his rookie campaign with 44 receptions for 369 yards and a single touchdown across 13 games, missing the final four weeks with a neck injury. While he saw his value peak after an early-season, two-game stretch that saw him targeted 17 times for 132 yards, his first season in New York never amounted to much of a fantasy impact, spending most of the year bouncing around the waiver wire in redraft leagues. In dynasty formats, his value is more difficult to peg down, as it's unclear just how the blame should be split between a routinely underperforming Jets offense and Taylor himself. While the Jets ranked dead last in both passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2025, Taylor did not do much to help his cause, finishing the year without a single missed tackle forced. He enters 2026 just outside the TE1 conversation, with the potential to plummet quickly if drastic changes don't take shape early in New York.

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) saw his 2025 season come to an abrupt end after he suffered an MCL sprain back in Week 4. New York left the door open for him to return, but that never came to fruition. He ultimately finished his second pro season with 18 carries, 76 rushing yards, two catches, 17 receiving yards, and one touchdown through parts of four games. It was a frustrating setback for a young ball-carrier who was projected to eat into Breece Hall's workload. While that didn't pan out in 2025, we could still see Allen step into a much larger role next season. Hall is headed for free agency, and if the Jets don't franchise tag him, he could quite possibly sign elsewhere. That would leave Allen and Isaiah Davis, who had 422 yards and one touchdown across 16 games last season, sharing a rung atop the depth chart. The fantasy surge of Allen and Davis hinges on New York letting Hall walk and failing to replace him, which is far from a guarantee. However, there's certainly a path to Allen being a top-36 fantasy running back next season. Managers should pay close attention to the Jets' free agency plans when evaluating the 22-year-old's fantasy future.

Former New York Jets first-round linebacker Darron Lee was arrested and charged in Tennessee for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, according to Thomas Gamba-Ellis of the New York Post. The former 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft is being charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Lee is currently being held without bond and has a court date set for Wednesday. The 31-year-old was also arrested and booked for assault and domestic violence in Ohio in 2023. Lee was a standout defender at Ohio State and was the Buckeyes' defensive MVP in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama in 2015 before the Jets took him in the first round. He didn't have much success during his five-year stint in the NFL, though, with the Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills. Lee totaled 273 tackles (178 solo), four sacks, three interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 58 career games.

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (knee) was asked to participate in the Pro Bowl games on Tuesday, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Fields declined and will instead focus on his offseason training. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $40 million deal in free agency last offseason to serve as the Jets' starting QB, but that experiment failed miserably in head coach Aaron Glenn's first year at the helm. The former 11th overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2021 out of Ohio State made nine starts in 2025 before being benched for veteran Tyrod Taylor, and he ended the year on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury. Fields cut down on turnovers, but he threw for only 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception, and he wasn't as aggressive as a runner. He definitely won't be handed the starting job back in 2026, but it's unclear who he'll be competing with in training camp this summer. Fields' stock in dynasty/keeper leagues has taken a big hit.