NFL 2025-26 NY Jets and AFC East Season Preview

Segment 1: Draft and Preseason Recap Brought in QB Justin Fields ($40M) Resigned stars WR Garrett Wilson and CB Sauce Gardner to long-term extensions Draft picks include rookie RT to strengthen the offensive line, TE Mason Taylor and intriguing 4th rounders speedster Georgia WR Arian Smith as deep threat and Alabama S Malachi Moore Gone are QB Aaron Rodgers (Steelers), CB DJ Reed (Lions, one of the best free agent signings in years), LB CJ Mosley (retired), underperforming DT Javon Kinshaw (Commanders, $45M!) Segment 2: Season Preview: the Good, Bad and the Ugly (8:35) Good Expect strong running game by committee Improved defense expected after last year's porous run D, the return of edge rusher Jermaine Johnson after serious injury Traded for much needed run stuffing D linemen Harrison Phillips (Vikings), Jowon Briggs (Browns) Good offensive line (injury update below), with the plan of having left and right tackles to play together for the next decade Improved special teams through resigning of veteran K Nick Folk after other kickers' missed FGs and PATs cost the team a few wins last season Bad Growing Pains: this is Aaron Glenn's first NFL heading coaching role; ditto new GM Darren Mougey and first time offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand  Did not replace veteran WR talent after Davante Adams was cut Depth at QB?: If Fields gets hurt, backup QB Tyrod Taylor has a long history of injury; untested rookie QB Brady Cook (Missouri) awaits his first NFL snap Ugly Fields is playing for his third team in as many seasons, having to master yet another offensive system, from a rookie OC Where are the offensive weapons after the RBs and WR Garrett Wilson for Fields to work with? One dimensional offenses struggle to score points, win games RG Alijah Vera-Tucker injured his triceps, potentially ending his season; O line goes to Plan B with free agent Josh Myers (Green Bay, former Fields teammate at Ohio State) to play center and C Joe Tippmann to slide over to RG Segment 3: Week 1-4 Predictions (18:45) Jets face major challenge week 1 vs. the Steelers defense; expect the team to be motivated to play well under new head coach Aaron Glenn; likely Steeler win but there's a chance to steal one this early in the season Jets to struggle vs. Buffalo in Week 2, Tampa in Week 3, chance for success Week 4 in Miami 1-3 record after September quite possible Segment 4: AFC East Insights and Observations (32:50) Bills the class of the division with MVP QB Josh Allen Expect the Patriots to be much improved under new head coach Mike Vrabel and returning OC Josh McDaniels; tough test for rookie LT Will Campbell Week 1 vs. Raiders all-pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel under the microscope; potentially explosive offense suffers when QB Tua Tagovailoa misses time with injuries; they are counting on backup Zach Wilson if Tua goes down (thank you!) Goal for Jets: split the season series with Bills, Pats, Dolphins Segment 5: Other NFL Insights (35:50) Niners bounce back (coach, talent, scheme, weak schedule), win the division; Rams to be tough, concerns about health of QB Matthew Stafford Trade of stud edge rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay shifts the balance of power in that division and NFC  Giants to have more talent, better record than the Jets despite tough schedule and having to play in the NFC East? They play Washington tough, Dallas could be vulnerable; will Eagles RB Saquan Barkley stay healthy? AFC West should be very competitive with KC, Chargers and Broncos fighting it out for supremacy; expect the Raiders to be improved under Pete Carroll, QB Geno Smith and rookie RB Ashton Jeanty Colts have Daniel Jones as starting QB...will Indy be improved?