Tag: Jets

The New York Jets' first-round picks Jermaine Johnson, Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and Garrett Wilson are introduced at a press conference. Syndication The Record

Jets pick up options for three 2022 first-round picks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New York Jets are picking up the fifth-year options on all three of their 2022 first-round draft picks, general manager Darren Mougey said Monday.

The fully guaranteed 2026 options are worth $20.1 million for cornerback Sauce Gardner (fourth overall pick), $16.8 million for wide receiver Garrett Wilson (10th) and $13.4 million for linebacker Jermaine Johnson (26th).

Gardner, 24, has earned two Pro Bowl and two All-Pro first-team selections and was the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has recorded three interceptions, 40 passes defensed and 181 tackles in 48 games (all starts).

Wilson, 24, has posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons and was the NFL’s 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He has collected 279 catches for 3,249 yards and 14 touchdowns in 51 games (46 starts).

Johnson, 26, made the Pro Bowl in 2023 but missed the final 15 games last season with a torn Achilles tendon. He has 10 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, one interception and one fumble recovery in 33 games (19 starts).

–Field Level Media

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tees off on the first hole during the Phoenix Open Annexus Pro-Am at TPC Scottsdale on Feb. 5, 2025.

Aaron Rodgers: ‘Dealing with a lot off the field’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Aaron Rodgers said he has not committed to a new team — or even to continuing his career — because he is dealing with “difficult stuff” in his personal life.

The four-time MVP quarterback discussed his abrupt departure from the Jets, his meetings with the Vikings and Steelers, the possibility of retirement and other topics during an appearance Thursday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.”

“I’ll set it all straight,” Rodgers said. “From the jump, I’m in a different phase of my life, I’m 41 years old, I’m in a serious relationship, I have personal commitments I’ve made … and people in my inner circle battling difficult stuff. To make a commitment to a team is a big thing.”

Rodgers said he’s not “stringing anybody along” or holding out for more money from Minnesota, Pittsburgh or any other teams that have expressed interest in his services this offseason.

“I told every single one of the teams, it ain’t about the money,” he said. “I said I’ll play for $10 million. Whatever.”

“… I don’t think it’s fair to the Steelers or anyone while I’m dealing with a lot off the field. I want to keep the lines of communication open. The people who need to know, know.”

After 20 seasons and 248 regular-season games, Rodgers said walking away from the game is also an option.

“I’m open to anything and attached to nothing. Retirement could still be a possibility. Focus on personal life,” he said.

Coming back from a torn Achilles last season, Rodgers completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 starts (5-12 record) for the Jets.

Rodgers said he was somewhat taken by surprise when the Jets opted to release him in March.

“I figured when I flew across country to meet with the Jets there was gonna be a conversation,” he said. “We sat down in the office and 20 seconds in, the coach (Aaron Glenn) said we’re going in a different direction. That’s totally fine, but they could have just told me that on the phone.

“… I was literally there for maybe 40 minutes. I wasn’t upset about it but I was just surprised. I’m still thankful for my time with the Jets.”

Rodgers, who spent his first 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, ranks fifth all-time in passing touchdowns (503) and seventh in passing yards (62,952).

–Field Level Media

Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jets 2025 draft needs, picks, best fits, history

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Back with the Jets as a first-time head coach, Aaron Glenn understands the monumental task at hand.

New York ended an inglorious two-year partnership with quarterback Aaron Rodgers that netted 12 wins in two seasons and signed Justin Fields as the presumptive starter in the latest reboot of the offense.

Glenn, hailed for his development of defensive players during his time as coordinator of the Detroit Lions, inherited a team stocked with talent on that side of the ball.

Along with first-year GM Darren Mougey, Glenn sets out to chart a new course for the Jets with a few tired questions.

Solving the QB conundrum is nothing new to this franchise. Glenn asserts there’s no time to languish about the past and believes Fields, who gave the Lions fits during his time with the Bears, can help New York get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season. Mark Sanchez started the AFC Championship game loss to the Steelers, and set off a parade of misfortune at the position. Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson and Rodgers all tried their hand at the primary QB1 role over the ensuing dozen years and only Fitzpatrick (10-6 in 2015) delivered a record above .500.

Will this finally be the year the Jets clear the runway?

–Team needs
Offensive tackle: Morgan Moses helped stabilize the Jets’ offensive line, but he left for the Patriots in free agency. Arguably the best right tackle in the draft, Missouri’s Armand Membou, is expected to be available when New York is on the clock with the seventh overall pick. The Lions thrived behind a mauling offensive line for much of Glenn’s time in Detroit. Membou is a fine athlete, even if he comes a pace or two short of Penei Sewell.

Tight end: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is another option at No. 7. He could fill a pressing need and also qualify as the best talent available with only six prospects off the board. Left tackle Olu Fashanu, drafted 11th in 2024 by the Jets, is a former Warren teammate with the Nittany Lions.

Defensive line: Nobody can block defensive tackle Quinnen Williams one-on-one, which begs the question: How lethal could the Jets’ front four become with another unblockable star in the picture?

–Best prospect fits
DT Mason Graham, Michigan
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
OG Armand Membou, Missouri
ILB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
WR Matthew Golden, Texas
CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 8
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 7, 7
2: 10, 42
3: 9, 73
4: 8, 110
5: 7, 145
5: 24, 162 (from Los Angeles Rams via Pittsburgh Steelers)
6: 10, 186
6: 31, 207 (from Kansas City Chiefs)

–History Lesson
–The Jets drafted Glenn with the 12th overall pick in 1994.
–The Jets have never drafted a player No. 7 overall.
–Since drafting QB Mark Sanchez (USC) fifth in 2009, the Jets have selected a defensive player with their first pick 11 times.

–Field Level Media

Dec 10, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith (77) on the field before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Report: Longtime Cowboys LT Tyron Smith to retire

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Left tackle Tyron Smith will sign a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys and retire after 14 NFL seasons, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

Smith, 34, played 13 seasons in Dallas before spending last year with the New York Jets.

He is an eight-time Pro Bowl and five-time All-Pro selection — two first-team and three second-team choices, including a second-team nod in 2023.

Smith was selected by Dallas with the ninth overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Southern California.

He has not played more than 13 games in a season since 2015 due to injuries. He played in just two in 2020 (neck surgery), 11 in 2021 (ankle injuries) and four in 2022 (torn hamstring). Smith missed the last seven games in 2024 with a neck injury.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Jets name Fields QB1: ‘We believe in Justin’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

There will be no debate in the New York Jets’ quarterback room entering the 2025 season: The newly signed Justin Fields is their expected starter.

“We believe Justin is the starter,” new Jets general manager Darren Mougey told reporters at the annual league meetings on Sunday. “We believe in Justin. We believe we can win with Justin, so we’re excited about Justin.”

In moving on from Aaron Rodgers, the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract with $30 million guaranteed after he spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Chicago Bears (2021-23) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2024).

Though this will be Fields’ third attempt to establish himself as a franchise quarterback, Mougey projects a specific path for the 26-year-old, citing recent turnarounds by Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold elsewhere in the league.

“We have seen some of that as of late and it did (play a factor) as we went through the process, and we think we could have the same” with Fields, Mougey said.

Fields showed flashes for the Steelers when he began the season as their starter while Russell Wilson rehabbed a calf injury. He went 4-2 in six starts and finished the season with 1,106 passing yards, five touchdowns and just one interception along with 289 rushing yards and five rushing TDs in 10 games.

“You saw it last year,” Mougey said. “He was 4-2 as the starter and probably had some of the best quarterback play of his career. We’re going to do everything to support him when he gets here.”

Overall, Fields has a 14-30 record as a starter.

The Jets’ other options on the roster were journeyman Tyrod Taylor, 2024 fifth-round draft pick Jordan Travis and Adrian Martinez.

Mougey was hired this offseason to replace Joe Douglas, while head coach Aaron Glenn was tapped to take over for Robert Saleh. Both Saleh and Douglas were fired during a dreadful 5-12 season that saw the Jets and Rodgers fall flat despite playoff aspirations.

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (11) makes a catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

WR Josh Reynolds joins Jets, reunites with OC Tanner Engstrand

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New York Jets signed free agent wide receiver Josh Reynolds to a contract on Thursday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team, however NFL Network reported it was a one-year contract worth up to $5 million.

Reynolds, 30, will be reunited with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who was the offensive quality control/passing game coordinator with Detroit while the wideout was with the Lions from 2021-23.

Reynolds had 13 catches for 194 yards and one touchdown in nine games (two starts) last season split between the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars.

He has 233 receptions for 3,127 yards and 20 touchdowns in 116 career games (55 starts) with the Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans, Lions, Broncos and Jaguars. He was selected by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (91) eacts after the losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jets agree to terms with former Chiefs DT Derrick Nnadi

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi has reached a contract agreement with the New York Jets, his agents announced Sunday.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed for Nnadi, a key performer for the Kansas City Chiefs during the team’s three Super Bowl championships over his seven NFL seasons.

The 28-year-old has started 87 of 115 games in Kansas City, with 2024 being his least productive season as a pro. Last year, Nnadi had just 11 tackles and one start.

Conversely, Nnadi started 86 games over his first six seasons, with 222 tackles (37 per season) and five sacks.

The Jets have taken a platoon approach to refortifying their defensive tackle position this offseason, signing Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele in addition to Nnadi. Those three were signed as replacements for Javon Kinlaw, who started all 17 games for the Jets in 2024 before departing in free agency for the Washington Commanders.

–Field Level Media

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws a pass before Miami Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson (44) could take him down, Sunday January 5, 2025, in East Rutherford.

Happy trails: Jets officially release QB Aaron Rodgers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Aaron Rodgers was officially released by the New York Jets on Wednesday, and a short queue led by the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants reportedly formed for a chance to sign the 41-year-old quarterback.

Jets General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn met with Rodgers in what the first-time GM labeled a meeting of clarity and determined it would be best to move on, before owner Woody Johnson issued a public thank you to the former Packers quarterback.

The Steelers are without a starting quarterback in part because the Jets are set to sign Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal. Russell Wilson, who started the final 11 games of the 2024 season and a playoff loss to the Ravens for Pittsburgh, is reportedly drawing interest from the Giants and Browns.

The Jets will be charged $14 million for releasing Rodgers on the 2025 salary cap and $35 million in 2026.

Rodgers joined the Jets amid much fanfare ahead of the 2023 season but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the opener. Last season, he rebounded to start all 17 games but the Jets finished only 5-12. He completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Rodgers spent 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers before moving on the Jets. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame member and four-time NFL MVP ranks in the top 10 in NFL history in many statistical categories.

He is first in passer rating (102.6), fifth in career touchdown passes (503), and seventh in both pass completions (5,369) and passing yards (62,952).

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) warms up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Reports: QB Justin Fields, Jets agree to 2-year, $40M deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After parting ways with quarterback Aaron Rodgers last month, the New York Jets are bringing in Justin Fields, coming to terms on a two-year, $40 million deal with the former first-round pick, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

Per the reports, $30 million of the contract is guaranteed.

Rodgers, whom the Jets plan to release Wednesday when the new league year opens, is rumored to join Fields’ former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, per an ESPN report on Monday.

With the Jets, the 26-year-old Fields already has a built-in rapport with wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who played with Fields at Ohio State.

Sharing QB duties with Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh last season, Fields threw five touchdowns and one interception in 10 games (six starts), completing 106 passes for 1,106 yards with a career-high completion percentage of 65.8.

The Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears, who last March traded their 2021 first-round pick in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round selection.

With the Bears (2021-23) and Steelers, Fields — the No. 11 pick in 2021 — has 45 touchdowns and 31 interceptions while completing 61.1 percent of his passes in 50 games (44 starts). He’s also rushed for 19 scores and 2,509 yards.

–Field Level Media

Cornerback DJ Reed being interviewed as players arrived today to participate in the NY Jets 2023 Training Camp at their practice facility in Florham Park, NJ.

Reports: Lions, DJ Reed agree to $48M deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Free agent cornerback DJ Reed agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract with the Detroit Lions, according to multiple reports Monday.

Reed spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets and details of his deal with the Lions came soon after news of the Patriots signing away Carlton Davis, who played with Detroit in 2024.

Reed, 28, was a fifth-round pick of the 49ers in 2018 and was claimed off waivers by the Seahawks in 2020 before signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2022.

Reed has six career interceptions and 51 passes defensed.

The 5-9, 195-pound corner can play inside for the Lions, who employ a significant number of nickel packages to maximize the versatility of their safety tandem of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

The cornerback room in Detroit is green behind Reed and Amik Robertson, 26, who emerged as the top cover corner after Davis broke his jaw in December.

A pair of 2024 draft picks, Terrion Arnold (first round) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (second), are also on the current CB depth chart. Arnold is projected as a starter again after making 15 starts in 16 games as a rookie. Rakestraw was never fully healthy because of a hamstring injury.

–Field Level Media