The Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn era is about to begin in full. Free agency will be the first real showcase of what kind of team the Jets duo wants to build — both in what kind of players they want, and how close they feel they are to playoff contention.
The biggest question, of course, is quarterback. All signs point to Mougey and Glenn pursuing Steelers free agent Justin Fields, assuming he makes it to free agency. Pittsburgh, according to league sources, prefer Fields over Russell Wilson, so he’ll have to weigh staying in an environment and offense he knows versus going elsewhere. Another factor: Pittsburgh benched Fields for Wilson last season. The Jets and Steelers won’t be the only teams interested, but he is viewed as New York’s No. 1 target at the most important position.
Elsewhere, expect the Jets to dig into Mougey and Glenn’s past with the Broncos and Lions, and look at players from those teams when addressing positions of need. Among the names I’ve heard tied to the Jets are former Broncos OT Matt Peart, punter Riley Dixon and linebacker Cody Barton; and from Detroit: WR Tim Patrick, DT Levi Onwuzirike and DB Ifeatu Melifonwu.
A couple other players the Jets are expected to show interest in: Rams defensive lineman Michael Hoecht, Saints tight end Juwan Johnson and Chargers wide receiver Josh Palmer.
As for their own free agents, Jamien Sherwood has agreed to return on a contract that will make him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL. Safety Isaiah Oliver is viewed as the remaining internal free agent most likely to re-sign.
The Jets have clear needs at quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, right tackle, defensive tackle, cornerback and safety. It’s on Mougey and Glenn to figure out how to fill them.
Jets to make Sherwood one of NFL’s highest-paid LBs
March 9: Jamien Sherwood was a backup going into the 2024 season for the Jets. A year later, and with a team MVP award under his belt, he just became one of the five highest-paid linebackers in the NFL after agreeing to re-sign with the Jets for $45 million ($30 million of it guaranteed) on a three-year deal.
It was a fast rise for Sherwood, who was drafted by the Jets in 2021 as a safety out of Auburn but transitioned to linebacker in Robert Saleh’s defense. He spent his first three seasons mostly as a backup to Quincy Williams and C.J. Mosley and developing as a linebacker — and now the Jets have made it clear they value him more than both of those players. Mosley was limited to four games last season due to injuries, so Sherwood started 16 of 17 games and finished among the league leaders in total tackles (158) and first in solo tackles (98) while adding two sacks, three pass deflections and two QB hits. He was expected to garner significant interest in free agency but the Jets’ new regime — led by coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey — clearly prioritized keeping Sherwood as a centerpiece of the defense. He’s only 25, coming off a breakout season; considering it was his first as a starter, he has room to grow.
This does raise the question about what it means for the other two aforementioned linebackers. Williams signed a three-year, $18 million deal in 2023 and quickly outplayed that contract, earning All-Pro honors in 2023. Now he’s in the last year of his deal and it would be fair to expect he might want a new contract. Mosley could retire, though it’s unclear if he intends to. If he does, he’s a candidate to be cut with a post-June 1 designation.
(Photo of Jamien Sherwood: Shaun Brooks / Imagn Images)
