The New York Jets look ahead toward the 2026 offseason with major question marks across the roster, including and maybe most notably at the QB1 position.

The Jets currently hold around $118M of 2026 cap space (against a projected $304M league cap). This includes 35 current contracts (though 5 are set to void in early March). How many of those will remain through the 2026 offseason however?

A busy trade deadline now gives NY an arsenal of draft ammo to work with, including 2 first round picks and 2 second round picks in 2026. The Jets currently hold 11 picks in total next April.

Early Offseason Questions

  • Which avenue are the Jets interested in utilizing for their next QB1? Free Agency, the Trade Market, the Draft, all of the above?
  • With much of the mini-core now disbanded, will WR Garrett Wilson have contract-signer’s remorse, and potentially attempt to force his way out this coming offseason?
  • Have the higher ups seen enough progress/sustainability to continue on with this new coaching staff?

Notable Free Agents

(Current Spotrac APY Valuation)

RB Breece Hall ($10.5M)
LB Quincy Williams ($9.5M)
S Tony Adams ($6.7M)
G John Simpson ($6.5M)
S Andre Cisco ($3.8M)

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Extension Candidate

DE Jermaine Johnson

A 2022 1st-round pick, Johnson is still in the final stages of fully recovering from a 2024 Week 2 Achilles injury. When right, he’s got above average starter potential on the edge, and should be strongly considered as a core player going forward. The 26-year-old holds a fully guaranteed $13.4M option salary in 2026, and currently projects toward a 4 year, $80M extension in our system.

Option Decisions

DE Will McDonald posted 11 sacks in 2024, and is on pace to hit double digits again in 2025, but outside of this has been viewed as a disappointment for the most part. The Jets have very little guaranteed in 2027, and it’s tough to imagine them adding this $14Mish option.

DL Mazi Smith (acquired from Dallas at the deadline) hasn’t come close to living up to his #26 overall pick status. He remains a role player at best and won’t see his option year exercised here.

Bubble Candidates

QB Justin Fields

Release Candidate

The Jets guaranteed $10M of his 2026 salary, but it looks more and more like that payment may be converted into a buyout. An outright release this March only frees up $1M ($22M of dead cap against a $23M cap hit), so it’s possible that the Jets hold onto Fields through the spring in hopes of finding a trade, with a Post 6/1 designation as another viable option here.

DL Mazi Smith

Release Candidate

The 24-year-old holds a fully guaranteed $2.5M salary in 2026, but he’ll enter the offseason buried within the Jet’s DL depth chart. With draft picks and free agent capital ready to burn, NY may opt to eat the salary and free up the roster spot.

Potential Cap Conversions

CB Brandon Stephens holds a fully guaranteed salary in 2026, and a simple salary conversion on it can open up another $8.7M of room. With nearly $120M of room in tow right now, the Jets are in a nice spot to ride out some of these current contracts (and front-load new ones).

RELATED LINKS
2026 Jets Salary Cap Table
Jets 2026 Free Agents
Spotrac Offseason Guides