The NFL's popularity is driven by the league's parity compared with other professional sports leagues. Each offseason, the team with the worst record gets the first pick in the NFL Draft and the easiest schedule in their division for the next season. So when an NFL team repeatedly fails to find the right combination to turn from a bottom-feeder into a contender, it is usually for reasons beyond how the team plays on the field.

One of those teams is the New York Jets in the AFC East. The most recent season the Jets finished with a winning record was 2015. Soon after, the Jets returned to their losing ways, leading to a coaching change and a roster overhaul. However, that situation has happened time and time again for the Jets organization, and instead of getting better results, they seem to constantly reset their team and coaching staff. When a team chases results by constantly wiping the slate clean, it creates a chaotic environment that doesn't allow a winning culture to develop.

This season, the New York Jets started with a win over the Tennessee Titans, which seemed enough to show Aaron Glenn and his staff the team was close to turning a corner. However, the Jets followed that win up with three straight losses. In Week 5, New York earned another win in a dogfight against an upstart Cleveland Browns team that is expected to be a contender in the AFC North. Consequently, the team has once again lost three consecutive games, giving them a 2-6 record overall.

In the modern NFL, teams with this kind of poor start tend to react knee-jerk by dumping their top-paid players and looking ahead to the next coaching staff to repeat the process. On the other hand, the Jets have made measurable progress since the arrival of head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, and hitting the reset button does not seem like the best plan for this organization. Rather than wipe the slate clean, the Jets should take what's been working this season and make strategic moves that can help the team become a playoff contender in 2026. The sticking point is that the Jets are eight games into the season, so they have no room for error and must make the right adjustments in a small window that closes each week quickly.

Reinforce the Offensive Line to Protect QB Geno Smith

The first priority for the Jets to take their current roster and turn it into a playoff contender is to address the lack of pass protection for quarterback Geno Smith. Smith has shown that when he is protected and has time to make his reads, he can get the ball to his offensive playmakers, including rookie Omar Cooper Jr., Garrett Wilson, and Adonai Mitchell. Getting the ball to those weapons has been a priority for offensive coordinator Frank Reich and the Jets offense, but they have been limited by how often Smith must protect the ball against pressure rather than force throws that put the ball at risk.

Pass protection has been a challenge for this Jets offensive line because of a lack of proven interior linemen and limited depth at offensive tackle. To address those protection issues, the Jets have already decided to sign swing tackle Blake Freeland. That leaves the team needing an upgrade at guard or center. The most economical route would be to acquire guard Wyatt Teller from the Houston Texans or Andrew Wylie, currently a backup left tackle for the Washington Commanders.

Solidify the Pass Rush with an Elite Edge Rusher

On defense, the Jets have played better football against the run, but they still struggle to generate a pass rush. In the AFC East, it is nearly impossible to stop the offenses of the Buffalo Bills or New England Patriots without pressuring their quarterbacks on every down. To get an instant boost, the Jets need to be willing to take a chance on a skilled pass rusher close to a contract year, which means the player will be motivated to produce results now, not later.

Currently, two edge rushers the Jets could trade for before the trade deadline on Tuesday, November 10th, are in the final year of their current contracts. That matters because if a player doesn't pan out or becomes a disruptive force in the locker room, the problem will have a built-in solution at the end of the 2026 season. The top two players who could boost New York's pass rush are Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers and Azeez Ojulari of the nearby New York Giants.

Commit to Running the Ball with RB Braelen Allen

The next adjustment the Jets need to make to have a chance at a playoff spot is a change in offensive play-call protocol from offensive coordinator Frank Reich. So far this season, 56% of the Jets' play calls have been passes, and 44% have been runs. However, if New York upgrades its interior offensive line, it could establish a dominant running game with Braelen Allen. Committing to Allen and shifting the run-to-pass ratio to 55% run and 45% pass will let the Jets control the tempo and give their defense a chance to rest.

To make this adjustment, the Jets need to commit to tough, gritty football on offense, which is part of the recipe the Bills and Patriots use to win consistently. By running the ball effectively, opposing defenses will need to add safeties to the box to stop the run. That will let the Jets maximize their wide receiver talent by using play-action passing concepts to get their weapons open downfield, forcing defenses to spread out and create more space in the short and intermediate zones. Play-action pass protections will also give Smith more time to find open receivers and deliver the ball accurately.

Add a Deep Zone Safety to Manage the Passing Attacks in the AFC East

Another area where the Jets need a solution is containing wide receiver A.J. Brown for the Patriots and D.J. Moore for the Bills. To cap those receivers vertically and limit their ability to produce explosive plays, New York needs to add a veteran deep zone safety. Several player options could sign immediately to fill that role and give the Jets a consistent answer against vertical passing threats in the AFC East.

Two high-quality deep zone safety options are currently available as either free agents or on practice squad contracts. One is Jordan Poyer, who is on a week-to-week practice squad contract as he looks to retire soon. That would let the Jets bring in a veteran defender who won't require a long-term contract or significant investment after this season. Like Poyer, Quandre Diggs is currently working on a series of practice squad contracts, and the Jets could make a long-term commitment to Diggs if he works out in New York this season.

Protect the Core of the Roster and Resist Holding a "Fire Sale"

For the last several years, teams that have a slow start to the season have had to decide before the trade deadline. That decision is: do they trade away as many assets as possible for draft capital, or do they try to make adjustments to finish the season strong? For the last 10 seasons the Jets chosen to dump their assets and attempt to start over, but because the organization has had on average a two season turnaround time on wiping the slate clean their has not been time for their rebuild efforts to come to fruition.

To break the cycle of mediocrity, the Jets need to be willing to break the cycle of resetting their team, and commit to making this version of their team the best it can be. Unlike previous seasons, New York has been competitive week to week, which means they are close to winning more of those close games. With 9 games left in the season, if New York can make the adjustments needed to boost their team, they have a chance to go on a run, put together an 11-6 or 10-7 season, and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

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