Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets

With the NFL’s key offseason deadlines fast approaching—including the start of free agency and the draft combine—the New York Jets’ front office has kicked into high gear, conducting rigorous assessments of candidates across three critical areas: potential free-agent signings, draft prospects, and a new assistant special teams coach. These evaluations, led by general manager Joe Douglas and his staff, are designed to align the team’s roster needs with available talent, ensuring every move contributes to the Jets’ goal of ending their playoff drought. Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets pulls back the curtain on this process, detailing how the Jets evaluate fit, talent, and long-term value, and why these decisions will shape the team’s trajectory in 2026 and beyond. For Jets fans, understanding these assessments offers insight into the strategic thinking driving the team’s offseason plans.

Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets begins with the team’s evaluation of free-agent offensive linemen—a top priority after the Jets allowed 45 sacks in 2025, ranking 27th in the NFL. The front office has narrowed its focus to three primary candidates: right tackle Morgan Moses (currently with the Baltimore Ravens), guard Dalton Risner (free agent), and center Creed Humphrey (if he hits free agency, though the Kansas City Chiefs are likely to tag him). The Jets’ assessment criteria include not just on-field performance—such as Moses’ 94% snap count and zero penalties last season—but also fit with the Jets’ zone-blocking scheme and locker room culture. “We’re not just looking for talented players—we’re looking for players who can thrive in our system and elevate the guys around them,” Douglas said in a recent staff meeting. The assessment also includes a deep dive into injury history: Risner, for example, has played all 17 games in three of the last four seasons, a key factor for a Jets line that dealt with multiple injuries in 2025. The Jets aim to finalize their top free-agent targets by the end of the week, ahead of the March 13 free agency deadline.

A central focus of Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets is the team’s evaluation of draft prospects, particularly at wide receiver and defensive back. With the Jets holding the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their scouting department has spent months assessing top wide receiver prospects like USC’s Amari Miller and Ohio State’s Jaylen Reed, as well as cornerbacks such as Florida’s Tyreek Smith and LSU’s Kaleb Jackson. The assessment process includes not just film study—breaking down route-running precision, catch radius, and coverage skills—but also in-person interviews at the draft combine to evaluate football IQ and character. For example, Miller’s ability to win contested catches (he had 12 in 2025) and Reed’s speed (4.35 40-yard dash) have made them standouts, but the Jets are also weighing intangibles: Smith’s leadership as Florida’s team captain and Jackson’s work ethic in offseason training. “The combine interviews are make-or-break for some prospects,” said Jets director of scouting Jon Carr. “We need to know if a player can handle the pressure of playing in New York and buy into our culture.” The Jets plan to trim their draft board to 15 top prospects by the February 28 combine deadline.

Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets also delves into the team’s search for a new assistant special teams coach, a role left vacant after Brant Boyer was promoted to special teams coordinator in January. The Jets have interviewed four candidates: former Detroit Lions special teams assistant Mike Mallory, ex-Cleveland Browns assistant Jeff Howard, current Jets quality control coach Ryan Smith, and college special teams coordinator Amy Trask (from the University of Memphis). The assessment here focuses on experience with special teams units similar to the Jets’—specifically, units that excel at punt returns and field goal blocks—and the ability to work with Boyer’s system. Mallory’s track record of improving punt return averages (he helped the Lions jump from 24th to 8th in the NFL in 2025) and Trask’s innovation with onside kick plays have made them front-runners. “This role is crucial because special teams can swing 3-4 games a season,” Boyer said. For the New York Jets, promoting from within (Smith) or hiring an external candidate (Mallory/Trask) also reflects a broader goal: balancing continuity with fresh ideas to fix a special teams unit that ranked 22nd in overall efficiency last season. The team aims to make a hire by March 5, ahead of the start of offseason workouts.

Another key layer of Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets is the evaluation of internal candidates for contract extensions—specifically, defensive tackle Jowon Briggs and wide receiver Jalen Moore. Both players had breakout seasons in 2025 (Briggs recorded 6 sacks and 18 tackles for loss; Moore had 650 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns) and are entering the final year of their contracts. The Jets’ assessment includes projecting their future performance—using advanced metrics like Briggs’ 82% run-stop rate and Moore’s 76tch rate—and comparing their value to similar players around the league. For example, the Jets are analyzing how much teams paid for defensive tackles with similar production (average $8.5 million per year) to determine a fair extension for Briggs. They’re also considering Moore’s role as a deep threat, which complements star receiver Garrett Wilson, making him a critical piece of the offense. “Extending our own talent is just as important as signing free agents,” Douglas said. “We want to reward players who have bought into our vision and will be key parts of our future.” For the New York Jets, finalizing these extensions before the July 15 deadline will help avoid contract disputes during training camp and ensure core players remain focused on the season.

Looking ahead, Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets outlines how the team will prioritize candidates if resources are limited. The front office has created a “tiered system”: Tier 1 includes free-agent offensive linemen and top draft prospects (wide receiver/cornerback), Tier 2 is the assistant special teams coach hire, and Tier 3 is internal contract extensions. If the Jets can’t sign both Moses and Risner in free agency, they’ll shift focus to drafting an offensive lineman in the second round to complement their first-round pick. Similarly, if Humphrey stays in Kansas City, the Jets will pivot to evaluating backup center candidates like Tyler Biadasz (free agent). “Flexibility is key,” said Jets salary-cap manager Sophie Brown. “We have a plan, but we also have backup plans for every scenario to ensure we don’t waste our cap space or draft picks.” For the New York Jets, this tiered approach ensures they don’t overcommit to one candidate at the expense of addressing other needs—a mistake that has derailed past offseasons. The team will finalize its priority list by March 1, giving them two weeks to lock in deals before free agency opens.

Candidate Assessments Before Deadline for the New York Jets is ultimately a story of strategic rigor and alignment. Every candidate—whether a free agent, draft prospect, or coaching hire—is evaluated against the Jets’ core needs: improving the offensive line, adding playmakers on offense, and fixing special teams. The process isn’t just about talent; it’s about fit, culture, and long-term value. For the Jets, these assessments are more than a pre-deadline task—they’re the foundation of a sustainable winning program. As the deadlines approach, the front office’s ability to make smart, data-driven decisions will determine whether the Jets take a meaningful step toward contention in 2026. For fans, this period of evaluation offers hope that the team’s offseason moves will finally translate to wins—and maybe even a playoff appearance.