Jets 2025 Offseason Report Card: Grading every key free agency move

With free agency well underway, we're going to provide some analysis and assign grades to the moves made by the Jets.

The Jets had a lot of holes to fill with veterans Aaron Rodgers, CJ Mosley and Davante Adams all having been released and other key pieces such as Morgan Moses, Ashtyn Davis and D.J. Reed leaving in free agency.

Here's what we think of what they've done...

QB Justin Fields: Agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $40 million

This is the move that will define the early part of new GM Darren Mougey's tenure, but given what was available, Fields was probably the best option for the team in terms of where they currently stand.

The 26-year-old former first-round pick has struggled for most of his four years in the NFL, but New York will be hoping that leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start last season is the first sign that he's beginning to realize his true potential.

Fields will reunite with his college teammate Garrett Wilson and bring some excitement to the Jets' offense with his running ability.

Importantly, if things don't work out for Fields in New York, it's not the kind of financial commitment that will set the Jets back several years. They would still be able to explore alternatives in the draft and on the open market over the next few offseasons.

We broke down the pros and cons of this move in more detail earlier this week.

Grade: B-

TE Stone Smartt: Agreed to a one-year deal

Smartt doesn't have very impressive statistics with just 31 career catches, but unlike current Jets tight ends Jeremy Ruckert and Zack Kuntz, he's shown some recent flashes of real promise.

Whether he has starter potential remains to be seen, but it's a low-cost gamble, and even if the Jets make other additions at the position in free agency or the draft, Smartt looks like a good bet to compete for a role.

Grade: C+

CB Brandon Stephens: Agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $36 million

With Reed departing, the Jets needed another starting cornerback, and the former third-round pick has plenty of experience starting on a top-level defense in Baltimore.Head coach Aaron Glenn, himself a former Pro Bowl corner, will no doubt feel confident that he can continue to develop Stephens and that he'll fit the defensive system.

Stephens' 2024 season was disappointing after he played well in 2023, but the 27-year-old is obviously someone the Jets are banking on to become more reliable as he reaches his prime. They'll need him to bounce back this season because he may be targeted more with Sauce Gardner on the other side.

Grade: C

S Andre Cisco: Agreed to terms on a one-year contract for $10 million

The Jets also needed to fill holes at the safety position with Chuck Clark, Jalen Mills and Ashtyn Davis all free agents. Cisco gives the Jets a 24-year-old former third-round pick with plenty of starting experience and some much-needed playmaking ability as he intercepted four passes in 2023 and three in 2022.

Like Stephens, Cisco had a down year in 2024 and was even benched at one point, but the Jets will be hoping that he'll similarly bounce back now that he's getting a fresh start. Since he's on a one-year contract, he'll also be motivated to prove himself worthy of a longer-term deal.

Grade: C

Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) runs off the field before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars held off the Titans 20-13. / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union

T Chukwuma Okorafor: Signed to a one-year deal

With Moses' departure, the Jets have a big hole at right tackle and on the face of it, signing a 27-year-old former third-round pick with 60 career starts could be seen as an attempt to address that.

Okorafor even started the opener with the Patriots last season. However, he was only starting due to injury and lasted just 12 snaps before being benched -- he would later leave the team and wouldn't play again as he was said to be contemplating retirement.

This signing, which is reportedly just a minimum level deal, should be viewed as nothing more than a long-shot reclamation project. The Jets may have to think outside the box or wait until the draft to address the right tackle position.

Grade: D

EDGE Rashad Weaver: Agreed to a one-year deal

Weaver appeared to be an ascending player a few seasons ago when he racked up 5.5 sacks, but he's regressed over the past few seasons and barely played at all last year. He could bring some value on special teams, though.

The 27-year-old former fourth-round pick should be viewed similarly to Okorafor, as a low-cost reclamation project, although he arguably has a better chance of making rotational contributions next season.

Grade: C-

C Josh Myers: Agreed to a one-year deal for $3.5 million

Myers started every game over the past three seasons for the Packers, so the Jets are bringing him in as a reasonably priced backup with plenty of experience. He's also a former teammate of Fields.

While he's not as good as Joe Tippmann, the 26-year-old former second-round pick should give them an adequate option to turn to in the event of an injury. Myers has only ever played center at the college and NFL levels, so he doesn't have any positional flexibility. But in the event of an injury crisis, the Jets could potentially move Tippmann over to guard to accommodate him.

Grade: B-

DT Byron Cowart: Agreed to one-year deal

The journeyman Cowart has always been a rotational player, although he started seven games for the Bears last season and recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks. If he makes the team, the 300-pounder could boost the Jets' run defense.

With contracts for starting defensive tackles soaring to unexpected levels in free agency, and a supposedly deep talent pool at this position in the upcoming draft, the Jets' prudent approach here seems wise.

Grade: C+

DT Jay Tufele

Like Cowart, Tufele has been a rotational lineman his whole career. He was with the Jaguars for just one season after they drafted him in the fourth round four years ago.He spent the last three years with the Bengals.

With just five career starts, Tufele will compete with Cowart and the likes of Phidarian Mathis, Leonard Taylor, and anyone the Jets draft for a role and probably isn't a lock to make the team, but he improves the depth at a position where the Jets were light on bodies.

Grade: C-

P Austin McNamara

With Thomas Morstead still under contract for the 2025 season, McNamara could've been brought in to provide some competition for the 39-year-old. It's more likely, though, that he's just a camp leg because he's never played in a preseason or regular season game at this level.

It's not a bad idea to bring in a younger punter because New York will need to move on from Morstead soon. So if the youngster can impress, perhaps he couldearn a chance to stick around on the practice squad and be developed tocompete for a job in the years ahead.

Grade: C-

WR Tyler Johnson

The 26-year-old Johnson was a fifth-round pick whose career got off to a promising start as he caught 36 passes in his second season in 2021. However, he barely played over the next two seasons, before bouncing back to contribute 26 catches in a rotational role with the Rams last year. He is a possession option who can produce from the slot and adds depth in an area of need for the Jets, but probably won't be expected to be an impact player.

Grade: C-

CB/ST Kris Boyd

Boyd has started six games in his career but didn't play more than 50 defensive snaps in any of the past three seasons, so he's obviously been added for his special teams abilities. The 28-year-old former seventh-round pick has 4.45 speed and has been productive in kick coverage and as a primary punt gunner throughout his career, so he should be a good replacement for Brandin Echols in those areas. However, he might be best known for getting into an altercation with his special teams coach following a kickoff in a postseason game a few months ago.

Grade: C-

DT Derrick Nnadi

Nnadi is the third defensive tackle the Jets have signed this offseason but none of them are necessarily candidates to start. Unlike the other two, Nnadi does have plenty of starting experience with 87 career starts in seven years with the Chiefs. However, he only started one game in 2024 as his workload reduced significantly.

With good size at 317 pounds, Nnadi could fortify the run defense if he is able to crack the rotation, as the Jets have put a plan into place here where they will have multiple options. Clearly, they are hoping to create some healthy competition at the position.

Grade: C

WR Josh Reynolds

Reynolds is a player both Glenn and Mougey are plenty familiar with -- and it continues the low-risk approach they've been employing so far this offseason.

Once again, this is a player who is coming off a down season, but he did catch 40 passes two years ago while with the Lions so the Jets will hope that he still has something left in the tank despite turning 30 last month.
With good size at 6'3" and blocking ability to help the running game, Reynolds' arrival could signify that the Jets are ready to move on from Allen Lazard, who brings similar things to the table but will be more expensive to retain.

This would leave Reynolds to compete with fellow new arrival Tyler Johnson for rotational reps as a third or fourth option.

Grade: C

Other Notes

The Jets also re-signed linebacker Jamien Sherwood and defensive back Isaiah Oliver during the legal tampering window. Sherwood was the team's MVP and they made a big commitment to him with a three-year deal worth up to $45 million. Oliver was a lower cost addition but brings important depth and versatility, especially with Brandin Echols leaving to sign with the Steelers.

Overall Grade

General manager Mougey's first free agency haul will ultimately be judged mostly based on what Fields brings to the team over the next year or so. Considering the dearth of veteran quarterback options available, Fields was probably the most suitable target for them, so they did well to land him. However, he's anything but a sure thing, otherwise he wouldn't have been available in the first place.

Beyond that move, the approach has been value-based, with a series of low-risk, mostly short-term moves for players who will compete to contribute this year. Stephens and Cisco look set to play a major role, and fill key holes, but they were both more expensive than anticipated coming off a down year in 2024. They weren't the only two players signed who regressed last year, either.

With so many low cost signings, the law of averages would suggest that the Jets have given themselves a good chance of uncovering some low cost bargains. However, with nearly everyone getting a one-year deal, even if that happens it will force the Jets to have to pay more money to bring them back and avoid having just as many holes to fill in 2026.

Grade C-