Free Agents the NY Jets Must Re-Sign

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in dominating fashion in Super Bowl 59, the 2025 NFL offseason started for the NY  Jets as the new regime in Florham Park, with Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey ready to transform the Jets into their vision.  Hopefully, their vision includes ending a 14-year playoff drought that has Jets fans suffering for far too long.

With it confirmed that the Jets and Aaron Rodgers will be parting ways this off-season, it only shows how serious Glenn and Mougey are with changing the culture and image of an organization over at Florham Park.  Retaining Rodgers wouldn’t have harmed the Jets in the sense that he would’ve been a great QB to start their Jets tenure.  His 28/11 TD/INT ratio and 3,897 passing yards in the 2024-25 season, is something we don’t see from Jets QBs that often.  But in the end, Glenn and Mougey made it clear with their intent to shape up the roster in their image, and moving on from Rodgers shows that.

In the 2025 NFL offseason, the Jets will have about 28 players to hit the open market, including unrestricted and restricted free agents.  Most of the free agents listed are unlikely to return to Gang Green.

DJ Reed, who would be a number one candidate to be retained by the Jets, has expressed his desire to leave the organization and test free agency.  Following the 40-14 loss in the week 17 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Reed told Tyler Dunne of Go Long “I’m ready to see what’s next for me”.

The tackle position will be something Darren Mougey will have to address.  Tyron Smith is unlikely to return and while Morgan Moses wouldn’t hurt to re-sign due to his locker room presence and toughness as a player, the Jets should do their best to solidify the offensive line position to the best of their abilities by getting younger at the position.

Tyler Conklin has been a serviceable tight end for the past three years, but the Jets can easily find an upgrade at the position, whether it’s through the draft in selecting Tyler Warren or signing a veteran like Zach Ertz, the Jets can find other options at tight end.  It’s interesting and worth noting how Tanner Engstrand will utilize the tight end in New York as Detroit’s offense was notorious for using the tight end position well.

Plenty of free agents the Jets will need to decide on who should stay or who should go, but there are a few free agents that Darren Mougey must make it a priority to re-sign and make them a part of their future and plan to transform the Jets into relevancy.

Jamien Sherwood

Drafted in the fifth round out of Auburn in the 2021 NFL draft, Sherwood has come a long way over the past four years of his career.  Fighting to stay on the rosters along with tearing his Achilles in week 7 in the 2021 season, Sherwood’s NFL journey has not been easy.  Fast Forward to the 2024 season, after taking over for C.J. Mosley who dealt with injuries left and right the whole season, Sherwood took advantage of the opportunities coming his way.  Finishing top five in combined tackles with 158 while also taking control of the defense, led him to winning the Curtis Martin Jets MVP award.  Sherwood’s grit and determination paid off for him and now he’s looking to catch a huge payday this off-season.  He is certainly a player the Jets must retain this off-season as he’s a homegrown talent that the new Jets regime must build around.  His market will be tough this off-season as he will have plenty of suitors, one of them that will be a huge threat will be the San Francisco 49ers, whose new defensive coordinator is Sherwood’s former head coach in Robert Saleh.  It’ll be interesting to see if Sherwood will want to continue playing in the defense he’s been comfortable playing in his whole career or willing to adapt to the Steve Wilks defense.  In total, Sherwood solidified himself as one of the top defenders in the league and the Jets must find a way to keep him as a Jet.

Ashtyn Davis

When given the opportunity, Ashtyn Davis can make a difference on the field for the Jets.  Davis has filled in nicely for the Jets when needed as he’s contributed to backup roles on defense while developing into a top special team contributor.  He is someone that new special teams coordinator Chris Banjo should want on his special teams unit.

As the backup safety, Davis has been a great depth piece over the last couple of years.  In PFF, his overall grade was 71.1(42nd) with a run defensive grade of 73.4(39th) which both ranked top 50 out of 170 qualifying safeties despite only playing 260 total snaps this past season.

Davis would be great to have back with Gang Green as safeties Tony Adams, Isiah Oliver, Chuck Clark, and Jalen Mills are set to be free agents this off-season, leaving huge question marks at the position that Darren Mougey will need to address.

Irvin Charles

Though he hasn’t made an impact on offense, his impact is best shown on the special teams side of the ball.

Charles has been with the team since signing with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics.  After spending most of the 2022 season on the practice squad, he was finally called upon the active roster in October of 2023.  Playing behind former Jet standout special teamer and captain Justin Hardee will certainly help anyone learn how to perform at a high level in the special teams unit.  Charles spent most of the 2023 season playing behind Hardee and was able to absorb as much as he could from him on how to play special teams.

During the 2024 season, through 13 games, he put together a PFF grade of 89.9.  In week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, his single-grade performance came out to 91.3.  One point, during a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in week 13, on Seattle’s first punt of the game, Charles was triple-teamed, covered 46 yards, and still managed to make the solo tackle on the same play.  Charles was having an impactful season for the Jets despite getting any offensive snaps before tearing his ACL in week 14 against the Dolphins.

Another stud for Chris Banjo to work with as Charles has made himself known for being one of the best special teams gunners in the league.  Hopefully, his recovery from his ACL tear will be successful and he will be back on the field soon.  An opportunity on offense can come his way as the Jets will be shaking up the WR room this off-season

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