In the swirl of free agency last month, the Jets added talent and depth across the roster. And while much attention was focused on the signings of quarterback Justin Fields and cornerback Brandon Stephens (and others), and the re-signing of linebacker Jamien Sherwood, there was nothing but silence in the room occupied by the team's running backs.
By adding the mobile Fields to a backfield that includes Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, while also bolstering the offensive line (even ahead of the NFL Draft) with the addition of Josh Myers and Chukwuma Okorafor, HC Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey have sent a clear message that the run game is likely to play an outsize role in the coming season.
"Well, when we have good players at that position like we do, it can be a 1-2-3 with the guys we have," Glenn said during his media session at the 2025 NFL Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, FL. "Those guys are good players and we're going to utilize those guys. If we can get them all on the field if we can at one time, we'll do that. We want to be a violent, tough, physical team and those men are really violent runners and we'll take advantage of that."
Last season, only the Raiders (79.8 yards a game) rushed for fewer yards than the Jets (91.8). And as the run game struggled, the Green & White were near the bottom of the league (No. 28) in time of possession (28:56). Hall, in his third season in the NFL, carried the ball 209 times for 876 yards and 5 TDs, but saw his yards per carry (4.2) decline from his previous two seasons (5.8 in 2022 and 4.5 in '23). Allen, a rookie out of Wisconsin, started the season strong (particularly in the Week 2 game at Tennessee) and ran for 334 yards and picked up 22 first downs, using his size and drive in short-yardage situations. Davis, out of South Dakota State, was No. 3 in the pecking order with 30 carries for 174 yards gaining an impressive 5.8 yards a carry. He also showed his versatility in the passing game later on in the season.
"I think mentally he's [Hall] in a good place," Glenn said. "We have three running backs on this team that we're going to utilize as much as possible. They're all big men. They can run. They're violent. They're physical. Once we get the players in and see how they operate, I think every player is going to be happy with how they go about this offense and he'll [Hall] be one of them."
Keeping Good Players
As they prepare for their fourth season in the NFL, WR Garrett Wilson and CB Sauce Gardner are each eligible for a contract extension and this offseason they've had their first opportunity to negotiate new deals. As GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Gleen said at their introductory news conference in January, one of their goals is holding on to the Jets' young core.
"In regards to extensions in general, there's been a lot of talk about that," Mougey said at the league meeting earlier this week. "We have several players, whether it's early extensions or just players we can extend in the last year, and those are good problems to have. But right now my focus is on the draft [April 24-26 in Green Bay]. Once we get through the draft, we'll talk about potential extensions for whoever that may be."
For Glenn, the re-signing of LB Jamien Sherwood as the quarterback of the defense was an early and significant signal on the importance he places on the Jets keeping hold of their own. Wilson could benefit from a renewed relationship with QB Justin Fields from their days at Ohio State and Gardner has a place close to the coach's heart from his days playing cornerback in green and white.
"Listen, they're two young players and you're going to hear me say this consistently, that I'm in the business of keeping good players," Glenn said in Palm Beach, FL. "That's our plan and that's with anybody. Just like Sherwood, and just like any other player that we draft on this team. I want to make it a trend that our guys that we draft, that we try to keep them here, and I don't know if that had happened before, but I know when I was a player here we tried to do it as much as possible. To me, that's the best form of free agency -- signing your own guys. So as much as we can do that, we're going to try to, so something that we want to look at. We want to keep those guys. They're good players, so I'm in the business of keeping good players."
From a business standpoint, the Jets don't have to be in a rush with either player, both of whom are under contract through this season and perhaps beyond even without new deals.
"Those are good problems to have," Mougey said. "And when we're having those discussions, those are good discussions to have."
QB 1 and QB 2
Both GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn said at the annual league meeting that Justin Fields is the Jets' designated starter, with the veteran Tyrod Taylor as his backup.
"He [Fields] is the starter but Tyrod's going to be right on his heels and Tyrod's a pro's pro, so really is going to be a great asset for Justin in the quarterback room. Tyrod's been around the league for a long time, he knows what it takes to prepare, and prep for this League and be ready to play and I think he's going to be a great asset to Justin in the room."
Glenn, however, emphasized that the depth chart is written in pencil at every position and will have competition across the board.
The Jets also have QBs Jordan Travis and Adrian Martinez in the room at present. Travis spent all of last season on the reserve/non-football injury list rehabbing from a broken ankle sustained playing for Florida State.
"From his days in college, I think he was a pretty good player," Glenn said. "So, once he gets cleared to get ready to compete, he'll compete."
The Jets could also select a quarterback with one of their eight selections in the draft later this month.
