The last time the New York Jets sniffed the playoffs, the iPhone 5 hadn’t been released yet. The last time New York had a winning season, Peyton Manning was still in the NFL.
If that doesn’t put the lengthiness of the Jets playoff drought into perspective, not much will.
New York ended a tumultuous 2024 season with just five wins after having Super Bowl aspirations, but the roster isn’t necessarily devoid of talent.
From two-time All-Pro Sauce Gardner to an emerging pass-rush spearheaded by Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald, new head coach Aaron Glenn has several tools to work with.
Even though the majority of the roster is new and may need time to mesh, there are a few players who could dictate the tone of the Jets 2025 season.
Below are three Jets entering pivotal make-or-break seasons this fall for the sake of themselves (contract-wise) and the team.
Breece Hall, RB
When Breece Hall powered by Denver Bronco defenders for a 62-yard touchdown as a rookie in 2022, fans thought he was already blossoming into a superstar.
Later that game, after a four-yard run, Hall stared at the ground while hobbling off the field in tears with a torn ACL. He ended his sensational rookie season with 463 yards, 5.8 yards per carry and four touchdowns in just over six games.
Despite a solid 2023 season, it was evident Hall wasn’t fully up to speed under new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. From Weeks 6 to 15, Hall tallied just 250 yards on 99 carries – an average of 2.5.
Even with Aaron Rodgers to take pressure off him in 2024, Hall’s production worsened yet again. His 4.2 yards per rush were a career-worst; he wasn’t evading defenders the way he did as a rookie, and his field vision worsened.
While Hall contributed to the offense with over 1,000 receiving yards in both 2023 and 2024 combined, the most prolific running backs in today’s NFL are multi-dimensional and can impact the game on the ground and through the air. Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson are just a few of the dynamic, multi-faceted backs today.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts; Hall must become an elite running back in 2025. It’s now-or-never for the former second-round pick for several reasons.
First, the Jets offense is bound to encounter some growing pains. A first-year offensive coordinator in Tanner Engstrand. A first-year head coach in Glenn. Multiple rookies likely starting on offense.
If the passing game fails to get going, Hall must be a safety blanket for Justin Fields and Engstrand. When New York’s quarterbacks struggle, Hall often does too. That trend can’t hold true if the Jets want to have a respectable offense in 2025.
Whether it’s on dump-offs from Fields or simple runs to the left/right, Hall needs to improve his footwork and vision. When a swarm of defenders is in his face, he must know to change direction and cut to the outside.
Even when Zach Wilson struggled mightily in 2022, New York was 5-2 at one point. While a stout defense deserves immense credit, Hall’s game-breaking speed allowed the Jets to have a formidable rushing attack. Once Hall went down, the team limped to the finish line, going 2-8 in its final 10 games.
Running backs aren’t the most valuable position on an offense, but in the Jets’ case, Hall may have the most to prove. A year with improved efficiency and signs of his rookie self should be considered a success in Glenn’s first year at the helm.
Hall is also vying for a significant contract next offseason. Between Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson, Hall is probably the least likely to receive a long-term extension due to the short-lived nature of many running backs’ careers and his slight regression since 2022.
If Hall wants to garner Darren Mougey’s trust and earn a deal worth over $10 million a season, a resurgence is necessary in 2025, hence why it’s a make-or-break year for him.
Justin Fields, QB
The Jets have been the epitome of a circus at the quarterback position since 2010.
The Mark Sanchez butt fumble. Geno Smith’s broken jaw. Sam Darnold “seeing ghosts.” Zach Wilson airmailing a screen. Aaron Rodgers going on darkness retreats.
Rather than a final hurrah with Rodgers, New York pivoted to free agency and signed Fields. Mougey inked Fields to a two-year contract worth $40 million.
The raw talent and upside have always been apparent with Fields. He’s electric on the ground; he routinely bulldozes defenders, evades pass rushers with ease, and can maneuver well when under constant pressure.
Fields’ physical tools have never been an issue. Instead, the mental aspect of the game is why he’s on this list.
Across three years in Chicago, Fields took far too many sacks, threw boneheaded interceptions and struggled as a pocket passer. He was sacked a staggering 99 times (yes, 99!) in 2022 and 2023 combined, the second-most in football behind Russell Wilson.
With a plethora of solid pieces on the Jets offensive line, there’s no excuse for Fields to hold the ball as long as he did in Chicago. Even for just a screen or five-yard out route, Fields must distribute the ball at a much faster clip than ever before. He simply cannot maintain this tendency if he wants to flourish in New York.
The 2026 draft class is shaping up to be promising for quarterbacks. Penn State’s Drew Allar and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier headline it as of now. If Fields continues to struggle mechanically and mentally, New York won’t hesitate to move off him quickly if picking high.
Fields is heading into Year 5 of his career, and barring a revitalization in New York, his days as a starter in the NFL are numbered. Another lackluster season could cement him as a full-time backup. Other than Geno and Alex Smith, it’s hard to pinpoint many quarterbacks breaking out after Year 6.
The Glenn/Mougey regime won’t be patient. Jet fans haven’t seen above-average quarterback play in a decade. Fields doesn’t need to take the Jets to the playoffs. He just needs to show he can be the long-term starter – something the team hasn’t had since the 2000s with Chad Pennington.
Malachi Corley, WR
Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh were enamored with Malachi Corley during the 2024 draft process. Saleh even texted Douglas a picture of Corley with the phrase “No matter what” from the iconic movie Draft Day. They had the Western Kentucky product so high on their draft board to the point they felt inclined to trade up for him.
Corley was buried on New York’s depth chart, even with underwhelming options after Wilson and Davante Adams. He was often a healthy scratch and a liability when on the field. He struggled to separate, had a limited route tree and finished with a woeful 16 yards. Not what you want from a Day 2 pick.
The 2024 third-round pick is in poor company in regards to New York’s recent Day 2 receiver picks. Between Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims, the Jets latest second and third-round wide receiver selections look bleak.
Is it likely that Corley changes the narrative that the Jets can’t draft receivers? Probably not.
Corley’s been sidelined from OTAs with an undisclosed injury, already prompting concerns about his durability and fit on the offense. Glenn said he is unsure of what Corley’s role on the team will be, a troubiling sign for someone New York invested a Day 2 pick in last spring. While the first-year head coach is optimistic
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