The last time the New York Jets made the playoffs, the iPhone 5 hadn’t been released yet, and 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, despite entering the year with Super Bowl aspirations. Still, the roster isn’t devoid of talent.
From two-time All-Pro Sauce Gardner to an emerging pass-rush led by Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald, new head coach Aaron Glenn has several tools to work with.
While much of the roster is new and may need time to mesh, a few players could ultimately set the tone for the Jets’ 2025 campaign.
Here are three Jets entering pivotal make-or-break seasons this fall, for both their futures and the team’s success.
Breece Hall, RB
When Breece Hall torched Denver for a 62-yard touchdown as a rookie in 2022, fans thought he was already blossoming into a superstar.
But later that game, Hall hobbled off the field in tears after a short run and a torn ACL. His sensational rookie season ended 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 back to full 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 yards per attempt.
Even with Aaron Rodgers to take pressure off him in 2024, Hall’s production worsened yet again. His 4.2 yards per rush marked a career low. He wasn’t evading defenders the way he did as a rookie, and his vision seemed to regress.
Hall still contributed as a pass catcher, topping 1,000 receiving yards combined over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. But in today’s NFL, elite backs like Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson, impact the game as true dual threats.
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.
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 needs to be a safety blanket for Justin Fields and Engstrand. When New York’s quarterbacks struggle, Hall often does too. That can’t continue if the Jets want to have a respectable offense in 2025.
Whether it’s on dump-offs outside runs, Hall must improve his footwork and vision. When defenders swarm him, he needs to adapt on the fly and be quick with his change of direction.
Even when Zach Wilson struggled mightily in 2022, New York was 5-2 at one point. While the defense deserves significant credit, Hall’s game-breaking speed allowed the Jets to have a formidable rushing attack. Once he went down, the team limped to the finish line, going 2-8 in its final 10 games.
Running backs may not be the most valuable position, but Hall arguably has the most to prove on this roster. A year with improved efficiency and signs of his rookie self should be considered a success in Glenn’s first year at the helm.
He’s also vying for a new contract. Between Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson, Hall is the least likely to receive a long-term extension because of positional value and his recent regression.
If Hall wants to garner Darren Mougey’s trust and earn a deal north of $10 million annually, a 2025 resurgence is a must.
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, the Jets pivoted to free agency and signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal.
The raw talent and upside have always been apparent with Fields. He’s a dynamic runner, can evade pressure with ease, and has the physical tools to make plays out of nothing.
But the mental side of the game is what’s held him back.
Across three years in Chicago, Fields took 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, second only to Russell Wilson.
With a solid offensive line in front of him, there’s no excuse for Fields to hold onto the ball like he did in Chicago. Even on screens and quick outs, he must speed up his processing and release. He 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 can’t take the next steps, the Jets won’t hesitate to move off him quickly.
Fields is entering Year 5 of his career. 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. Aside from rare cases like Geno Smith or Alex Smith, it’s tough to find QBs who broke out after Year 6.
The new regime under Glenn and Mougey won’t be patient. Jets 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 that they traded up for him.
Corley was buried on New York’s depth chart despite underwhelming options behind Wilson and Davante Adams. He was often a healthy scratch, and was a liability when on the field. He struggled to separate, ran a limited route tree, and finished with a woeful 16 yards. Not what you want from a Day 2 pick.
Corley joins a growing list of disappointing mid-round WR picks by the Jets, including Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims.
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 troubling sign for someone New York invested a Day 2 pick in last spring.
New York’s receiver room desperately needs Corley to progress in 2025. Without an established No. 2 option, Fields’ season may go south quickly if Corley struggles again.
It’s unrealistic to expect an 800-yard-plus season, but even Corley being a jack-of-all-trades option in Engstrand’s offense would do wonders for New York. Jet sweeps, RPOs, and more, Engstrand must tap into his creativity to maximize Corley’s potential. Perhaps similar to how Ben Johnson utilized Jameson Williams in Detroit.
A strong training camp will be vital for Corley, not only to enhance his odds of moving up the depth chart but even to secure a roster spot. New York’s new regime didn’t draft him and likely has little patience for another year of development.
If he drops a walk-in touchdown on the first play of training camp, he’s likely gone. It’d be an utter embarrassment for Saleh and Douglas.
The Jets’ success doesn’t entirely hinge on Corley’s production. But a breakout campaign would massively benefit the new coaching staff and Fields.
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