2025 New York Jets Projected Finish, Key Signings & Fantasy Stars

Justin Fields (FanDuel, Wikimedia Commons)

In the 26th of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the New York Jets.

Key Off-Season Acquisitions

The Jets acquired five notable players in the offseason–three via free agency and two via trade. The Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields of Kennesaw, Georgia to a two-year deal worth $40 million, cornerback Brandon Stephens of Plato, Texas to a three-year deal worth $36 million, and safety Andre Cisco of Queens, New York to a one-year deal worth $8.5 million. New York also acquired defensive tackles Harrison Phillips of Omaha, Nebraska and Jowon Briggs of Cincinnati, Ohio in separate trades.

Fields is joining his third NFL team after three years with the Chicago Bears (2021 to 2023), and one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2024). Last season, Fields shared quarterbacking duties in Pittsburgh last season with Russell Wilson of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 10 games, of which he started six, Fields completed 106 passes in 161 attempts, along with 1106 passing yards, five touchdown passes and one interception. He was exceptional on the ground, as he had 62 rushes for 289 rushing yards (average of 4.7 rushing yards per attempt), and another five major scores.

Stephens played the last four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2024, Stephens had 70 combined tackles (59 solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits, 10 pass deflections and one and a half sacks.

Cisco spent the last four seasons in Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2024, Cisco has had 68 combined tackles (44 solo tackles and 24 assisted tackles), seven pass deflections, one interception for 22 yards and one tackle for a loss. The tackle for a loss came in a 20-13 Jaguars win over the Tennessee Titans on December 29.

The Jets acquired Briggs and a seventh round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns received the sixth round draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Briggs had his rookie season with the Browns in 2024. He had 13 combined tackles (10 assisted tackles and three assisted tackles), two quarterback hits, one fumble recovery and one tackle for a loss.

New York acquired Phillips and a seventh round draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft from Minnesota. The Vikings received the sixth round draft pick in the 2026 and 2027 NFL Draft from the Jets.

Phillips is joining his third NFL franchise. He played four seasons with the Buffalo Bills from 2018 to 2021, and the last three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings from 2022 to 2024.

This past season with the Vikings, Phillips had 56 combined tackles (40 assisted tackles and 16 solo tackles), five quarterback hits, four pass deflections, two tackles for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. One sack and one tackle for a loss came in a 28-6 Vikings win over the New York Giants on September 8. Phillips’s other sack and tackle for a loss, as well as his forced fumble, came in a 23-17 Vikings win over the New York Jets on October 6. Phillips’s fumble recovery came in a 12-7 Vikings win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 10.

The Jets have also named Aaron Glenn of Humble, Texas as their new head coach. Glenn had been the defensive co-ordinator for the Detroit Lions.

 Fantasy Stars

The Jets do not have anyone ranked in the top 10 at any position in fantasy football.

Projected Finish

I am predicting the Jets to finish third in the AFC East. They do not match up well at all against Buffalo or Miami, but are better than New England.