New York

Jets

Gardner has just three career interceptions and, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes, Gardner will play a more man-heavy scheme this year. Serving as the Lions’ defensive coordinator last year, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn used zone and man coverage at a near even split, which qualifies as being extremely man-heavy given the NFL’s current zone coverage rates. Gardner has been an IDP non-factor because New York’s opponents simply don’t pick on him, but creating more turnovers would make him at least more interesting in that format. Glenn is also notably mentoring Gardner in both on- and off-field leadership qualities, telling Gardner to let his “influence do all the talking” rather than taking on a phony “rah-rah guy” persona.

Glenn previously complimented Taylor’s ability to catch the ball away from his body and the quickness with which he gets “north and south” after the catch. The new comments regarding Taylor’s development as a blocker are equally noteworthy. If Taylor can establish himself as his position group’s best run blocker, he will remain on the field for the high-value play-action passing plays. Among the tight end position’s 2,778 receptions recorded last year, 853 (30.7 percent) were caught via play-action targets. Taylor could have a fantasy impact in year one if he can earn a full-time role in the Jets’ offense this summer.

Corley’s absence early in the offseason while he deals with an undisclosed injury has not helped. Jets OC Tanner Engstrand is quoted in the story as saying Corley is “going to have to find a way to catch himself up.” The previous coaching staff also reportedly wasn’t enamored with him after drafting him, noting his route running lacked precision and Cimini writing that his “maturity also came under scrutiny, with some in the organization privately questioning his approach.” Corley is not a lock for a roster spot despite what looks on paper to be a fairly weak Jets wideout room.

Johnson will buy his stake from American businessman Jon Textor. According to reports, the deal is worth $254 million pending approval from the Premier League and Women’s Super League. The move will make Johnson partners with two other NFL owners as Commanders principal owner Josh Harris and minority owner David Blitzer own the majority stake in the team along with Steve Parish. The 78-year-old Johnson, who served as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021, previously attempted to buy fellow Premier League club Chelsea in 2022, but was unsuccessful.

New York parted ways with Carlson and signed K Harrison Mevis as they look for a starter headed into training camp. Carlson, who signed with the team last November and continued to struggle. He made eight of ten field goal tries and nine of 11 extra points over five games with the Jets in 2024. Carlson, who lost his starting job in Green Bay before coming to New York, will likely catch on with another team this summer.

Cimini notably puts Reynolds ahead of incumbent Allen Lazard, whom he believes could be traded to the Steelers after preseason play concludes. With Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and potentially rookie TE Mason Taylor commanding defensive attention, Reynolds should be afforded one-on-one opportunities downfield. Although he is highly unlikely to provide weekly flex value in managed re-draft formats, he could return value as a last-round best ball pick, or occasionally be a worthwhile DFS flyer.

Reports suggesting Hall could be forced into a three-player backfield this year have swirled for some time, but the Jets’ pass-catching corps is extremely thin behind Garrett Wilson. Hall’s career 1.56 yards per route run trails only Alvin Kamara’s 1.71 (min. 100 targets) during that span. Although Hall could lose some work to Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, Hall would seem to have the strongest resume of the three on third downs. It seems likely that Hall mans the high-value passing-down role, and a top-15 workload could also be well within reach.

Betting on Wilson to break Brandon Marshall’s franchise records (173 targets and 109 receptions) is imprudent. Fantasy managers can, however, note the continued messaging from Jets-oriented media: Wilson will again command a dominant target share this season. The only question is whether the Jets’ expectedly run-heavy play calling prevents him from reaching the 139-163-target range he’s operated in through three NFL seasons. He seems like a safe bet to return high-end WR2 value, and a WR1 season is within his range of outcomes.

Terms weren’t disclosed. Hayes also spent time with the Commanders and Cardinals through three NFL seasons, though he has never taken a regular season snap.

The Jets exercised Gardner’s fifth-year option in April, keeping their No. 1 cornerback under contract through 2026. The Jets appear willing to extend his contract this offseason, though, and Gardner has amenably chosen not to hold out. We can’t tell you how negotiations are going, but it’s a good sign for the odds of locking Gardner up that the sides are already talking.