Aaron Glenn’s QB comments quietly spell out the Jets’ offseason plan

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn didn’t intend to reveal much when he was asked on Friday whether a team should build its ecosystem first and then add a rookie quarterback, or find the quarterback and build around him.

He dodged the binary choice, offered a broad “it depends,” and kept the answer as non-committal as possible. But if you listen closely, Glenn actually told on himself. He told on the Jets, too.

Glenn's point was that it's best not to drop a young quarterback into the wrong environment. You need the right supporting cast, or you’re setting the player up to fail. And if you already have a quarterback, he needs to be good enough to elevate imperfect pieces around him

The Jets have neither at the moment, and that’s exactly why Glenn’s answer could quietly outline the franchise’s offseason blueprint.

It suggests the Jets know what this roster is — and what it isn’t — as they head into yet another pivotal quarterback search. And it hints that their 2026 strategy may not be as straightforward as “draft a QB and move on.”

"I think it depends on, where's your team at right now? Do you have the talent or the skill on the outside, in the backfield to be able to say, 'listen, we're going to get a rookie quarterback and let those guys make plays for him.' Do you have a guy already? And usually if you have a guy, he can make the skill players look better than what they are, too. To me, it always depends on who you have."

Aaron Glenn

Aaron Glenn may have accidentally revealed how the Jets plan to find their next QB

Glenn's comments came across as the first-year head coach subtly revealing that he's aware this roster simply isn’t complete enough to assume a rookie quarterback can come in and survive, let alone thrive.

His reference to needing adequate “talent on the outside” and the right “skill on the backfield” wasn’t subtle. It was a quiet admission that the Jets still have significant work to do.

Wide receiver remains the biggest hole. Garrett Wilson is a star, but beyond him, the depth chart is a mix of evaluations and maybes with guys like Adonai Mitchell, John Metchie, Isaiah Williams, Tyler Johnson, and Arian Smith.

A few of those players have the potential to turn into long-term pieces, but no one has claimed a spot yet. Glenn knows that you don’t hand a rookie quarterback this group and call it a fair fight.

Then there’s Breece Hall’s impending free agency, a decision that could shape the Jets’ offensive identity in 2026. The offensive line has been excellent, especially with Armand Membou emerging as a franchise right tackle, but there’s still long-term uncertainty at guard and with Alijah Vera-Tucker’s future.

Put together, Glenn’s comments hint that the Jets may prefer to build out the roster first, then drop in a franchise quarterback when the support structure is actually ready.

But the other, equally important reading is that the Jets might not force a rookie quarterback pick in 2026 unless they’re absolutely convinced. Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, and Dante Moore are all intriguing, but none are slam-dunk prospects, and it’s far from guaranteed that all three will declare.

The Jets could easily decide the situation isn’t optimal for a rookie and pivot to a high-end bridge option, someone like Kyler Murray, while letting the roster develop another year ahead of a potential 2027 swing.

That’s the true takeaway from Glenn’s answer. He didn’t say it directly, but he didn’t need to.

His comments suggested that the Jets will not repeat the mistakes of the Sam Darnold/Zach Wilson eras or the Justin Fields experiment. They won’t drop a young quarterback into a half-finished offense simply because the calendar says it’s time.

The Jets plan to get it right this time. Only time will tell if they are ultimately successful.