Chris Simms believes the Jets can be a 'pain in the butt' in 2026 (in the best way)

The New York Jets were one of the worst teams in 2025. In the first campaign of the Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey era, things didn't go as planned, but this offseason, they made a flurry of additions.

They used free agency and the NFL Draft to make meaningful acquisitions to the roster, which is catching the attention of people in the national media. Chris Simms of NBC Sports spoke about New York during an episode of PFT Live. In that show, Simms spoke about the Jets and expressed that he likes what they are capable of.

Simms said, "Now, this is the first year in a while I think you can look at it and go ‘hmm, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel.' If you look at teams … that were in the bottom of the barrel last year, that you could see maybe getting up to fringe-playoff, pain in the butt, yeah, the Jets are one of those teams you look at to go ‘they got a possibility there.'"

Chris Simms likes the Jets outlook for 2026

And when you take a look at both sides of the ball, it's impossible not to say the Jets got better. Glenn will be calling the plays defensively and will make sure to bring in plenty of veterans who will raise the floor of the defense. They traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick before Glenn reunited with Demario Davis and David Onyemata. New York also signed Nahshon Wright, Dane Belton, Kingsley Enagbare, and Joseph Ossai.

Glenn made sure to add proven veterans whom he can rely on to raise the floor of the defense. They then used the NFL draft to continue supplementing the roster. Their first four picks being David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr., and D'Angelo Ponds are telling, as all four guys should make an impact in 2026.

To continue the positive vibes, they extended Breece Hall, locking him down for the next three years. Every NFL season, several teams go from worst to playoff contenders. And while Jet fans want something to cheer for in 2026, there's certainly a pathway for them to be competitive this year.

According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Jets have the fifth-easiest schedule. While that's promising, they need to translate the excitement from their offseason moves to wins. And the biggest question mark remains around Geno Smith. Can he revert to his Seattle Seahawks days?

If he does, the Jets will be getting a top 12-15 quarterback in the league. Between 2022 and 2024, Smith went 27-22 as a starter, with a playoff appearance. In those outings, he tossed 12,226 passing yards with 71 passing touchdowns and 35 interceptions. Smith also had two seasons with 4,000-plus passing yards in Seattle.

The Jets would sign up for the production any day of the week, and if Smith, along with the other players on the team, play up to their potential, Simms' comments will come true, as New York will give opposing teams some trouble in 2026.

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