Jets could be forced to make brutal OL decision after 2025 season

The New York Jets enter the 2025 season with something they haven’t had in years — legitimate optimism about their offensive line. This Jets offensive line has a chance to be one of the best units in the NFL this year.

Between two recent first-round picks at tackle, a standout center entering his third year, and one of the league’s best guard duos, the Jets have finally managed to construct an excellent foundation up front.

But even as the Jets hope to lean on their revamped offensive line this year, a difficult decision could be looming at the end of the season. Both of the team’s starting guards, John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, are set to hit free agency next offseason.

And with few teams around the league paying premium money to both guard spots, the Jets might soon be forced to pick a side.

NY Jets might be forced to choose between John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker

The Jets have quietly assembled one of the NFL’s most intriguing young offensive lines over the last few years. Anchoring the unit are two potential franchise tackles in 2024 first-round pick Olu Fashanu and 2025 No. 7 overall pick Armand Membou.

Fashanu battled through some rookie growing pains last year, but he looked much more comfortable after shifting to his natural left tackle spot, taking over for an injured Tyron Smith.

Membou, meanwhile, is expected to start right away at right tackle with the upside to develop into a long-term bookend on the other side.

At center, Joe Tippmann is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign and is the favorite to retain his starting role over veteran addition Josh Myers. Tippmann was arguably a top-10 center in football last season and really shouldn't even be in a "competition" with Myers.

But arguably the biggest reason for the line’s success in 2024 might’ve been its interior duo. Simpson and Vera-Tucker formed one of the best duos in the NFL, both earning recognition in the league’s annual top-10 interior OL rankings poll of coaches, execs, and scouts. That success, however, sets up a potential dilemma in a few months.

Simpson signed a modest two-year, $12 million contract in the 2024 offseason and was seen by many as the weak link of the Jets’ offensive line entering the year.

But the former fourth-round pick revitalized his career, turning in a career-best season with a 77.3 Pro Football Focus grade that ranked 11th out of 77 qualified guards. Simpson will turn 28 next month and figures to command a significantly larger payday if he can repeat that performance in 2025.

On the other side, Vera-Tucker is a former first-round pick who finally had a chance to settle in at right guard after years of bouncing around the line. The result was arguably the best season of his career.

Vera-Tucker finished with a 77.7 PFF grade, which ranked 10th among qualifiers, and started 15 games, missing just two due to a minor ankle sprain. That came after two consecutive injury-shortened seasons in 2022 (torn triceps) and 2023 (torn Achilles), which limited him to 12 total games combined.

Now, both players are entering contract years. Vera-Tucker is playing out his fifth-year option, and Simpson is in the final season of his deal. If both continue to play at a high level, the Jets could find themselves in a tricky spot.

It’s rare for NFL teams to invest heavily at both guard spots. Only four teams are currently paying multiple guards $10 million or more in average annual value. Just one — the Chicago Bears — employs multiple guards making more than $15 million per year.

The Jets are currently benefiting from the fact that four of their five starters are on rookie contracts, but that won’t last forever. Tippmann is eligible for an extension after the 2025 season, and both Fashanu and Membou could eventually command top-of-market deals if they pan out.

New general manager Darren Mougey doesn’t have to make any decisions just yet, but he and the Jets front office will be keeping a close eye on their team's guard duo in 2025.

If both players repeat last year’s success, the team may have to make a difficult choice, one that could mean the end of the line in New York for a key starter.

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