What the Josh Myers extension reveals about the Jets' OL plans for 2026

The New York Jets’ offensive line has quietly become the strongest position group on the roster, and on Friday morning, the team took an important step toward solidifying the unit ahead of the 2026 offseason.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is reporting that the Jets have re-signed Myers to a two-year, $11 million contract with $6 million in guarantees. Myers was set to be a free agent in the offseason, but the Jets managed to strike a deal with him before he hit the open market.

The Jets signed Myers to a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason with the expectation that he would compete for the starting center job and likely serve as the team's top backup offensive lineman.

Unfortunately, Myers was thrust into the starting lineup following a season-ending triceps tear suffered by Alijah Vera-Tucker just before the start of the season. Myers has exceeded expectations as the Jets' starting center in 2025. Now, he earns a nice payday.

Josh Myers extension hints at larger plans for the Jets' offensive line

Myers has hardly been a standout center this season, but he has more than held his own and has performed admirably as part of one of the better offensive lines in football. He's allowed one sack and 25 pressures on 494 pass-block snaps.

The Jets seem to be content with Myers as their starting center going into 2026, although the nature of his contract likely means that the team could bring in competition — possibly in the draft — for the veteran center.

$5.5 million per year is very cheap for a starting center, and the Jets can likely get out of his deal after one year with minimal dead cap attached. Still, Myers is the presumptive Week 1 starter at the position.

This move also suggests the Jets plan to keep Joe Tippmann at right guard for the foreseeable future. Tippmann is in the midst of a career year in his first season as a full-time starting guard, and the Jets clearly have no plans to move him back to center.

Four of the Jets' five starting offensive linemen, along with Tippmann, Olu Fashanu, and Armand Membou, are now under contract for 2026. John Simpson and Vera-Tucker are both scheduled to be free agents this offseason.

There’s a good chance the Jets will have to choose between the two to start at left guard next season. Vera-Tucker’s injury history is a legitimate concern, but Simpson has taken a step back this year and has arguably been the team’s worst offensive lineman. There’s a case to be made for either player.

For now, the Jets are prioritizing continuity along the offensive line, and the Myers extension reflects that. It’s an affordable deal for a low-end starting-caliber center, as the Jets hope to carry over the stability and performance they’ve enjoyed up front this season into 2026.