2025 NFL Signings Graded by Team: New York Jets

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This page lists all the 2025 NFL Signings for the New York Jets. I’ve listed all of the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades here, which included the Signings. Because I’ve begun posting polls for the Signings, I thought it would make sense to list just the NFL Signings here, so archiving the voting would be easier.

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  • Total Signings: 9
  • Average Grade: B- (81.8)

March 2025 – Signings


Jets sign WR Josh Reynolds (1 year, $5 million): C Grade
signed on 3/27/2025


I wasn’t sure Josh Reynolds was going to be in the NFL this year. He’s a 30-year-old receiver who was cut by two teams in the past six months. He was once a deep threat who had some big games, but he’s now very close to aging out of the league.

With that in mind, I don’t know why the Jets signed him. It makes sense for the Jets to obtain as many young players with upside as possible, but Reynolds certainly doesn’t fit that mold.


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Jets sign TE Stone Smartt (1 year, $1.35 million): A Grade
signed on 3/26/2025


The Jets made a foolish decision to pass on Brock Bowers in the 2025 NFL Draft. That played a part in costing Joe Douglas his job as the team’s general manager. On the bright side, the Jets have a nice consolation prize in Stone Smartt!

OK, this is not such a great consolation prize, but Smartt is an athletic player with upside. He’s a former quarterback, so he’s still learning how to play tight end. There’s a chance he can become a quality starting tight end in the NFL, so I love this signing.


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Jets sign OT Chuks Okorafor (1 year, $1.33 million): C Grade
signed on 3/20/2025


Last year, Chuks Okorafor had one of the worst performances from a tackle you’ll ever see. He was benched quickly in the season opener versus the Bengals because he performed like a human turnstile. Hilariously, Pro Football Focus graded Okorafor’s performance as a zero in pass protection. A 90-year-old in a wheelchair would have done just as well.

I don’t know why the Jets are wasting their time with Okorafor. I know this signing is for the veteran minimum, but the Jets would be better off giving the $1.3 million to someone with more talent and upside.


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Jets re-sign KR Kene Nwangwu (1 year, $2.5 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/14/2025


Kene Nwangwu had quite the roller-coaster season in 2024. He was initially waived by the Saints right before the season started. He was on injured reserve, but finally saw action for the Jets in Week 13, when he won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, thanks to a kickoff return touchdown. Unfortunately for Nwangwu, he was lost for the season with a hand injury. It makes sense to retain Nwangwu, as he should have better injury luck in 2025.


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Jets sign C Josh Myers (1 year, $3.5 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/12/2025


This is not the Jets’ new starting center. The player manning that post is Joe Tippman, who has had a promising start to his career. This is a depth move, and it’s a pretty good one. Josh Myers was underwhelming as a starting NFL center, but he should be a great backup. He’s being paid that way, making this a good signing.


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Jets sign S Andre Cisco (1 year, $10 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/10/2025


Andre Cisco was a quality coverage safety in 2022 and 2023. It’s unclear what happened last year, but he struggled. Perhaps there was an undisclosed injury because Cisco is only 25, so it’s not like he’s an older player aging out of the NFL.

I like this move by the Jets. I’m a fan of 1-year “prove it” deals because players who sign those sort of contracts will always play hard, and there’s not much risk to the team.


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Jets sign CB Brandon Stephens (3 years, $36 million): D Grade
signed on 3/10/2025


It was rumored that the Jets were interested in Carlton Davis. After missing out on Davis, who signed with the Patriots, and losing D.J. Reed to the Lions, the Jets may have panicked.

This is a confusing contract. Brandon Stephens was partly responsible for why the Ravens were so poor against the pass last year. He played better in 2023, but he was a major liability last year. Perhaps Aaron Glenn can get Stephens to perform like he did in 2023, but there was no reason to overpay him like this.


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Jets sign QB Justin Fields (2 years, $40 million): B Grade
signed on 3/10/2025


When I first saw this contract, I thought it was a lot of money for a quarterback who was benched for a decrepit Russell Wilson last year. However, Justin Fields is still young (26) and has loads of potential, so I don’t mind a team taking a shot on him, especially when Sam Darnold just got $100 million.

One of two things will happen: Either Fields will stink and the Jets will have to search for a new quarterback next offseason, or Fields will finally live up to his potential and become a solid starter. Part of me wonders if the Jets should have just gone with Tim Boyle and tanked for Arch Manning, but as Jets fans learned in 2020, there’s no guarantee that plan would work.


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Jets re-sign LB Jamien Sherwood (3 years, $45 million): B+ Grade
signed on 3/9/2025


Jamien Sherwood was given the opportunity to be a full-time player for the first time in his career last season. He defintiely made the most out of it, putting together a stellar year.

Sherwood was stout against the run and solid against the pass. He’s also still very young (25), so he possesses a ton of upside. Some might say that this is a lot of money for a one-year wonder in the pros, but the potential is there, so this seems like the correct price tag.


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