With preseason games set to be played this week, NFL analysts have now begun updating their power rankings. Eric Edholm, a lead writer for NFL.com, last published his power rankings after the 2025 draft back in April. In those rankings, he had the Jets at No. 27, just outside of the bottom-five. Edholm lauded their draft picks, saying, “There really wasn't a pick [the Jets] made, especially among the first five selections, that had me confused… I'm cautiously optimistic with the direction here.”
Unfortunately for Jets fans, that optimism seems to have taken a downward turn. In his preseason Week 1 power rankings, Edholm dropped the Jets two spots to No. 29, expecting the team’s run-centric offense to create a hard ceiling in 2025.
“It’s no surprise that Aaron Glenn is running a tough camp. It’s also not surprising that early camp breadcrumbs indicate this will be a team predicated first and foremost on the run game and controlling the ball and the clock,” Edholm writes. “They have the personnel to pull this new look off, with three quality backs, a running quarterback in Justin Fields and an offensive line that should be able to move people. Whether that turns into a winning formula remains to be seen… I’m moderately encouraged but realistic about their chances.”
It’s not necessarily a bad thing that the Jets plan to lean heavily on the run game, but it infers a lack of confidence in their passing game, and for good reason. Fields has been struggling mightily in training camp so far, posting some truly concerning stats that include completing just 34% of recent passes. Training camp stats are not the be all and end all, as NFL legend J.J. Watson recently stated, but given Fields’ history it shows a pattern of missteps.
Entering the season with bottom-five expectations may end up being a blessing in disguise for the Jets. Going into Year 1 of a rebuild, the lack of a spotlight allows them to focus more on themselves than the outside noise. It also gives the Jets more room to impress should the clear this admittedly low bar. At some point they’ll need to show tangible improvement in the win-loss column, but for now a low ranking could actually be what’s best for the team.