Whenever an NFL team undergoes a regime change such as the New York Jets have, there inevitably follows plenty of excitement both in the fanbase and the media. With a new GM, new head coach, and new quarterback, there’s ample room for pie-in-the-sky optimism, especially when the coach and quarterback have been selected as one of the best pairings in the NFL.
It’s no surprise then that the Jets are expected to be dark horse playoff contenders in 2025, and with as much talent as they have on the roster, that is certainly a real possibility. But in order to get there, the whole team needs to level up their showing from 2024, especially this handful of players. These ‘X-factors’ will likely decide whether the Jets finally return to the playoffs or if it’s yet another disappointing season for the fans.
Who are they? Let’s take a look.
1. Justin Fields
This one almost goes without saying. As the quarterback, Fields is the most consequential piece of this year’s Jets team. If he can finally unlock the potential that made him the 11th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, then the Jets should not only improve from last year but be a real threat to win the division.
But if the Jets get more of the Justin Fields we saw with Chicago, you can pencil in the Jets for a Top 10 draft pick and an extension of their playoff drought.
2. Mason Taylor
The Jets have a Top 15 receiver in Garrett Wilson, who already appears to be Fields’ favorite target, but the depth chart for pass catchers gets pretty rough after him. To make a strong playoff push, the Jets will need someone else to step up, get open, and make big plays.
Enter tight end Mason Taylor, who entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a ton of hype, even receiving comparisons to Dallas Goedert. He’s big, fast, and comes from an impressive NFL lineage. If he can put together the kind of season that puts him in consideration for Offensive Rookie of the Year, then the Jets will likely be right in the thick of the playoff race.
3. Aaron Glenn
The final X-factor for the Jets is the head coach himself. The Jets have one of the most loaded defensive rosters in the entire NFL, but they routinely underwhelmed in 2024, especially once former head coach Robert Salah was fired. Glenn led a ferocious defense in Detroit, keeping his team in games despite losing several starters to IR along the way. If he can coach up this unit to its full potential, Jets opponents will likely struggle to find the endzone more than once.