Betting on the New York Jets in 2026: New pieces will need time to develop

Last season was the fourth time in the last six years that the New York Jets had the longest odds to win the AFC East. The Jets were also one of the six longest odds to win the Super Bowl in each of those seasons. The other two years were Aaron Rodgers-led teams that ended in similar disappointment.

This is a franchise that has gone under its win total in seven of the last eight seasons -- 2022 was the lone outlier with seven wins when the total was set at 5.5 -- and hasn't had a winning record since 2015. There are teenagers with driver's licenses who weren't alive the last time New York reached the playoffs (2010). Adding key pieces via three first-round picks from the 2026 draft might be the start of something new, but this remains a team to be skeptical of. -- Kevin Pulsifer

2026 outlook: Changes will help, but it will take time

Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn struggled through their inaugural campaigns with the Jets. New York fell to the bottom of the AFC East, posting a 3-14 record in 2025. The duo revamped both sides of the ball in an attempt to remedy the quagmire heading into 2026. Frank Reich's installment as the team's new OC, the return of Geno Smithand the addition of two first-round rookie pass-catchers figures to enliven the offense.

Meanwhile, Glenn (who started his professional playing career as a Jets cornerback) will take over the defensive playcalling duties. He'll be working with a revamped defensive roster that includes the talents of No. 2 overall pick David Bailey, veteran run-stuffer David Onyemata, star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebacker Demario Davis. With so many new pieces at play, and given a tough opening schedule, cohesion figures to remain a major obstacle. However, the squad could start to find relief and jell when the schedule lightens up from Weeks 5-8, which will include home matchups against the likes of the Browns, Dolphins and Raiders, who all have projected win totals of 5.5 or less. -- Liz Loza

Best bet: Wins after first 5 games - 1 Win (+190)

The Jets open the season at Tennessee, facing former head coach Robert Saleh. Gang Green returns to MetLife Stadium for the team's home opener versus Green Bay in Week 2. However, the Jets will remain on the road for the next pair of contests (at Detroit and then at Chicago) until finally hosting the Browns in Week 5. That's a lot of travel against solid competition for a squad learning a new system and establishing rapport. -- Loza