Three Bold Predictions for the 2025 New York Jets

Enter a possible mega-breakout season from Wilson.

Without a viable No. 2 receiver and a rookie tight end, Mason Taylor, who may face growing pains in year one, Fields has a golden opportunity to make his reunion with Wilson memorable. After playing together for two seasons at Ohio State, where they made a National Championship game appearance, their chemistry should be apparent from the get-go.

Even if the remainder of New York’s receivers struggle in 2025, Wilson will be the focal point in its offense and be Fields’ primary target.

Wilson (cont.)

With abysmal quarterback play throughout his first three seasons, Wilson has still totaled over 1,000 yards each year. He burst onto the scene as a rookie with 1,103 yards in 2022 and followed that sensational year up with 1,104 last season—all that came with Zach Wilson, Mike White, a 40-year-old Rodgers and Tim Boyle at quarterback.

While Fields struggles to sense pressure and takes several unnecessary sacks, he’s proven to get the most of his receivers. D.J. Moore had a career-high 1,364 yards in Chicago with Fields at the helm in 2023. Calvin Austin even nearly recorded 100 yards in a game with the former Bear at quarterback.

No Jet has met the 1,500-yard threshold since Brandon Marshall in 2015. Wilson reaching the mark may be a stretch, but it isn’t out of the question because of his connection with Fields and New York’s lack of depth at the position.

2. Jets Offensive Line is a Top-8 Unit in Football

The Jets offensive line has been in flux since the glory days of Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

Ever since Mangold and Ferguson departed New York, the Jets front office has made several offensive line blunders in both free agency and the draft. Whether it was never getting the most out of Mekhi Becton, or trotting out Chuma Edoga on a weekly basis, offensive line production hasn’t been a strength over the last ten years.

That said, the Jets have hit on quite a few offensive line draft picks since 2021. Joe Douglas had many whiffs during his tenure in New York, but selecting Joe Tippman, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Olu Fashanu has set the team’s OL unit up well for the foreseeable future.

Once a glaring weakness, New York’s interior OL is likely the strongest link of the unit. Left guard John Simpson silenced doubters with a tremendous 2024 season, posting a 77.3 PFF grade (16th of all guards) and allowing just three sacks. On the right side, Vera-Tucker continues to hold down the fort. He barely topped Simpson with a 77.7 grade. More notably, both (especially Simpson) have shown steady improvement each year of their careers.

Another strong year would likely catapult both Simpson and Vera-Tucker into the top five of their respective positions. If Vera-Tucker can remain healthy (most significant concern with him), there’s little denying how potent he can be from both a run and pass blocking standpoint.

OL (cont.)

While the tackle spots feature two unproven commodities in Fashanu and rookie Armand Membou, even having league-average production from them would suffice. Fashanu had an up-and-down rookie campaign, but ended on a promising note before suffering a season-ending plantar fasciitis injury in Week 16.

Although Membou is raw and will likely face a learning curve adjusting to blitzes and stunts at the NFL level, his toughness and physical traits provoke optimism. Additionally, New York’s substantial upgrade at offensive line coach from Keith Carter to Steve Heiden (former Lions TE coach) should allow for a relatively smooth transition.

At center, Joe Tippman is looking to build off an above-average sophomore season. Though he’ll have to shore up his snapping technique, there’s little evidence to believe he won’t be quite solid again in 2025.

Headlined by improved coaching, youth and tremendous guard play, the Brick Wall of East Rutherford should be in full force this fall.

3. Johnson and McDonald combine for 25+ sacks

Is the New York sack exchange restocking for 2025? Not quite like the 1980s, but the Jets defensive front should wreak havoc on many opposing defenses this fall.

Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald will not only spearhead New York’s pass rush in 2025, but both will have double-digit sack seasons.

Though Johnson missed nearly the entire 2024 season with a torn Achilles, his production in 2023 (where he totaled 7.5 sacks and anchored New York’s defensive line) signaled that his raw talent can take pressure of the team’s secondary and surrounding defensive pieces. With a combination of speed and power, his ability to cut inside and get to the quarterback will be a dream for Glenn to have.

Johnson racking up 10-12 sacks may seem like a long shot, since he’s likely to be rusty early in the year, but a three-sack game against a poor Miami or New England offensive line won’t make it too far-fetched.

Despite his woeful run defense, McDonald is ready to ascend into a superstar from a pass-rushing standpoint. The 2023 first-round pick erupted for 10.5 sacks last year. There’s little reason to believe he’ll regress playing on a defensive line with Johnson and Quinnen Williams.

With Aaron Glenn at the helm dialing up blitz packages and fooling offensive coordinators, Johnson and McDonald should have career years in 2025.