2026 NFL predictions: Jets must bank on big year from Garrett Wilson

Now 15 years running without playoff football, anyone who has ever dared to back the Jets either emotionally or financially is rendered numb.And that is among other things.  New year, new coaches, quarterbacks, draft picks.All the same. The 2026 Jets enter with another set of low expectations, priced miles behind the Bills and Patriots at 19/1 to win the AFC East and a lottery ticket to accomplish anything else. Geno Smith’s return to the Jets, who drafted him in the second round in 2013, is symbolic of the stagnant direction of this franchise.

It’s been 11 years since Smith was notoriously punched in the face over a $600 debt from his teammate IK Enemkpali, and although the faces and jersey designs have changed, it’s materially the same situation he left. For one thing, Smith, who experienced a renaissance with the Seahawks in 2022-24 before falling flat in Vegas last year, has some exciting young skill weapons around him. Garrett Wilson headlines that list after missing 10 games to a knee injury last year.The explosive route-runner conjured only 36 catches for 395 in the limited action he did play.

You wouldn’t know it, but he still led the team in spite of this.His inefficiency could either be attributed to Justin Fields’ inability to throw or an incompetent offensive scheme. Frank Reich steps in as the new offensive coordinator, who is expected to help Wilson get the ball by tailoring the offense to his strengths and consistently putting him in favorable one-on-one matchups.By isolating Wilson, particularly on third downs, Reich can give his best receiver more space to win his routes and make plays.But there’s something more convincing about Wilson: In his three years prior, he built successive growth in receptions, totaling 83, 95, and 101 yards since being named the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Oh, and those passes were from Zach Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle, Mike White, Joe Flacco, Chris Streveler and Aaron Rodg...