Rich CiminiMar 9, 2026, 03:07 PM ET

CloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.

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NFL free agency has begun, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2026 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts.

Teams can now negotiate with free agents, and signings can become official with the start of the new league year Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. The first round of the 2026 NFL draft begins April 23 on ESPN.

On Monday, the Jets addressed cornerback by trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick before agreeing to give him a three-year, $40 million contract.

Here’s a breakdown of every 2026 NFL free agent signing by the New York Jets and how each will impact the upcoming season:

The New York Jets are bringing in former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai. Katie Stratman/Imagn Images

What the signing means: The Jets needed edge-rushing help in the worst way, especially recording the second-fewest sacks (26) last season and trading Jermaine Johnson to the Titans. Ossai, 25, was a three-down player for the Bengals, making five sacks in each of the last two seasons. He was a down lineman in Cincinnati, so he projects as a defensive end in the Jets’ new 3-4 front. The guarantee ($22.5 million) is large for a player with modest sack totals, but the Jets see him as an ascending player. He recorded career highs last season in quarterback pressure percentage and pass rush win rate.

What it means: Enagbare, 25, is a bordlerline starter/high-end backup with exceptional durability (no missed games in four years) and experience as a three-down player. With the Packers, he replaced the injured Micah Parsons late in the season. For the Jets, he figures to be a situational rusher, though his sack numbers are modest — 11.5 career sacks. His pass rush win rate was a career low in 2025. Clearly, the Jets are betting on his upside.