The New York Jets cleared their books in a big way at the NFL trade deadline, parting ways with several players on long-term deals.
According to Over the Cap, New York is projected to have at least $99.2 million available to them when they enter 2026 free agency, thanks to the departure of Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, and Michael Carter II.
Among the pool of available free agents is veteran defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, who spent four years of his career with the Green & White.
Jermaine Johnson, a defensive end for the Jets, nudged his team to take a look at Franklin-Myers when free agency hits in a not-so-subtle post on social media today.
With New York suddenly in the market for productive defensive linemen after the Williams trade, could a reunion be in the works?
John Franklin-Myers’ Impending Free Agency
The New York Jets unceremoniously dumped Franklin-Myers during the 2024 NFL Draft, shipping him to the Denver Broncos for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Since arriving in Denver, Franklin-Myers has been a mainstay on the Broncos’ defensive line, racking up 58 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks.
Considering the amount of money already invested into the Broncos’ defense, it makes sense why JFM has been projected to walk in free agency.
“Having paid several key defensive players in the past year, the Broncos know they very well could lose Franklin-Myers to free agency,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Inside rushers — 3-4 defensive ends or defensive tackles — with pass-rush ability get paid, and Franklin-Myers has 11.5 sacks since joining Denver via trade from New York in 2024.”
The 29-year-old could be a top target for the cap-flushed Jets, with the veteran clearly a favorite amongst New York’s defenders he was teammates with.
Why Did the Jets Move on in the First Place?
Franklin-Myers’ departure from the New York Jets was not a popular one.
Having been claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, Franklin-Myers burst onto the scene in 2021 with a disruptive six-sack season.
Then general manager Joe Douglas awarded his waiver find with a four-year $55 million deal, cementing him as a key player on the Jets’ vaunted front.
From 2022-2023, New York’s defense was a top unit in the NFL, led by head coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, ranking eighth and third, respectively, in terms of EPA/play.
Throughout his Jets tenure, JFM totaled 17.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss as a stalwart of New York’s top-of-the-line defense.
Then came the 2024 draft.
Franklin-Myers wanted a contract extension that the Jets just weren’t willing to give him, and he was dealt to the Denver Broncos.
Denver ended up awarding Franklin-Myers with a two-year, $15 million extension, something in hindsight the Jets should’ve been willing to give him.
Instead, Douglas pivoted to Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick, trading a conditional 2026 third-round pick in exchange for the impending free agent.
The trade turned out to be a disaster, with Reddick refusing to show up to New York until Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season.
The Jets will have the opportunity to right the wrongs of past regimes and bring Franklin-Myers back home for one last run with the franchise that helped develop him into the player he is today.
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