A former New York Jets player could shake free this offseason.
With the Denver Broncos, “Having paid several key defensive players in the past year, the Broncos know they very well could lose [John] Franklin-Myers to free agency,” ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler revealed.
Jets content creator Harrison Glaser asked his nearly 23,000 followers on X if fans would be interested in a potential reunion with JFM this offseason. Defensive lineman Jermaine Johnson responded to that post with an eyes emoji, “👀.”
Franklin-Myers responded to Johnson’s tweet saying, “😂😂😂 I love you brotha!”
JFM Has Popped in Denver
The former Stephen F. Austin product is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. After being traded from the Jets to the Broncos, Franklin-Myers signed a two-year $15 million contract extension.
He has taken his game to another level since joining Denver. During his season and a half with the team, he has collected 11.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, and 58 tackles.
Franklin-Myers, 29, entered the NFL as the No. 135 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He spent his rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams, but he was waived ahead of final roster cuts in year No. 2.
It Was the Best and Worst of Times for the Jets
In 1981, the band Styx released the song “The Best of Times.”
A fitting title for the Jets’ journey with Franklin-Myers. After the Rams cut bait with JFM, the Jets quickly claimed him off waivers in September of 2019.
Franklin-Myers developed into a key piece of the Jets’ defensive puzzle. He was with the team for five seasons from 2019 through 2023.
During his run with the green and white, he appeared in 65 games and made 52 starts. He racked up 17.5 sacks, 61 quarterback hits, 21 tackles for loss, and seven pass deflections.
Franklin-Myers performed so well that the Jets rewarded him with a life-changing $55 million contract extension.
The photo of JFM signing his new extension with the Jets is still his pinned post on X previously Twitter.
Styx’s lyrics include stories about the best of times and the worst of times. The Jets experienced both with Franklin-Myers.
During the 2024 offseason, the Jets made a massive trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire Haason Reddick for a conditional 2026 third-round pick. That acquisition forced the Jets’ hand. They could no longer afford Franklin-Myers’ contract on the books, so they had to get rid of him.
On April 27, 2024, the Jets flipped JFM to the Broncos in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Let’s call a spade a spade; it was a pure salary dump for the Jets.
The green and white bet on the upside of Reddick. They thought the grass would be greener, but it was anything but.
Reddick was a disaster that caused an array of distractions for the team. JFM helped the Broncos surge into the playoffs.
Now the Jets have a chance to call a mulligan.
Heading into 2026, the Jets have needs at both defensive tackle and defensive end. Franklin-Myers is a versatile player who can line up and down the defensive line.
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