Why $3.5 Million Steal Will Break Out With Jets

The New York Jets have found some serious value in free agency so far this offseason.

The first wave of free agency is over, but that doesn't mean that the Jets will be done. New York certainly will make another move or two in free agency before all is said and done and the 2026 National Football League season gets here.

For now, though. The best value deal New York has made is signing Pro Bowl cornerback Nahshon Wright to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. There's no reason why the Jets should've been able to get Wright at such a low price point. The 27-year-old played in all 17 games for the Chicago Bears in 2025, making 16 starts. What made him stand out and why he earned his first Pro Bowl nod was because of the fact that he was one of the top ball hawks in football in 2025.

The Jets made a good move bringing in Nahshon Wright

Feb 1, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright (26) during NFC practice at the Flag Fieldhouse Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Wright hauled in five interceptions. That's wild. Before the 2025 season, he had one career interception in 33 career games. Now, he has 50 games in the NFL under his belt and six interceptions. Beyond the interceptions, Wright had 11 passes defended, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 80 total tackles and held opposing quarterbacks to a 61.2 completion percentage.

He went from being a role player with the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, to a starter in Chicago and made the most of his opportunity. He's coming to New York and has a shot have a role just as big as he had in 2025 with Chicago. The Bears' defense as a whole was good, which kind of overshadowed the work Wright did in the secondary.

The Jets are coming off a season in which they didn't record an interception. Wright immediately should help New York on that front. In New York, there's going to be more of a spotlight on him, especially with Sauce Gardner out the door. Wright is going to have a chance to come in and try to replace him. That's why he's going to have a breakout season in New York.

There's no reason why the Jets should've been able to get a 27-year-old Pro Bowler with the upside of Wright at as low a price as New York. The fact that he went under the radar in 2025 in Chicago certainly helped there. There are going to be more eyeballs on him in 2026 and if he plays even just at the level he did in 2025, people are going to be calling him a star after the 2026 season ends and he's going to get paid.