So far this offseason, the New York Jets have added 11 new players who figure to have prominent roles in 2026 — eight of them on defense. They are far from done revamping their roster, but most of their big moves from this cycle have been made.
The next big roster adjustment point will come in late April when they head into the NFL Draft armed with nine picks, including the two compensatory picks they were recently awarded (in the fourth round, No. 140 overall, and fifth round, No. 179).
In light of all the new additions, the Jets’ depth chart looks a whole lot different than it did at the end of the season. Here’s a closer look at the depth chart as it currently stands — and at which positions the Jets are most likely to add new players in the coming months.
Free-agent and trade additions are in italics:
Quarterback
Starter: Geno Smith
Backups: Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook
The Jets are not done at quarterback — they plan on adding a veteran backup for Smith. Carson Wentz was viewed as a likely contender in the days leading up to free agency but interest elsewhere makes it more likely the Jets go in another direction. The options in free agency aren’t especially appealing at the moment.
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Joe Flacco wants a legitimate shot at starting somewhere and is unlikely to return to the Jets. Jimmy Garoppolo has better options and likely will return to the Rams. They won’t sign Russell Wilson. Titans quarterback Will Levis would be intriguing if he didn’t cost too much.
Andy Dalton is being considered, but he’s currently on the Panthers roster and they don’t seem to be in a rush to release him, even after signing Kenny Pickett, so for now, he’d have to come in a trade. Cooper Rush, recently released by the Ravens, is an option. The Jets might ultimately consider bringing back Tyrod Taylor, one of the best remaining options, a beloved figure in the locker room and a good presence in the quarterback room if they do wind up bringing in a rookie.
Zappe is also intriguing for camp competition to stay in the room, too. He has shown some flashes in the NFL, particularly during his rookie season with the Patriots in 2022 when he won both of his starts and threw five touchdowns, three interceptions and completed 70.7 percent of his passes.
Running Back
Starter: Breece Hall
Backups: Isaiah Davis, Braelon Allen, Kene Nwangwu, Andrew Beck (fullback)
It seems the Jets might run it back with the same running back room as last season and hope that Allen has a clean bill of health to see if he can finally live up to the preseason hype he’s carried each of the last two seasons. Davis has shown flashes and should improve with another year under his belt. Hall, as of now, would be playing on the $14.3 million franchise tag, though the Jets will push to sign him to a new contract at some point before the late-July deadline. Nwangwu and Beck both re-signed this offseason largely to remain as key pieces of the Jets’ special teams unit.
Perhaps the Jets look to add another back on Day 3 in April.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Williams
Backups: Arian Smith, Irvin Charles
The most glaring remaining hole on the roster is here. The Jets went into free agency with the intent of not prioritizing this position — mostly because they didn’t feel the options out there were worth overpaying. They liked Alec Pierce at one point, but his price skyrocketed, and the Jets were never going to even approach where it landed. It’s still possible, if not likely, that the Jets add a veteran who falls through the cracks at a reasonable cost. Some veteran options that would be intriguing (in my opinion) in that regard include Christian Kirk and Marquise Brown. Some higher-level options are still available (Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel, Keenan Allen), but likely out of the Jets’ price range.
More likely, general manager Darren Mougey takes a route down one or two other avenues to help improve this room: Trade and the NFL Draft.
ESPN recently reported that Rashod Bateman (Ravens), Dontayvion Wicks (Packers) and Quentin Johnston (Chargers) are all potential trade candidates and all would be intriguing targets depending on cost. The possibility of Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. still lingers, too.
As for the draft: The Jets should be in prime position to take one of the top wide receiver prospects at No. 16 (Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, USC’s Makai Lemon and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson). But they don’t necessarily need to force it since they also own the first pick in the second round (No. 33), where intriguing options like Indiana’s Omar Cooper, Washington’s Denzel Boston, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Alabama’s Germie Bernard, among others, could be available.
As for who’s here: Wilson is, obviously, the No. 1 receiver. Mitchell showed a lot of promise last year, and the Jets are high on his potential. Williams improved as a receiver, though he will primarily be the team’s returner. Smith’s and Charles’ path to the 53-man roster will be via special teams.
Tight End
Starter: Mason Taylor
Backups: Jeremy Ruckert, Jelani Woods
Taylor showed some flashes as a rookie (44 catches, 369 yards, one touchdown) but needs to stay healthy in 2026 and take the next step as the Jets’ no-doubt No. 1 tight end. Ruckert was re-signed after showing some progress as a blocker and pass-catcher, though his contract won’t preclude the Jets from adding another tight end in the draft if they like a prospect enough. This group could use a more dynamic pass-catcher.
Woods was claimed off waivers from the Colts last summer and went on to only play in four games; the Jets saw enough behind the scenes to bring him back again on a one-year deal.
Offensive Line
Starters: LT Olu Fashanu, LG Dylan Parham, C Josh Myers, RG Joe Tippman, RT Armand Membou
Backups: T/G Max Mitchell, G/C Xavier Newman, OT Chukwuma Okorafor
The Jets are pretty much running it back with the same offensive line as a year ago, minus a change at left guard. Parham, a former Raider, replaces John Simpson, who returned to the Ravens on a three-year deal. This should be the starting five — a solid group across the board that could look even better if Membou and Fashanu continue to improve. It’s always possible the Jets fall in love with a lineman in the draft, like Penn State guard Vega Ioane, a first-round prospect. If the Jets were to go down that route, both Parham and Tippmann give the Jets flexibility since Parham has played every interior spot on the offensive line, Tippmann was drafted as a center and Myers’ contract isn’t so hefty that he needs to be a starter.
The Jets also re-signed Mitchell, Newman and Okorafor for depth. Mitchell was the Jets’ designated extra blocker on running plays last season and did a fine job in that role. Okorafor was signed last year to be the swing tackle, but he wound up not playing a single offensive snap as the Jets’ starting five never missed a game.
Even if it’s not a new starter, I’d still anticipate the Jets adding at least one more offensive lineman in the draft.
Defensive Line
Starters:, Harrison Phillips, David Onyemata, T’Vondre Sweat
Backups: Jowon Briggs, Mazi Smith, Payton Page, Eric Watts
The Jets beefed up on the defensive line; Onyemata checks in at 6-3, 300 pounds. Sweat is 6-4, 366 pounds. This will be a defense that often operates in a 3-4 alignment, though not exclusively. Still, the foursome of Briggs, Phillips, Onyemata and Sweat should rotate frequently to stay fresh — and it’s a quality group of defensive tackles, a position at which the Jets have lacked depth the last few years. The Jets could still stand to add a player (maybe in the draft) with a little more juice as a pass rusher, but this group is in a good place.
Smith, a former Cowboys first-round pick, came over in the Quinnen Williams trade last year and barely played. He’ll be fighting for a roster spot during training camp.
Edge Rusher
Starters: Will McDonald IV, Joseph Ossai
Backups: Kingsley Enagbare, Braiden McGregor, Tyler Baron
The expectation at this early stage is that the Jets will draft an edge rusher at No. 2. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is the favorite, though Texas Tech’s David Bailey can’t be ruled out — and neither can Ohio State off-ball linebacker Sonny Styles, though that might be considered a reach. Expect a healthy rotation with this group, with McDonald mostly taking part on passing downs and rotating with Ossai and Enagbare, both of whom are much better run stoppers than McDonald at this point.
Glenn’s new-look defense should suit McDonald well, especially if they’re using him purely as a pass-rush specialist — which is what his role should be at this point.
In addition to Reese (or Bailey), the Jets could still stand to add another pass rusher to this group. It’s a deep draft class for edge rushers.
Inside Linebacker
Starters: Demario Davis, Jamien Sherwood
Backups: Kiko Mauigoa, Mykal Walker, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Kobe King
The Jets might not have missed anyone in 2025 more than C.J. Mosley. He was a team captain and the leader of the defense — on top of being a quality player — as the Jets’ defenses under Robert Saleh developed into among the league’s best. Even when he was injured for most of the 2024 season, he helped Sherwood along behind-the-scenes, playing a role in Sherwood’s breakout season.
Last year, the Jets purged the roster of veterans and vocal leaders and never adequately replaced Mosley. Sherwood, who became a captain, sorely missed his old mentor. There might not be a better player to fill the void that Mosley left than Davis, who is universally considered one of the best leaders at his position in the NFL, on top of being a highly productive player at 37.
“I take a lot of pride and passion in helping elevate a defense,” Davis said in his introductory press conference on Thursday. “Playing amongst and inside of the top defenses in the league is something that I take a lot of pride in being a part of. So helping our defense get to that place is a mission of mine. I’m very intentional about helping young players take the next step in their career, whether that’s on the field or off the field. Whatever is necessary to maximize this season, I take a lot of pride in.”
Davis will take over green dot duties from Sherwood, which could free Sherwood to fly around the field and focus on making plays rather than trying to set the defense up. The possibility that Sherwood is eventually traded — especially if the Jets draft an off-ball linebacker early — can’t be ruled out, but for now he is in a good position to bounce back with Davis in the room to support him.
Walker and McCrary-Ball were both brought back for their contributions on special teams.
Cornerback
Starters: Brandon Stephens, Azareye’h Thomas, Jarvis Brownlee
Backups: Nahshon Wright, Qwan’Tez Stiggers, Jordan Clark, Samuel Womack
Wright and Thomas will duke it out in training camp for the starting job opposite Stephens, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Wright wound up winning it. Thomas will get a real shot, though. He showed flashes as a rookie, but injuries prevented him from playing enough meaningful snaps to get a real evaluation of what he could become in 2026. Wright bounced around the league a bit before landing with the Bears last season and breaking out to the tune of five interceptions; he’s a unique cornerback because of his size (6-4).
Brownlee also showed some flashes as a nickel cornerback, but he still gets penalized too much and injuries knocked him out at the end of last season. The way the Jets plan on using Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety will also dictate how much Brownlee winds up playing.
Stiggers has been an important contributor on special teams and is still developing as a cornerback. With Wright joining the fold, it will be interesting to see how the Jets approach Stiggers’ spot on the roster.
Safety
Starters: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton
Backups: Andre Cisco, Malachi Moore, Jarius Monroe, Dean Clark
Cisco was a surprising re-signing for the Jets — he signed a one-year deal for $10 million last offseason, didn’t make much of an impact (one pass deflection, zero interceptions) and suffered a season-ending pectoral injury after eight games. His new contract is much smaller (one year, $2.5 million with incentives up to $5.25 million, only $1.25 million guaranteed), meaning he’s not locked into anything but a depth role and a chance to compete for a starting job. Cisco is only 25 and as recently as 2023 had four interceptions — and the Jets clearly still believe he has that playmaking potential in him.
Cisco, Moore and Belton presumably will battle to be the starter alongside Fitzpatrick, though this position group will be fluid considering the versatility Glenn wants out of his safeties. In Miami — where Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker was the pass game coordinator and secondary coach last year — Fitzpatrick often played closer to the line of scrimmage and in the nickel role. In his press conference on Thursday, Fitzpatrick said that he hadn’t spoken to Glenn or Duker yet about his role but that he didn’t see it “being too different than what I did last year, playing that nickel role … or a ‘big nickel’ role.”
Last year, Fitzpatrick played 345 snaps in the nickel, 251 at free safety, 229 in the box and 20 as a boundary corner. If he is predominantly a nickel in this defense, that could help dictate whether the Jets invest in a safety early in this year’s NFL Draft — which they might do anyway considering some of the talent at the position, even after re-signing Cisco. Moore also profiles similarly positionally.
Moore showed some flashes last year as a rookie but also was inconsistent and had some issues tackling — an area in which Belton thrives. In 2025 with the Giants, Belton had the lowest missed-tackle percentage among all safeties to play at least 400 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Special Teams
Starters: K Cade York, P Austin McNamara, LS Thomas Hennessy
Backup: K Lenny Krieg
The Jets let their “Folk Hero” leave for greener pastures. Nick Folk signed with the Falcons — coincidentally, the team he beat with a 56-yard game-winning field goal last season, a game that contributed to Atlanta missing the playoffs and, in turn, firing their head coach and general manager. As of now, the Jets are replacing him with York, once a promising prospect who has had a rough go in the NFL: He’s made only 73.3 percent of his kicks and hasn’t kicked in a regular-season game since 2024.