New York Jets depth chart: Analyzing each position group

Offense

QB: Stabilized

1. Geno Smith
2. Justin Fields
3. Brady Cook
4. Bailey Zappe

While the New York Jets continue their never-ending search for a long-term quarterback, Geno Smith should stabilize the offensive leadership post in 2026.

RB: Quality

1. Breece Hall
2. Braelon Allen
3. Isaiah Davis

Breece Hall is still a talented back, whereas Isaiah Davis continues to be overlooked by the masses. Braelon Allen’s return from injury to reclaim his power-back role remains a question mark, but the running back room is a quality one.

FB: Solid

1. Andrew Beck
2. Jeremy Ruckert

Andrew Beck’s versatility is nice, as he can move from fullback to tight end (and any H-back position) at any time.

WR: Thin

1. Garrett Wilson
2. Adanai Mitchell
3. Isaiah Williams
4. Arian Smith
5. Quentin Skinner
6. Irvin Charles
7. Jamaal Pritchett
8. Mac Dalena

Not only is the wide receiver room thin, but it’s simply not close to good enough. Today’s NFL demands difference-makers in open space, and other than Garrett Wilson, the Jets’ weapons aren’t up to snuff.

TE: Unproven

1. Mason Taylor
2. Jeremy Ruckert
3. Jelani Woods
4. Andrew Beck

The hopes remain high for sophomore Mason Taylor, and Jeremy Ruckert is a fine blocking TE2, but the entire room still needs to prove its worth.

OT: Ready

1. Olu Fashanu (LT)
2. Armand Membou (RT)
3. Max Mitchell (T)
4. Chukwuma Okorafor (T)

Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, as the bookends, give the Jets everything they need at both anchors. All they need to do is activate their readiness.

IOL: Sound

1. Joe Tippmann (RG)
2. Dylan Parham (LG)
3. Josh Myers (C)
4. Marquis Hayes (G)
5. Xavier Newman (G, C)
6. Gus Hartwig (C)
7. Kohl Levao (G)
8. Liam Fornadel (G)

Joe Tippmann at guard catapulted him in 2025, but will his ascent continue without the quarterback-rushing, zone-read offense that forces defenses to commit extra defenders to the quarterback? Dylan Parham should replace John Simpson in fine fashion, helping the interior offensive line resemble a sound-but-not-stellar group.

Defense

NT: Mountain

1. T’Vondre Sweat (0-1-TECH)
2. Harrison Phillips (0-1-TECH)
3. Mazi Smith (0-1-TECH)

Acquiring T’Vondre Sweat was all anybody needed to know about where Aaron Glenn’s head was defensively. The mountain of a man will serve as the Jets’ 0-tech in the middle of a react-attack defensive front.

DT: Beefy

1. David Onyemata (3-5-TECH)
2. Harrison Phillips (1-3-TECH)
3. Jowon Briggs (3-5-TECH)
4. Eric Watts (5-TECH)
5. Payton Page (1-3-TECH)
6. Jack Heflin (1-3-TECH)

If that wasn’t enough, adding another 300-pounder in David Onyemata only confirmed Glenn’s commitment to a history of violence for his defense. From Sweat to Onyemta, Harrison Phillips to Jowon Briggs, the Jets’ three interior defenders in their base 3-4 are all block-eating big fellas.

EDGE: Violent

1. Joseph Ossai (JACK)
2. Kingsley Enagbare (SAM)
3. Will McDonald (JACK)
4. Braiden McGregor (SAM)
5. Tyler Baron (SAM)
6. Kingsley Jonathan (JACK)
7. Ochaun Mathis (SAM)
8. Paschal Ekeji (JACK)

Yeah, that’s right: Will McDonald is not a starter. Remember, this is the base look, and McDonald is a liability against the run.

A defense is only as good as its weakest link, which is why New York signed Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. They’ll serve as the force players (EDGE, 3-4 outside linebackers) in Glenn’s scheme, while McDonald remains as the top pass-rushing EDGE.

Furthermore, the way this offseason has gone, I’ve never been more confident that the Jets will tab Arvell Reese as the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Doing so will allow Glenn to shove Enagbare to the second team, move Ossai over to SAM, and plug Reese in as the JACK (weakside).

SUB: Incomplete

• Will McDonald (EDGE 1)
• Jowon Briggs (IDL 1)
• Joseph Ossai (EDGE 2)
• David Onyemata (IDL 2)

The Jets’ subpackage front features a couple of stud pass-rushers in McDonald and Briggs, but that’s where it pretty much ends. Ossai, Onyemata, and others will surely contribute, but more explosiveness and sheer talent are required.

Again, look no further than Ohio State product Arvell Reese to get the party started in April.

ILB: Alpha

1. Demario Davis (MIKE)
2. Jamien Sherwood (WILL)
3. Kiko Mauigoa (MIKE)
4. Mychal Walker (WILL)
5. Kobe King (WILL)

If Ossai is providing run physicality from the edge, then Demario Davis is filling and spilling violently from the second level. Davis’s alpha status perfectly takes the pressure off of Jamien Sherwood, who slides to the WILL.

CB: Hopeful

1. Brandon Stephens (BCB)
2. AZ Thomas (BCB)
3. Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (SCB)
4. Nahshon Wright (BCB)
5. Qwan’tez Stiggers (BCB)
6. Jordan Clark (SCB)
7. Tre Brown (BCB)
8. Samuel Womack III (SCB)

The Jets would feel much better about their cornerbacks if they actually played last year. Hopeful is the most positive way to view things, considering AZ Thomas and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. missed significant time in 2025.

Help is greatly needed.

S: Experienced

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick (SS)
2. Andre Cisco (FS)
3. Malachi Moore (FS)
4. Dane Belton (SS)
5. Dean Clark (FS)
6. Jarius Monroe (SS)
7. Keidron Smith (SS)
8. Chris Smith II (FS)

The safety position isn’t just experienced, but it’s also deep. As long as Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn’t lost anything off his fastball, the Jets constructed a plus safety room just days into free agency.

Special Teams

K: Uncertain

1. Cade York (PK, KOS)
2. Lenny Krieg (PK, KOS)

Losing Nick Folk has some Jets fans annoyed, and it’s understandable. For years, the position has been a headache. Now, without Folk, it’s uncertain.

P: Primetime

1. Austin McNamara (P, HOLDER)

Austin McNamara may have been the team’s best player last year, and the organization is expecting even bigger things from him in 2026.

LS: Steady

1. Thomas Hennessy (LS)

Thomas Hennessy returns as the Jets’ long snapper yet again.

KR/PR: Electric

1. Isaiah Williams (KR, PR)
2. Jamaal Pritchett (KR, PR)
3. Isaiah Davis (KR)

Chris Banjo’s special teams unit was special a year ago, and part of that was due to Isaiah Williams’s electricity in the return game.

ST COVERAGE: Professional

• Irv Charles
• Qwan’tez Stiggers
• Dane Belton
• Nahshon Wright
• Mychal Walker
• Kiko Mauigoa

Irv Charles looks to reclaim his special teams ace status, but he’ll have plenty of company. Qwan’tez Stiggers filled in admirably last year, whereas newcomers Dane Belton and Nahshon Wright were signed thanks in part to their special teams abilities.