Safeties represent the code the New York Jets haven’t been able to crack over the last decade. From Jordan Whitehead to Tony Adams, Adrian Amos to even Jamal Adams — whose production was tremendous, albeit at a disgruntled price — New York has needed more than it’s received from the safety room.
New York will need to correctly address the position this offseason if it is to find a long-term solution.
Fortunately, the safety room is one of the more talented in the upcoming draft.
From a top prospect like Ohio State All-American Caleb Downs to the athletic freaks of Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, the 2026 class has no shortage of plug-and-play starters at safety.
It’s a starting point that could fundamentally change how the Jets operate their personnel plan this offseason.
Combine standouts
The 2026 draft class isn’t considered one of the most talented groups analysts have ever seen, particularly when both sides of the ball are considered. One common denominator from the group, though, is that this might just be the fastest collection of athletes ever.
In Indianapolis, the Jets watched as only one position group recorded a 40-yard time over five seconds. The safety position provided the most impressive workouts, though, highlighting the position’s evolution from specialized traits to all-around athletes who can move and cover.
(No, folks, we’re not living in 2005 anymore.)
Thieneman and McNeil-Warren were two prospects who showed off that very speed on Friday. They also excelled in on-field drills, showcasing their fluid hips and lateral movement, which are key reasons they are popular names for teams around the league.
They also happen to be borderline first-round picks to begin with.
The Jets, being a team in desperate need of quality safety play, could use either player. Their performance from the combine only highlights the kind of fit either athlete could be.
For the Jets fan, it could also suggest major changes are coming to Gang Green.
Jets’ biggest needs
Throw a dart at a position group on an NFL roster, and chances are the New York Jets need a serious upgrade there. That’s simply the nature of the New York Jets depth chart at the moment.
Quarterback? Absolutely. Edge rusher? You better believe it, though, helped along by a crystallizing EDGE decision over the last several days. Safety? More than anyone could ever imagine.
New York is well-positioned to address many of those key concerns, both in free agency and in the 2026 NFL draft. Gang Green has over $90 million in cap space to work with, and four draft picks in the first 50 overall selections.
If the Jets want to address their holes at safety, the performances at the combine show they won’t need to spend a dime on a pending free agent. They simply need to have the courage to take one early in the draft.
That also doesn’t mean a player must be selected with the second or 16th overall selections. Prospects like Thieneman and McNeil-Warren appear to be players at the position who could be available later in the draft process.
Either would be a significant upgrade for the position group last season and would drastically alter the fortunes of the Jets’ defense.
Naturally, Aaron Glenn will need more than several defensive draftees to officially fix the New York Jets’ defense. However, from a fundamental perspective, for which the core building blocks are sound, the 2026 NFL draft is legitimately loaded enough to get that party started.
