Gone are the days when an All-Pro cornerback roamed the secondary for the New York Jets. The trade of Sauce Gardner left the team with a large void they struggled to fill for the remainder of the 2025 season.

But there’s reason for optimism in New York’s secondary. The organization traded for All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during the offseason and signed Nahshon Wright in free agency. Wright is coming off a season in which he led all cornerbacks in interceptions, while Fitzpatrick’s versatility allows him to be used all over the field.

It will be a far cry from the personnel struggles the Jets dealt with in 2025.

But as the 2026 NFL draft draws near, the opportunity to dip in the cornerback room remains a possibility for New York.

The question is: should it be?

Jets draft questions

New York has already invested a relatively high draft pick in the cornerback room under head coach Aaron Glenn. Former Florida State press corner Azareye’h Thomas was drafted by the team in the third round last year.

While he showed some bright spots during his rookie campaign, Thomas’ season was cut short by injury. He was also beaten plenty of times in his own right. He was the 87th-ranked cornerback out of 114 by Pro Football Focus during the limited time he was on the field.

There’s a reason why the Jets went out and brought in Wright.

But should they be looking to double-dip at the position in the draft? That answer is far more murky.

New York has a plethora of needs to address this year. They need to find a quality receiver, a top edge rusher, depth along the offensive line, depth on the defensive line, a project linebacker, and some added help in the secondary. Armed with nine picks this year, the Jets could bring in players to solve all of those needs.

Gang Green could very well look to address their secondary at some point. However, it might serve the organization better to allow the 2026 season to run its course before dissecting the cornerback room. Thomas did show signs of competency, and Brandon Stephens played well in his first season with the team.

Thomas, Stephens, and Wright should be given the opportunity to compete this year without worrying about a premium rookie trying to take their jobs.

Holding firm at cornerback might not be a popular thought process, especially after trading away an All-Pro like Gardner last year. But it might just be the right decision for the franchise to let their roster play itself out, and address more pressing needs in this year’s draft.