The New York Jets’ secondary has shed a massive amount of talent in recent years. Gone are the days of Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II roaming the back end.

An overhaul is underway in the secondary. It began in 2025 with the signing of cornerback Brandon Stephens, who had an up-and-down debut season. The Jets proceeded to make a major splash in 2026, trading for former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. There were also flashes of promise from 2025 rookies Azareye’h Thomas and Malachi Moore.

However, the unit still has a long way to go. The cornerback position remains unproven across the board, while the Jets do not have a clear-cut starting safety next to Fitzpatrick.

Enter the 2025 draft class.

The 2026 draft class has excellent talent and depth at safety and cornerback. Both positions may only see two or three first-round picks, but Day 2 will be competitive.

Round 2 CBs to target

Owning the 33rd and 44th picks, the Jets have some of the most Day 2 capital in the draft, even without possessing a third-round pick. Time will tell if they stay in those spots, but they’re perfectly situated to capitalize on whoever slides out of the first.

Two of the biggest names to watch are Tennessee cornerbacks Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy. The Jets have met with McCoy as well as San Diego State’s Chris Johnson. Two other names to watch are Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds and Arizona State’s Keith Abney II.

Consensus big board ranks:

  • Jermod McCoy, Tennessee: 15th
  • Colton Hood, Tennessee: 33rd
  • Chris Johnson, San Diego State: 38th
  • D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana: 50th
  • Keith Abney II, Arizona State: 69th

I compared them across several key advanced metrics. McCoy’s 2024 season was used, as he missed 2025 with a torn ACL.

So, how do they all stack up?

  • PFF overall grade
    • McCoy: 87.0
    • Hood: 79.2
    • Ponds: 88.8
    • Johnson: 91.6
    • Abney: 86.3
  • PFF coverage grade
    • McCoy: 89.6
    • Hood: 80.3
    • Ponds: 89.6
    • Johnson: 92.4
    • Abney: 85.3
  • PFF run defense grade
    • McCoy: 78.8
    • Hood: 63.8
    • Ponds: 78.2
    • Johnson: 67.1
    • Abney: 77.9
  • Yards allowed per coverage snap
    • McCoy: 0.98
    • Hood: 0.71
    • Ponds: 0.41
    • Johnson: 0.53
    • Abney: 0.70
  • Yards allowed per target
    • McCoy: 6.23
    • Hood: 6.12
    • Ponds: 3.38
    • Johnson: 4.30
    • Abney: 4.46
  • Passer rating allowed
    • McCoy: 53.6
    • Hood: 70.8
    • Ponds: 42.0
    • Johnson: 16.1
    • Abney: 46.1
  • Forced incompletion rate
    • McCoy: 19.4%
    • Hood: 15.4%
    • Ponds: 16.7%
    • Johnson: 18.6%
    • Abney: 13.9%
  • Run stops per snap
    • McCoy: 1.0%
    • Hood: 2.2%
    • Ponds: 0.5%
    • Johnson: 2.2%
    • Abney: 1.0%

The Tennessee corners are likely first-round picks. Johnson and Pond are on the cusp; Johnson’s excellent 2025 season may see him sneak in.

While Ponds’ play deserves first-round consideration, he may slide due to size concerns (5-foot-8, 182 pounds). Following him is Abney, who built on a strong 2024 playoff run and solidified himself as a top 50 pick.

All deserve consideration with the Jets’ second-round picks. The biggest concern with each player is size. Only McCoy is over six feet, and none crack 200 pounds. But that’s why they may still be available.

Given the impact displayed by many small corners in today’s NFL, such as Trent McDuffie (5-foot-10¾, 193 pounds) and Ja’Quan McMillan (5-foot-10, 183 pounds), the Jets shouldn’t be dissuaded.

If McCoy slides out of the first, he would be hard to pass up at No. 33. Hood, Johnson, and Ponds all deserve consideration at the spot as well. If the Jets go in a different direction, they would be excellent value if they last until No. 44; Abney is near certain to last that long.

Safety has fewer but better prospects

At safety, Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren feels like the dream option for the Jets at 33rd overall. There’s no guarantee that the 23rd-ranked player on the consensus board lasts that far. However, safety frequently isn’t valued at a premium, as 2022 was the last time three safeties were selected in the first round.

If he makes it to Round 2, the Jets should hesitate. In 2025, McNeil-Warren had two interceptions and five pass breakups compared to only six receptions allowed. He added 18 defensive stops and two forced fumbles as well.

The next option is LSU’s A.J. Haulcy, who is projected as a mid-to-late second-round pick. Haulcy is a physical player with a nose for the football, which Jets head coach Aaron Glenn would love. While his overall coverage could improve, he has a nose for the ball, recording eight interceptions over the last two years.

If they decide to wait, the name to watch is Zakee Wheatley out of Penn State. The consensus No. 93 overall prospect, Wheatley had an excellent 2025 season. He racked up a whopping 23 defensive stops while only allowing 36 yards in coverage. If he lasts until Day 3, he could have similar expectations to Malachi Moore with better athleticism.

Day 2 can complete the Jets’ secondary overhaul

It remains to be seen how the Jets plan to attack the secondary in the draft. As much as the unit needs help, it certainly isn’t as dire a need as multiple other positions, especially after an active offseason.

While they may opt to wait and see if their veteran additions can stabilize the unit, the Jets should be ready to pounce if a talented player slides to Day 2.