Entering the 2025 season, Joe Tippmann was in line to be the New York Jets’ starting center.
However, a season-ending tricep injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker — less than one week before the team’s Week 1 matchup — forced the team to move Tippmann out to right guard and promote Josh Myers, who was expected to back up the starting center.
After an elite 2025 season at guard, moving Tippmann back to center is an option, but it would make more sense to leave him at RG. That said, what are the Jets dealing with at center? Myers was signed to a two-year extension during the 2025 season, but he is widely regarded as the “weak link” on the team’s offensive line.
In 2025, the former Green Bay Packer ranked 39th among 40 qualified centers with a 52.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. All together, it made sense for the Jets to sign him to an extension, especially given the price. He has multiple years of starting experience, but he is best suited in a backup role.
Is a center upgrade necessary?
At this juncture, the majority of meaningful transactions around the NFL are complete. Free agency and the draft are in the rear-view mirror, and while there may be some moves made here and there around the league, it is rare to see any big moves around this time of year.
Essentially, the Jets are pretty much relying on what they have. While some depth moves can be made, it would be highly unlikely that they add a premium offensive lineman before the season begins. Gang Green had an opportunity to add a starting-caliber offensive lineman early on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL draft, including Auburn’s Connor Lew, who could have replaced Myers as the team’s starting center.
Ultimately, they bypassed Lew, electing to take Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, whom the team traded up to land, and settled for Miami guard Anez Cooper in the sixth round.
The Jets will need to work with what they have, and honestly, that isn’t the worst thing in the world. What the team does possess, most importantly, is flexibility at that spot.
Aside from Tippmann’s versatility, which is already highly valuable, there are multiple other ways the Jets can make a switch at center and move Myers into a depth role.
Keep an eye on Dylan Parham, who signed a three-year deal with the team this offseason. While he has played most of his snaps at left guard, he has experience at center in the NFL. A possibility includes moving Parham to center, pushing Myers to the bench, and inserting Anez Cooper at left guard.
At the end of the day, the Jets will almost certainly not make a groundbreaking move ahead of the 2026 season and bring in a player who provides a substantial upgrade over Myers. They will most likely make it work with their current depth chart, which is more than serviceable.
