With the conclusion of the 2026 NFL draft, the New York Jets can turn their sights to rookie minicamp next week. All nine of their draft picks, plus a deep crux of undrafted free agents and invites, will get a chance to make a strong first impression in Florham Park.

Not every rookie minicamp is treated the same. New York made three first-round picks this year, so the focus will be primarily on how each of those players looks early in the process.

Here are three storylines to watch heading into next week’s slate of practices.

Who shows competency?

Last season, players like Mason Taylor, Arian Smith, and Azareye’h Thomas all showed bursts during rookie minicamp. The likes of Malachi Moore and Armand Membou didn’t really show their full potential until the pads came on.

That’s a good indicator that standouts during minicamp are not guaranteed to be quality players during the season. For New York, the focus should be on developing each player’s preparedness for the NFL.

The two-day practice window is always about helping a player begin to learn the professional game and seeing what they can do within the team’s scheme. There’s no reason for fans and media to make it more than it needs to be.

But it is always nice to see a rookie class show competency out of the gate.

David Bailey’s impact on Jets

Championships are not won in rookie minicamp. Hall of Fame careers don’t magically begin the moment players step on the practice field. It’s important for fans and organizations not to get too high or low on any specific prospect at this time of year.

In the case of second-overall pick David Bailey, though, next week will be the first time the Texas Tech product hits the field for the Jets. Pads won’t be on, so it will be hard to evaluate the game-breaking speed that made him the best pass rusher in college football.

Still, like any second overall pick, Bailey will need to prove he can perform at a high level quickly. Next week is the first step for him to do so.

The QB of it all

Last season, the Jets let undrafted rookie Brady Cook and former undrafted rookie Adrian Martinez begin their competition for QB3 at rookie minicamp. This year, fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik has been brought in as a developmental arm for the 2026 season.

Rookie minicamp is never a good indication of how good a quarterback will be at the NFL level. But next week will be the first time we get to see Klubnik in action since the conclusion of his disappointing 2025 season at Clemson.

Expectations for Klubnik are low after he was drafted in the fourth round. Still, how the Jets handle Klubnik’s development could be a good indicator of whether the current regime can be trusted to handle the pressures of a higher pick the following season.