The 2026 New York Jets roster features a relatively high number of apparent locks.

Given that, it is possible that the team might not be as involved as usual on the cutdown day waiver wire. However, there are still a few holes the Jets can plug to complete their final roster.

Here are two players the Jets could target on cutdown day to fill key weak points on the roster.

Giants OL Lucas Patrick

As we’ve discussed ad nauseam, the Jets’ offensive line depth is a major concern. The interior is particularly troubling.

Lucas Patrick could help address that problem for the Jets.

The 33-year-old has spent the summer with the Jets’ crosstown rival Giants, where he is not expected to make the team. He was omitted from ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan’s 53-man roster projection.

Patrick missed the Giants’ preseason opener, but over 27 snaps at center in the team’s second preseason clash against the Miami Dolphins, he didn’t allow any pressures. His efforts earned him an 80.6 pass-blocking grade at Pro Football Focus, along with a 75.6 mark as a run-blocker.

It will be difficult for the Jets to find a more established veteran offensive lineman on the cutdown day market. The 11-year-NFL veteran has spent time at all three spots on the IOL, including left guard (1,088), center (2,009), and right guard (1,186).

He only played 23 snaps for the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 season due to a severe calf injury sustained in Week 1 that left him sidelined for an extended time.

By the time he returned, in Week 8, he was unable to win back his starting right guard job and played in just six games (one start) for the entirety of the season.

When he’s been on the field, though, he has been effective. In 16 starts from 2023-25, he did not allow a sack, last surrendering one during the 2022 season, when he allowed two.

Overall, Patrick brings exactly what the Jets are looking for in a depth option: experience and versatility.

Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell

There has been a divisive debate in Jet land about whether the team should add a veteran QB2 behind Geno Smith and ahead of fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik.

As we’ve discussed, it would be wise to add a veteran signal-caller in case Smith goes down while the Jets are playing at a competitive level and the team doesn’t believe Klubnik is ready for NFL action.

Andy Dalton is a name the Jets should be interested in. He offers no shortage of starting experience and played under Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich with the Carolina Panthers, adding a connection to the coaching staff.

Another name the Jets should be interested in is Las Vegas Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell, who was left off ESPN Raiders reporter Ryan McFadden’s 53-man roster projection.

O’Connell is one of the few quarterbacks who are expected to become available around cutdown day that could actually keep the Jets competitive if Smith were forced to miss time.

In 21 NFL appearances (17 starts) since 2023, the 27-year-old has gone 7-10 in his starts while completing 62% of his passes for 3,932 yards (6.5 yards per attempt), 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

He played his best ball in 2023, his rookie campaign, when he was asked to start 10 games and led the Raiders to a 5-5 record, finishing with 12 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and averaging 6.5 yards per attempt on a 62.1% completion rate.

O’Connell did all of that with a lot of moving pieces in Vegas. The team had just fired head coach Josh McDaniels and switched to interim HC Antonio Pierce following a 3-5 start.

The Raiders ultimately finished the year 8-9 and missed the playoffs, but O’Connell’s work as a backup kept them afloat once Pierce benched starter Jimmy Garoppolo.

By picking up O’Connell, the Jets would have a more proven backup option behind Smith while allowing Klubnik to continue developing at his own pace.

Quarterback insurance should be an area of emphasis for the Jets on cutdown day, and O’Connell should be one of their top targets if he becomes available.