The 2026 preseason is officially over, courtesy of a 23-6 loss to the New York Giants on Friday night.
That said, it’s time to settle some business, New York Jets roster business, to be precise.
Cutdown day is less than 48 hours away, which means Gang Green, along with the NFL’s 31 other teams, will be forced to cut their roster down from 90 to 53. Naturally, it’s not that simple.
Plenty of surprises are set to hit the league’s waiver wire, along with trade buzz involving veteran would-be cuts. How that involves the Jets is the big question.
Let’s dig into the New York Jets’ 53-man roster prediction…
QB (3): Geno Smith, Aidan O’Connell, Cade Klubnik
I’ve made my stance on the Jets’ QB2 situation pretty clear, and Friday night’s showing only reinforced my belief that Cade Klubnik isn’t ready to be the team’s primary backup.
With that in mind, the team could target several options on the cutdown day market. The top name that comes to mind is Las Vegas Raiders veteran Aidan O’Connell.
He’s one of the few quarterbacks expected to become available that could actually keep the Jets afloat if starter Geno Smith were forced to miss time. NFL.com’s Kevin Patra recently listed him as a potential trade candidate, for obvious reasons (the crowded quarterback room in Vegas, with Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza).
Since entering the league in 2023, O’Connell has appeared in 21 games (17 starts). He’s led the Raiders to a 7-10 record in his starts while completing 62% of his passes for 3,932 yards (6.5 yards per attempt), 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Most impressively, during his rookie campaign in 2023, he was forced to start 10 games, leading the Raiders to a 5-5 record. Also, he did that amid the team’s coaching change.
To be safe, the Jets shouldn’t enter the season without an established QB2 in front of the fourth-round rookie, Klubnik.
RB (4): Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis, Braelon Allen, Kene Nwangwu
Practice Squad (1): Andrew Beck (FB)
The running back room is a lock with Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis, and Braelon Allen, while Kene Nwangwu makes the team for his elite special teams prowess.
At first, I was a big advocate of keeping Andrew Beck on the 53-man roster. As the summer unfolded, though, he hasn’t particularly turned any heads throughout training camp or the preseason.
He’s undoubtedly a scrappy fullback and special teamer, but there haven’t been many blocks or reps that jump off the screen. The Jets should prioritize keeping Jelani Woods over him, and the team shouldn’t have an issue getting Beck onto the practice squad.
Since Beck is a vested veteran (four or more seasons of NFL experience), he isn’t subject to waivers and can just head right to the practice squad without the Jets having to worry about him getting scooped up on the waiver wire.
WR (5): Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., Isaiah Williams, Tim Patrick
Practice Squad (3): Malik McClain, Quincy Skinner Jr., Cam Camper
I have the Jets rolling with five receivers on their initial 53-man roster, contrary to the common six.
Despite being a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, Arian Smith didn’t do enough throughout the summer to warrant a roster spot. He was also playing deep into the fourth quarter of New York’s preseason finale on Friday night, which helps indicate where he stands in the Jets’ eyes.
At first, Malik McClain was looking like he could run away with the job. He had a strong first two preseason games and graded out very well on special teams. However, it appears he should be able to clear waivers; if that’s the case, why use a roster spot?
In many cases, teams’ sixth WR is inactive on gamedays. Given that, why force a sixth WR onto the 53-man if nobody has truly earned the role, which is the case with the Jets?
Quincy Skinner Jr. and Cam Camper flashed enough throughout the preseason to warrant practice squad spots alongside McClain.
While it’s tough given that he was a fourth-round selection a year ago, it’s wise for the Jets to just cut their losses with Smith.
TE (4): Mason Taylor, Kenyon Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert, Jelani Woods
As noted above, Jelani Woods deserves to make the team.
He was the definition of a summer standout. When you couple that in with his athleticism, owning a perfect 10.0 RAS (Relative Athletic Score) and his prior connection to offensive coordinator Frank Reich, it becomes more of an obvious choice.
Other than that, it’s chalk with Mason Taylor, first-round rookie Kenyon Sadiq, and Jeremy Ruckert.
OT (4): Olu Fashanu, Armand Membou, Chukwuma Okorafor, Max Mitchell
Practice Squad (1): Landon Young
I have the Jets going with nine offensive linemen compared to the traditional 10. With Max Mitchell’s ability to play both tackle and guard, there’s no need for a 10th.
While the interior depth is concerning, the backup tackle situation isn’t that bad. Chukwuma Okorafor is an eight-year NFL veteran who has started 60 games and been effective at times. Consistently, though, remains the biggest issue.
On the other hand, Mitchell has started 17 games in four seasons with the Jets. He’s also flashed as a pass protector this preseason, ranking second on the team in Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking grade (85.2), just .1 points behind Marquis Hayes’ team-high 85.3 mark.
While Landon Young has starting experience in the league, his preseason play left a lot to be desired, allowing four pressures, which tied for the most on the team.
IOL (5): Joe Tippmann, Josh Myers, Dylan Parham, Anez Cooper, Jarrett Patterson
Practice Squad (2): Kohl Levao, Marquis Hayes
Adding to their interior offensive line depth on cutdown day is a necessity for the Jets.
One name to monitor who’d be a perfect fit with the Jets is Houston Texans IOL Jarrett Patterson. Patterson, 26, isn’t expected to make the Texans’ 53-man roster and offers exactly what the Jets should be looking for.
Most importantly, he offers versatility, which is crucial in a proven backup piece. In 2025, he played 334 total snaps, including 267 at left guard and 67 at center. In 2024, he played 537 snaps at center and 10 at left guard.
As a sixth-round rookie, Anez Cooper will make the team, though he isn’t very versatile. He is limited to pretty much only playing at right guard.
While Marquis Hayes was impressive this preseason, his inexperience in the NFL doesn’t warrant a roster spot. Cooper is a lock to make the team since he’s a rookie, and it’s important to make room for at least one waiver wire pickup, who is Patterson in this prediction.
Carrying six interior offensive linemen would be nonsensical. However, it would be nice for the team to keep him on the practice squad alongside Kohl Levao.
It’s time for New York to move on from Xavier Newman. He is the odd man out after struggling throughout the preseason and training camp with several erratic snaps at center.
EDGE (5): Joseph Ossai, Kingsley Enagbare, Will McDonald, David Bailey, Nate Lynn
Practice Squad (2): Braiden McGregor, Paschal Ekeji (IPP)
The only competition in the preseason at EDGE was for the final spot, and Nate Lynn took advantage of every one of his opportunities.
In two preseason games, Lynn generated a team-high six pressures and three sacks, including a two-sack showing in Week 2 of the preseason after signing with the team three days before.
He’s also not just a one-trick pony. While his pass-rushing skills jump off the screen, he’s also made plays against the run, ranking fifth among the Jets’ defenders this preseason in PFF’s run-defense grade (73.6).
Lynn is just 24-years-old and overlapped with Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and assistant defensive line coach Cameron Davis during his time with the Detroit Lions in 2024.
Throughout three preseasons, he’s been very effective, boasting a whopping 18.4% pressure rate on 114 pass-rush snaps. It’s time for the Jets to give him a roster spot before another team does.
Despite getting beat out for the final spot on the 53-man roster, Braiden McGregor sticks around on the team’s practice squad.
Paschal Ekeji also lands on the practice squad since he entered the NFL through the league’s IPP (International Pathway Player) Program, meaning he doesn’t count towards the Jets’ 16-player practice squad.
DT (5): Harrison Phillips, T’Vondre Sweat, Jowon Briggs, Darrell Jackson Jr., David Onyemata
Practice Squad (1): Payton Page
The defensive tackle room is pretty straightforward without any surprises.
After generating five pressures in the preseason, which ranked second on the team, Page sticks around on the PS despite struggling mightily against the run.
LB (5): Demario Davis, Jamien Sherwood, Kiko Mauigoa, Mykal Walker, Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Practice Squad (2): Chase Wilson, Jaden Keller
After an excellent end to the preseason on Friday night, where he had an interception and forced fumble, Marcelino McCrary-Ball earned himself a roster spot.
Friday was just the type of performance he needed to secure a spot. He finishes the preseason with a team-high coverage grade from PFF (92.4) while also leading the Jets in tackles with 15.
Everyone knows about his impact on special teams, but the biggest question has been on defense. If the preseason is any indication, he certainly has the potential to be an LB4-5 defensively.
As UDFAs who made the team at rookie minicamp, Jaden Keller and Chase Wilson are worth stashing on the practice squad following strong showings throughout the summer.
CB (6): Azareye’h Thomas, Nahshon Wright, Brandon Stephens, D’Angelo Ponds, Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Samuel Womack III
Practice Squad (2): Jordan Clark, Tre Brown
IR (1): Mory Bamba
The Jets’ cornerback room is one of the most competitive spots on the team’s depth chart from top to bottom.
Entering the preseason, there were five locks at cornerback to make the team with Azareye’h Thomas, Nahshon Wright, Brandon Stephens, D’Angelo Ponds, and Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
The battle for the final spot is between Samuel Womack III, Jordan Clark, Tre Brown, Qwan’tez Stiggers, and Mory Bamba.
Womack did the most to win the job. He has the strongest regular-season resume among the group, appearing in 46 games with 11 since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2022.
He backed that up with an excellent preseason, recording an interception while his 91.1 coverage grade at PFF is the best among 104 qualified cornerbacks this preseason (minimum 40 coverage snaps).
Clark and Brown are better suited for the practice squad, while Bamba should begin the season on short-term injured reserve. That allows the Jets to retain the UDFA after a strong preseason debut before he got hurt, without him occupying a roster spot.
New York took a similar approach to UDFA linebacker Ja’Markis Weston last year. Each team has two short-term IR spots, and Bamba should get one of them.
While Stiggers had a very solid game on Friday, coming away with a pass breakup and a fumble recovery, I’d still look to trade him. His special teams value could generate interest from another team, but Womack remains the more dependable option on defense for the Jets’ final CB spot.
S (4): Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton, Andre Cisco, Malachi Moore
IR (1): VJ Payne
The top three spots are set with Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton, and Andre Cisco.
Despite an underwhelming summer, Malachi Moore earns the fourth safety spot to begin the season because of VJ Payne’s bone bruise. Payne, a seventh-round rookie, could begin the year on short-term IR, which would open the door for Moore to stick around.
Moore didn’t necessarily win a roster spot, but Payne’s injury could buy him another opportunity to prove himself.
ST (3): Jason Sanders, Austin McNamara, Thomas Hennessy
Despite his shaky performance on Friday night, I don’t foresee the Jets adding another kicker before Week 1, meaning Jason Sanders is still in line for the role.
