Jets 53-man roster prediction ahead of 2026 NFL season

· Yahoo Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD – The Jets saw what they needed to. So, in their preseason finale against the Giants, they rested just about everyone who’s anyone.

No Geno Smith. No Breece Hall. No Garrett Wilson. 

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It was the Cade Klubnik show and those fighting for a roster spot. Chip Trayanum scored a touchdown. Nate Lynn had another sack. For the most part, they kept the Giants at bay, but ultimately fell 23-6.

It was a solid end to the summer. Now, the Jets will spend the next 48 hours trimming their roster to 53.

Here’s our final prediction of what moves might be coming for Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey...

Quarterback (2)

  • Makes the cut: Geno Smith, Cade Klubnik
  • Gets cut: Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook

Cade won the backup quarterback job almost by default. Zappe and Cook were terrible in camp and the preseason. I’d look for the Jets to explore other quarterbacking options on the waiver wire, potentially J.J. McCarthy (Vikings) or Tanner McKee (Eagles).

Running back (5)

  • Makes the cut: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu, Andrew Beck (FB)
  • Gets cut: Dominic Richardson, Chip Trayanum

The injuries to Hall and Davis cloud this room some. The Jets expect both players back for the opener, but how close to 100 percent will they be? Nwangwu gives them an insurance policy. They can always cut him, and move him to the practice squad, if Hall and Davis are truly back to form.

Receiver (6)

  • Makes the cut: Garrett Wilson, AD Mitchell, Omar Cooper, Isaiah Williams, Tim Patrick, Arian Smith
  • Gets cut: Junior Bergen, Cam Camper, Malik McClain, Jamaal Pritchett, Quincy Skinner

Smith, last year’s fourth-round pick, hasn’t done much to separate himself to this point. He makes the 53-man roster just because it’s hard to see the Jets keeping five wideouts. It’s very possible a player shakes free from another team and the Jets claim him, then cut Smith, a day later.

Sep 7, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (85) reacts to the play during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Tight end (4)

  • Makes the cut: Mason Taylor, Kenyon Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert, Jelani Woods
  • Gets cut: Chase Curtis, Connor Hulstein

This is one of the deeper tight end rooms I can remember the Jets having. All four players can play. Woods might be having the best summer of anyone.

Offensive line (9)

  • Makes the cut: Olu Fashanu, Dylan Parham, Josh Myers, Joe Tippmann, Armand Membou, Anez Cooper, Xavier Newman, Max Mitchell, Chukwuma Okorafor
  • Gets cut: Liam Fornadel, Marquis Hayes, Xavier Hill, Kohl Levao, Cortland Ford, Landon Young

No real surprises here. This is another spot I could see the Jets looking to fortify on the waiver wire. Their starters are very good, but there isn’t much depth.

Defensive line (10)

  • Makes the cut: David Bailey, T’Vondre Sweat, Harrison Phillips, Will McDonald, Kingsley Enagbare, David Onyemata, Mazi Smith, Darrell Jackson, Jowon Briggs, Joseph Ossai
  • Gets cut: Paschal Ekeji, Payton Page, Jack Heflin, Braiden McGregor

This unit is almost completely rebuilt from the one Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas constructed just a few years ago. McDonald, who's been working with the backup defense, is the lone remaining. This group could use some fortification in the middle.

 

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws the ball under pressure from New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (44) in the first quarter during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Linebacker (4)

  • Makes the cut: Demario Davis, Jamien Sherwood, Kiko Mauigoa, Marcelino McCrary-Ball
  • Gets cut: Jaden Keller, Chase Wilson, Mykal Walker

The Jets have a tremendous 1-2 punch at linebacker in Davis and Sherwood. Behind them is the real concern, though. Glenn can’t feel confident in any of the other guys if they’re forced to play meaningful defensive reps. Linebackers aren’t that hard to find. The Jets might go looking.

Cornerbacks (6)

  • Makes the cut: Brandon Stephens, AZ Thomas, Jarvis Brownlee, D’Angelo Ponds, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Nashon Wright
  • Gets cut: Mory Bamba, Tre Brown, Jordan Clark, Keenan Garber, Samuel Womack

The Jets cornerback room is deep, it’s just lacking a legitimate guy at the top. They essentially have six No. 2, No. 3 guys and no lockdown presence. That’s tough in today’s NFL. It’s near impossible to find a game-changing corner on the waiver wire or trade block, so the Jets will likely have to make it work with these guys this year.

Safeties (4)

  • Makes the cut: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton, Andre Cisco, VJ Payne
  • Gets cut: Dean Clark, Jarius Monroe, Malachi Moore, Tanner Wall

Belton finally surpassed Cisco on the depth chart this week, taking over as the starter next to Fitzpatrick. It’s deserved. He’s had a far better summer. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Jets just cut Cisco and went with someone younger.

Special teams (3)

  • Makes the cut: Jason Sanders (K), Austin McNamara (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
  • Gets cut: N/A

Sanders won the kicking competition because he was the least bad. This is one that would still surprise me if he’s their Week 1 kicker. The Jets will likely look to get something else done here.

 

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