{"id":876585,"date":"2026-04-28T03:15:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T03:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/876585\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T03:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T03:15:16","slug":"new-york-jets-depth-chart-post-nfl-draft-and-udfa-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/876585\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Jets depth chart: Post-NFL draft and UDFA update"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New York Jets depth chart<\/a> features a brand-new look. <\/p>\n

The 2026 NFL draft immediately tosses David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr., and others into the mix, giving head coach Aaron Glenn more pieces to mold and configure. <\/p>\n

Offense<\/p>\n

QB<\/p>\n

Geno Smith<\/p>\n

Cade Klubnik<\/p>\n

Brady Cook<\/p>\n

Bailey Zappe<\/p>\n

While three quarterbacks are behind undisputed QB1 Geno Smith on the depth chart, there really isn\u2019t a backup. In fact, fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik should probably (and will most likely) begin his Jets career as QB4, which is the way it should be for newly-drafted players. <\/p>\n

The Jets are still in desperate need of a quality backup quarterback.<\/p>\n

RB<\/p>\n

Breece Hall (H)<\/p>\n

Braelon Allen (H)<\/p>\n

Isaiah Davis (H)<\/p>\n

Kene Nwangwu (H)<\/p>\n

Chip Trayanum (H)<\/p>\n

Sam Scott (H)<\/p>\n

Darren Mougey didn\u2019t draft a running back, but he signed two undrafted free agents<\/a> in Chip Trayanum and Sam Scott.<\/p>\n

FB<\/p>\n

Andrew Beck (F)<\/p>\n

Jeremy Ruckert (F)<\/p>\n

The same can be said for the fullback position, although a tight end addition provides more wiggle-room with Jeremy Ruckert\u2019s versatility.<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

Garrett Wilson (Z, S)<\/p>\n

Adanai Mitchell (X)<\/p>\n

Omar Cooper Jr. (S)<\/p>\n

Isaiah Williams (S, Z)<\/p>\n

Arian Smith (Z)<\/p>\n

Quentin Skinner (X)<\/p>\n

Irvin Charles (X)<\/p>\n

Jamaal Pritchett (S)<\/p>\n

Malik McClain (X)<\/p>\n

Mac Dalena (Z)<\/p>\n

Caullin Lacy (Z, S)<\/p>\n

DT Sheffield (S)<\/p>\n

The Jets struck it brilliantly by trading back into the first round to snag Omar Cooper Jr., 30th overall. The Indiana wideout can play slot and outside for the Jets. <\/p>\n

TE<\/p>\n

Mason Taylor (Y)<\/p>\n

Kenyon Sadiq (Y)<\/p>\n

Jeremy Ruckert (Y)<\/p>\n

Jelani Woods (Y)<\/p>\n

Chase Curtis (Y)<\/p>\n

With Makai Lemon still on the board, New York selected Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq instead. While most Jets fans want to see him immediately penciled in as the starter, this is the National Football League, ladies and gents \u2014 he must first earn it.<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

Olu Fashanu (LT)<\/p>\n

Armand Membou (RT)<\/p>\n

Max Mitchell (T)<\/p>\n

Chukwuma Okorafor (T)<\/p>\n

The Jets\u2019 offensive tackle room remains identical to how it looked heading into the draft. Without a single UDFA acquisition, it\u2019s the thinnest position on the depth chart.<\/p>\n

IL<\/p>\n

Joe Tippmann (RG, C)<\/p>\n

Dylan Parham (LG)<\/p>\n

Josh Myers (C)<\/p>\n

Anez Cooper (G)<\/p>\n

Marquis Hayes (G)<\/p>\n

Xavier Newman (G)<\/p>\n

Gus Hartwig (C)<\/p>\n

Kohl Levao (G)<\/p>\n

Liam Fornadel (G)<\/p>\n

Xavier Hill (G)<\/p>\n

Miami\u2019s Anez Cooper could end up as the Jets\u2019 top interior sub, but that remains to be seen. His experience at right guard offers the ability for Joe Tippmann to move back to center, but don\u2019t expect that to be the immediate plan. <\/p>\n

Defense<\/p>\n

NT<\/p>\n

T\u2019Vondre Sweat (0-1-TECH)<\/p>\n

Darrell Jackson Jr. (0-1-TECH)<\/p>\n

Harrison Phillips (0-1-TECH)<\/p>\n

Mazi Smith (0-1-TECH)<\/p>\n

Darrell Jackson Jr. confidently classifies as a big-heavy, and his presence offers much-needed depth at the 0-tech behind T\u2019Vondre Sweat.<\/p>\n

ID<\/p>\n

David Onyemata (3-5-TECH)<\/p>\n

Harrison Phillips (1-3-TECH)<\/p>\n

Jowon Briggs (3-5-TECH)<\/p>\n

Eric Watts (5-TECH)<\/p>\n

Payton Page (1-3-TECH)<\/p>\n

Jack Heflin (1-3-TECH)<\/p>\n

The 3-to-5-tech spots weren\u2019t bolstered at all in the draft or in the UDFA period, up to this point. Jowon Briggs remains the first sub for David Onyemata and Harrison Phillips in the 3-4 base, while he\u2019s the top defensive tackle in sub-package, pass-rushing situations. <\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

Joseph Ossai (JACK)<\/p>\n

Kingsley Enagbare (SAM)<\/p>\n

Will McDonald (JACK)<\/p>\n

David Bailey (SAM)<\/p>\n

Braiden McGregor (SAM)<\/p>\n

Tyler Baron (SAM)<\/p>\n

Kingsley Jonathan (JACK)<\/p>\n

Ochaun Mathis (SAM)<\/p>\n

Paschal Ekeji (JACK)<\/p>\n

Nathan Voorhis (JACK)<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry, folks \u2014 David Bailey will see plenty of on-field time this season. Initially, however, it\u2019ll be veteran free-agent signings Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare holding down the edge positions in the base.<\/p>\n

SUB<\/p>\n

Will McDonald (EDGE 1)<\/p>\n

David Bailey (EDGE 2)<\/p>\n

Jowon Briggs (IDL 1)<\/p>\n

David Onyemata (IDL 2)<\/p>\n

Bailey is joined by Will McDonald as the two edge players on passing downs, with the previously mentioned Briggs doing his electric thing from the inside.<\/p>\n

ILB<\/p>\n

Demario Davis (MIKE)<\/p>\n

Jamien Sherwood (WILL)<\/p>\n

Kiko Mauigoa (MIKE)<\/p>\n

Mychal Walker (WILL)<\/p>\n

Marcelino McCrary-Ball (WILL)<\/p>\n

Kobe King (WILL)<\/p>\n

Kendrick Blackshire (MIKE)<\/p>\n

The Jets added UDFA Kendrick Blackshire, but other than that, Demario Davis\u2019s position room remains untouched. <\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

Brandon Stephens (BCB)<\/p>\n

AZ Thomas (BCB)<\/p>\n

Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (SCB)<\/p>\n

D\u2019Angelo Ponds (SCB, BCB)<\/p>\n

Nahshon Wright (BCB)<\/p>\n

Qwan\u2019tez Stiggers (BCB)<\/p>\n

Jordan Clark (SCB)<\/p>\n

Tre Brown (BCB)<\/p>\n

Samuel Womack III (SCB)<\/p>\n

Mory Bamba (BCB)<\/p>\n

Yes, second-round selection D\u2019Angelo Ponds has a tremendous chance to start for this team, but again, this is the NFL. He\u2019ll have to earn it. <\/p>\n

Interestingly, he may play both boundary and slot, providing Glenn with flexibility at cornerback. <\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

Minkah Fitzpatrick (SS)<\/p>\n

Andre Cisco (FS)<\/p>\n

Malachi Moore (FS)<\/p>\n

Dane Belton (SS)<\/p>\n

Dean Clark (FS)<\/p>\n

Jarius Monroe (SS)<\/p>\n

VJ Payne (FS)<\/p>\n

Keidron Smith (SS)<\/p>\n

Chris Smith II (FS)<\/p>\n

Seventh-round pick VJ Payne is a hard hitter, but we\u2019ll start him at free safety. Where he winds up on the depth chart is still up for debate. <\/p>\n

Special Teams<\/p>\n

K<\/p>\n

Cade York (PK, KOS)<\/p>\n

Lenny Krieg (PK, KOS)<\/p>\n

Will Ferrin (PK, KOS)<\/p>\n

Mougey signed undrafted placekicker Will Ferrin, despite already employing Cade York and Lenny Krieg. <\/p>\n

P<\/p>\n

Austin McNamara (P, HOLDER)<\/p>\n

The champ is here, and he (Austin McNamara) has no competition.<\/p>\n

LS<\/p>\n

Thomas Hennessy (LS)<\/p>\n

Garrison Grimes (LS)<\/p>\n

Man, how does it feel for a long-time long-snapper when competition actually walks into the building? One has to wonder about that when thinking about the incumbent Thomas Hennessy and UDFA newcomer Garrison Grimes.<\/p>\n

KR\/PR<\/p>\n

Isaiah Williams (KR, PR)<\/p>\n

Kene Nwangwu (KR)<\/p>\n

Jamaal Pritchett (KR, PR)<\/p>\n

Isaiah Davis (KR)<\/p>\n

Chris Banjo\u2019s return options look pretty healthy right now, and a plethora of incremental options are waiting in the wings (in the form of the UDFA wide receivers).<\/p>\n

ST COVERAGE<\/p>\n

Irv Charles<\/p>\n

Qwan\u2019tez Stiggers<\/p>\n

Dane Belton<\/p>\n

Nahshon Wright<\/p>\n

Mychal Walker<\/p>\n

Kiko Mauigoa<\/p>\n

Many of the young dreamers looking to catch on with the New York Jets \u2014 or any NFL team for that matter \u2014 will have to impress in the special teams coverage area. In Florham Park, N.J., things look pretty solid at the moment. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New York Jets depth chart features a brand-new look. The 2026 NFL draft immediately tosses David Bailey,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":876586,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2051],"tags":[101430,5385,51848,60447,4155,198,7,3228,226,28626,1917,255,2321,2097,6,15,6531,7823,3916,3232,61529,3234,102864],"class_list":["post-876585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-jets","tag-anez-cooper","tag-cade-klubnik","tag-dangelo-ponds","tag-darrell-jackson","tag-david-bailey","tag-featured","tag-football","tag-free-content","tag-jets","tag-kenyon-sadiq","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-jets","tag-newyork","tag-newyorkjets","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-draft","tag-ny-jets-column","tag-ny-jets-image","tag-ny-jets-players","tag-ny-jets-roster-depth-chart","tag-omar-cooper-jr","tag-standard","tag-vj-payne"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116480162155579901","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/876585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=876585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/876585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/876586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=876585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=876585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=876585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}