The Jets’ biggest defensive problem from last season wasn’t just ugly - it was historic. Aaron Glenn’s team finished the year without an interception, becoming the only NFL team ever to go a full season without a pick.
That’s the backdrop for one of the most important position battles in 2026 training camp. ESPN’s Ben Solak pointed to the Jets’ cornerback competition as one of the summer’s top fights, and the reason is obvious: somebody in that room has to help end the zero-INT streak.
Rookie Azareye'h Thomas is in the mix after being the first option for the snaps that opened up. Solak wrote, "Rookie Azareye'h Thomas, a third-rounder in 2025, was the first man up for the vacated snaps," and added, "He looked good for a few games before a shoulder injury ended his season. Thomas will be first in line for starting reps opposite veteran Brandon Stephens, but he faces stiff competition."
That competition includes Nahshon Wright and D'Angelo Ponds, both of whom have a real shot to push Thomas for the starting outside corner job.
Wright is coming off a breakout year with the Chicago Bears, where he picked off five passes and forced two fumbles. If the Jets are looking for a corner who can actually flip the field with the ball in his hands, he fits the bill.
Ponds is the other name to watch, and he brings a different kind of intrigue. The 2026 second-rounder is listed at 5-foot-8, and Solak called him "the closest thing to Aaron Glenn in the NFL right now." He’s also being coached by his NFL comparison, which only adds to the storyline.
His production in college backed up the buzz. Over three seasons, Ponds had two interceptions in 2023, three in 2024, and three in 2025.
Solak summed up the situation this way: "This feels like a true three-way battle, and the Jets desperately need a clear winner."
That’s the heart of it for the Jets this summer. They don’t just need a starting corner. They need someone who can finally put an end to one of the strangest and most embarrassing streaks in recent NFL memory.
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