The Jets have spent much of the offseason plugging obvious leaks, and on paper they’ve done a decent job of it. Wide receiver got a real boost with first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft and the quick addition of Tim Patrick. Safety, another area that looked shaky, also got a serious makeover with Darren Mougey bringing in Minkah Fitzpatrick, Andre Cisco and Dane Belton.
But the interior offensive line has started to look like the spot that never really got fixed.
That issue showed up again in training camp, especially when Cade Klubnik and the second-team offense were on the field. Jets content creator Matt O'Leary, who was at practice this past Saturday, said second-team center Xavier Newman was "struggling with snaps," a familiar concern for anyone who has watched him since he joined New York in 2023.
The problem for the Jets is that they didn’t do much to shore up guard or center depth despite knowing the backup options were thin. Their starting trio from left to right is Dylan Parham, Josh Myers and Joe Tippmann, and that group gives them a workable interior line. The trouble starts if one of those three gets hurt.
At that point, New York would be looking at Newman, 2026 sixth-round pick Anez Cooper or veteran Landon Young. That’s a fragile setup, and it leaves the Jets exposed if they need someone who can step in and hold up right away.
There are still options out there, though. One name that stands out is Kevin Zeitler, who last played for the Tennessee Titans. He’s 36, so the Jets probably can’t count on him to start every game, but he’d make sense as a short-term answer and a dependable spot starter.
Spotrac projects Zeitler at one year and $9.2 million, though that number may be more of a starting point than a ceiling at this stage of the offseason, given that he remains unsigned.
In Other News...
Jets Camp Just Took Another Hit At Tight End
The Jets tight end group has already been under a spotlight in camp, and rookie Kenyon Sadiq has added another layer to it after missing practice time while working back from a hernia injury. Head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed the setback, which comes at a point when every rep matters for a young player trying to carve out a role and for a position group that has been watched closely since camp opened.
Sadiqs absence could create a little more runway for Mason Taylor, who has drawn praise from the coaching staff and may see more chances while the rookie continues his rehab. For a team trying to sort out its depth and find reliable options early, any interruption at tight end has a way of changing the conversation fast, and this one leaves the Jets waiting on how soon Sadiq can get back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Rookie Is Suddenly Forcing His Way Into A Bigger Role
The Jets interior defensive line has already been handed a summer twist, with the early weeks of training camp creating an opening for Darrell Jackson Jr. The rookie defensive tackle came into the season with the expectation that his first year would be more about learning than playing, but extra practice reps have put him in position to show he can handle more than a limited developmental role.
Jacksons rise has come in part because the defensive tackle room has been thinned out early, giving him a clearer path to work with the first group and make an impression on the coaching staff. If the line keeps dealing with injuries, the Jets may not have the luxury of easing him along for long, and what was supposed to be a quiet rookie season could turn into something much bigger before camp is over. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Kicker Battle Just Became A Real Week 1 Debate
The Jets spent the offseason replacing a familiar piece of stability after veteran kicker Nick Folk left for Atlanta in free agency, and the search for his successor has quickly turned into one of camps more intriguing battles. New York brought in Cade York and former All-Pro Jason Sanders to compete for the job, giving the team two kickers with enough pedigree to make this more than a routine depth-chart exercise.
A recent training camp practice only sharpened the competition, with Sanders running the table on all eight field goal tries and York connecting on seven of eight. For now, the Jets look set with their main Week 1 options, but the final call is still going to come down to who can stay steady through the rest of camp and the preseason, where every kick carries a little more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]