With roster cutdown day looming, the Jets have a chance to do what smart teams always do this time of year: wait for someone else’s surplus to become their answer. And for New York, the clearest area to monitor is the interior offensive line.
That need has only been sharpened by what the Jets have seen in camp and preseason. The first two preseason games put the backup line under heavy pressure, and that trend appeared to continue at Tuesday’s final training camp practice.
By my count, the Jets backup O-Line has allowed five sacks today with Cade Klubnik at QB.
- Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 25, 2026
New York does have five solid starters in place up front, but the issue is what comes after them. The depth behind those top five has become a real concern, which is why Sunday’s 6 PM Eastern Time deadline could matter so much for the Jets. Every NFL team has to get down to 53 players by then, and that means usable linemen will hit the market.
One name worth watching is Baltimore guard Andrew Vorhees. Connor Burke of the Ebony Birds identified Vorhees as a possible cut candidate, and he fits the profile of a player the Jets could target if he becomes available.
"Andrew Vorhees started every game last year, and although he wasn't good, that experience could be valuable for a team searching for answers on the offensive line. While he's 27 years old, it's also just his third healthy season. There might be something left to unlock in him."
Vorhees did play every game last season, but the production wasn’t strong. Pro Football Focus gave him a 54.6 overall grade across 17 straight starts, which ranked him 60th out of 81 qualified guards.
For the Jets, that matters because they are not looking for a new starter. Dylan Parham and Joe Tippmann are expected to handle the left and right spots, leaving the team searching for reliable depth more than anything else. On that front, Vorhees would represent a step up from Xavier Newman, who is currently being leaned on as the top backup on the interior.
There’s also a financial wrinkle. Moving on from Vorhees would free up $3.6 million in cap space for Baltimore, and with a future extension for two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in the picture, that kind of savings can matter. If the Ravens do let him go, the Jets could try to follow the kind of move the Jacksonville Jaguars made and turn a Day 3 pick into offensive line insurance.
Whether it comes through a trade or a waiver claim, Vorhees is a name New York should have on its radar. For a team trying to shore up the spots behind Parham and Tippmann, he could be exactly the kind of fallback option that becomes valuable once the cuts start rolling in.
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Bailey Zappe gets another chance to help his case, while rookies David Bailey and Arvell Reese could see meaningful snaps as the coaching staff keeps sorting out who deserves a place on the 53-man roster and who might stick around on the practice squad. The secondary is also worth watching closely, especially with injuries thinning that group, and the fourth quarter should turn into the most revealing stretch of all as fringe players fight for one more week in green and white. [Read more 🡒]