The Jets have already shown this summer that Darren Mougey isn’t treating training camp like a hard stop.
New York quietly bolstered its defensive front with the additions of Jowon Briggs and Harrison Phillips, and those moves fit the kind of roster-building that can sneak up on a league. The question now is whether Mougey can keep working the margins and land a few more pieces before the 2026 season.
There are three spots that still stand out. The Jets could use another interior offensive lineman who would be an upgrade over Josh Myers.
They could also use a quarterback who fits more naturally into a full-time backup role if rookie Cade Klubnik isn’t ready to handle QB2 duties in 2026. And on defense, they could use another defensive back with some real star power to deepen a room that might still be one impact player short.
One name that fits the offensive line discussion is Cesar Ruiz of the New Orleans Saints. Ruiz entered the league as a center before moving to right guard, and his time in New Orleans has included some uneven play.
Trading for a starting lineman is never simple, especially when a team has a young quarterback like Tyler Shough, but Ruiz is at least worth the swing. A move back to center would be unconventional, but it could give him a fresh start while helping the Jets raise the level of an already strong offensive line.
At quarterback, Andy Dalton makes sense as a possible target from the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s currently part of a four-man quarterback group behind Jalen Hurts, battling Tanner McKee and rookie Cole Payton.
If Klubnik isn’t ready to be QB2 in 2026, Dalton could offer the Jets a more realistic path to stability behind the starter. He knows how to digest a playbook quickly and still has enough arm left to challenge defenses downfield, which should fit what offensive coordinator Frank Reich wants.
The biggest swing of the three would be Jessie Bates III. The Falcons could decide to move the safety, who is in the final year of his contract, even after he earned Second Team All-Pro honors last season.
Atlanta has also handed out expensive extensions to Bijan Robinson and Drake London, and with Jalon Walker’s ACL injury, the team may need assets to help the pass rush. If Bates becomes available, he’d be the kind of addition that would give the Jets another high-end difference-maker in the back end.
In Other News...
Jets Bring Back A Familiar Edge At Training Camp
Training camp in Florham Park got a little extra edge this week when Bart Scott, Eric Smith and Tony Richardson were back around the Jets during a padded practice session. The three former players were central figures in the teams 2010 AFC championship run, and their presence served as a reminder of the kind of physical, reliable football the franchise still likes to celebrate when camp gets serious.
Their visit also fit into a recent pattern, with several Jets legends stopping by camp as the team looks to bridge its past and present. It is the kind of setting that can sharpen attention for current players who are trying to carve out their own place in the organization, especially when the reminders of what success looked like here are standing right on the sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Rookie Cade Klubnik Has Put Real Pressure On One Camp Decision
Cade Klubnik has already made training camp a little more interesting for the Jets, even if his work so far has looked exactly like what you would expect from a rookie quarterback. The fourth-round pick has flashed some potential while also showing the usual bumps and uneven stretches, and he has handled most of the second-team reps as the staff takes a close look at what he can offer behind the starter.
The bigger issue is that Klubnik has not yet created enough separation to make the backup picture feel settled. Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook are still in the mix, and the way Klubnik performs in the preseason could end up shaping more than just his own status, because the Jets need clarity at a spot that tends to get crowded fast when no one claims it outright. [Read more 🡒]