The Jets’ new-look roster is already producing a few uncomfortable reminders for the teams that let these players walk away.
Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey have spent the offseason reshaping the roster with veterans who can raise the floor in 2026, and early camp has given them plenty to like. New York has looked steady enough for a team coming off a 3-14 season with Geno Smith under center, and while injuries have hit the Jets’ prized draft class, several of the bigger offseason additions have stepped in and looked like immediate hits.
A few of those newcomers are already turning heads in a way that should make their old clubs wince.
Adonai Mitchell tops that list. He was not even a 2026 offseason pickup, but the Indianapolis Colts may already regret including him as part of the Sauce Gardner trade. With the Colts dealing with wide receiver injuries, Mitchell has clearly put himself in position to be the No. 2 wide receiver in this offense.
Dane Belton has also changed the conversation fast. The former New York Giants defensive back entered camp as a depth option who looked set for a special teams role, but he has emerged as a real contender to start next to Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety.
Belton has been so effective that Andre Cisco has become a curse word among this fanbase, and Malachi Moore isn’t even in the picture right now. For a player on a cheap one-year deal, that’s a strong return.
Kingsley Enagbare has worked his way into the mix as well. He began camp listed fourth on the edge-rusher depth chart behind David Bailey, Will McDonald, and Joseph Ossai, but his training camp showing may have earned him a much bigger role. The former Green Bay Packers pass rusher has shown more burst off the edge than the Jets probably expected.
Then there’s Dylan Parham, who looks like a clean upgrade at guard after the Jets moved on from John Simpson. New York saved a little money in the swap, but Parham has looked like the better player. The former Las Vegas Raiders lineman has been steady in preseason work, and on the offensive line, quiet is exactly what you want.
In Other News...
Jets Could Still Land Needed O-Line Help From An Unexpected Cut
The Jets are heading into roster cutdown week with one of the more familiar late-summer worries in the NFL: offensive line depth. Even after getting through camp with a clearer picture up front, the line still feels one injury away from becoming a problem, which is why any available veteran with starting experience is worth a look.
Andrew Vorhees could end up being one of those names if Baltimore decides to move on. The Ravens guard started every game last season, but his performance grade was a concern, and that kind of profile can make him a candidate to be available via trade or a waiver claim. For the Jets, it is the sort of low-cost, low-risk move that can matter a lot when building out the backup side of the offensive line. [Read more 🡒]
Jets May Be Testing Will McDonald In A Risky New Role
Will McDonald arrived as a first-round pick in 2023 with the kind of pass-rushing upside the Jets have wanted off the edge, and that part of his game has already shown up. The bigger question has been how to make the rest of his profile fit, because run defense and coverage duties have been tougher asks for him as he settles into the league.
Under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, the Jets are at least exploring a more unusual answer: using McDonald in coverage as an outside linebacker in the new scheme. It is an intriguing way to squeeze more value from his burst and athleticism, but it also comes with obvious risk given his limited experience and tackling concerns, which is why the staff may look for other players to help handle some of those coverage snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Finally Have A Reason To Expect A More Competitive Season
After a 3-14 season, the Jets spent the offseason trying to look like a team that understands where the holes were. They added Geno Smith, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Demario Davis and Tim Patrick, then used the 2026 draft to keep filling out the roster, giving the group a far different feel than the one that stumbled through last year.
Ben Solak sees enough of those moves to expect a more competitive season, especially with upgrades on both sides of the ball. Even so, the bar still looks modest for now, with New York projected to fall short of the playoffs as the team tries to turn roster repairs into actual results. [Read more 🡒]