The New York Jets are finally in position to end a brutal drought. After getting zero interceptions in 2025, the defense should be in line to make a much-needed breakthrough in 2026.
That’s the bet, anyway. The roster has been reworked with one obvious goal in mind: create more takeaways and turn that empty interception column into something far more respectable. So as Jets fans wait for the first pick since the 2024 season, these are the five players most likely to get there first.
At the top of the list sits Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the logic is pretty straightforward. His interception totals have dipped over the last three seasons, with just two picks since his huge 17-interception stretch from 2019-22, including a league-leading six in 2022. But that decline came with a change in usage, as he spent more time closer to the line of scrimmage instead of roaming deep.
In New York, the setup looks different. Aaron Glenn is expected to lean heavily on single-high looks, and Fitzpatrick appears poised to fill the deep-center role.
Glenn used that kind of structure in Detroit with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, keeping Joseph as the back-end hunter and Branch closer to the action. On this Jets depth chart, Fitzpatrick fits the Joseph lane almost perfectly.
Belton and Moore are better near the line than deep, and Fitzpatrick’s best chance to flip a game comes when he’s patrolling the back end and waiting to make a play.
Just behind him is Nahshon Wright, a name that makes sense as a sleeper for a splash play. Wright is viewed as a dark horse in the battle for a starting outside corner job because of Azareye’h Thomas’ upside and Brandon Stephens’ contract, but the Jets are expected to give him a real shot this summer. If Thomas wins that job outright, he would jump straight to No. 1 on this list.
Wright’s appeal is all about ball skills. He’s coming off a Pro Bowl season fueled by five interceptions, and while one came on a Hail Mary, the other four were genuine high-level plays on the ball. That kind of production makes him more than just a one-hit candidate.
Dane Belton comes next, and his case is built on a track record that jumps off the page. The free agent addition will have to win a starting job in camp, competing with Malachi Moore and Andre Cisco for the spot next to Fitzpatrick. If he gets it, the Jets would be adding a defender who has shown a real nose for the football.
Belton has six interceptions in four seasons despite starting only 22 of his 66 career games. Those picks came on just 105 targets, and he’s added four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. That’s the profile of a player who keeps finding the ball.
D’Angelo Ponds is another rookie with a real shot. The second-round pick has a clear path to the slot corner job, especially with the competition he’s facing, and the Jets clearly believe he can contribute right away. In college, Ponds picked off seven passes on 190 targets, which is a strong indicator of what he can do when the ball comes his way.
There is one wrinkle, though. Ponds played exclusively on the outside in college, and if he moves into the slot in 2026, his interception chances could drop. Even so, he has shown enough ball production to be a candidate for a Week 1 impact play if he wins the job.
Azareye’h Thomas rounds out the top five. He still has to secure a starting outside corner role this summer, but the signs point to a strong chance. The Jets made him a third-round pick in the 2025 draft, and he turned in a solid rookie season.
Thomas is not exactly a natural interception machine. He had just two picks in college across 90 targets and didn’t grab one as a rookie. Still, if he locks down a starting outside spot, he’ll have enough chances to change that fast.
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