Top 25 New York Jets of 2026: Ranking Every Player Based on Impact

Find out who's the most important player ahead of next season.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) at MetLife Stadium. | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

New York’s front office brass, led by GM Darren Mougey, will hope that the Jets' new offseason additions can get this football team back on track. One could even argue that with the influx of talent on the roster, the Jets shouldn’t be one of the worst teams in the league in 2026.

Speaking of the roster, there are a ton of new faces and guys from last year’s squad who will play a huge role in helping turn around the football program. Over the next few weeks, here at Jets on SI, we’ll be unveiling our top 25 Jets heading into the 2026 season.

It wasn’t easy nailing down the top 25, as there’s a ton of new faces on the team in the midst of figuring out its identity, but there's already a good idea of who will make the biggest impact in 2026.

Offensive Breakdown

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) takes the field prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Jets’ offense will have a new captain leading the charge this season as Frank Reich, who spent last year as the head coach at Stanford University, is stepping in as offensive coordinator for Tanner Engstrand.

With Reich at the helm, we should expect this season’s offense to be more player-empowered, which has drawn rave reviews from standout wide receiver Garrett Wilson. We also know that the former NFL quarterback and head coach will make sure the game plan is geared to the quarterback’s strengths.

Geno Smith, who is back in New York for his second stint, will be looking to execute Reich’s game plan every week. Smith is coming off an ugly 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders and will be trying to re-establish himself as a starter in this league. If he can take this passing offense from 32nd (140.3 yards per game) and scoring offense from 19th (22.3 points per game), there’s no reason to think that the Jets won’t have more than three wins.

However, Smith won’t have to do it by himself, as he has a star running back in Breece Hall, a budding receiver room—which features Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, and rookie Omar Cooper Jr.—a dynamic tight end tandem (Kenyon Sadiq and Mason Taylor), plus an offensive line that has a ton of potential to be one of the better units in the league.

The sky is the limit for this Jets’ offense in 2026, but for them to have success, it will be up to Reich, Smith, and Hall, who is coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign.

Defensive Breakdown

New York Jets edge David Bailey (31) warms up during minicamp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. | John Jones-Imagn Images

There’s a ton of excitement surrounding this Jets’ defense, which added a ton of talent at all three levels in free agency, the draft, and the trade market. Head coach Aaron Glenn will take over the play-calling duties, as he’ll be running a multiple-scheme defense, which is perfect for the pieces the Jets have.

When you look at the defensive line, New York has the talent off the edge with Will McDonald IV and rookie David Bailey, who will look to improve the Jets’ sack numbers from last year. Then, in the middle, the Jets acquired T’Vondre Sweat from the Tennessee Titans, and he should help in stopping the run, which was a major issue in 2025.

At linebacker, the Jets brought back Demario Davis, who still has a lot left in the tank despite being 37 years old, and he will help out Jamien Sherwood.

And finally, we can’t forget about the Jets’ secondary, which has new faces in Nahshon Wright, D’Angelo Ponds (rookie), and Minkah Fitzpatrick. These three defensive backs in particular should help create some turnovers this upcoming season after having zero interceptions in 2025.

Special Teams Breakdown

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn smiles after New York Jets running back Kene Nwangwu (34) scores a touchdown on a kickoff during an NFL Week 10 game between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. | Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last but not least, the Jets’ special teams unit will be under a huge microscope this season. As of now, we don’t know who will be the team’s starting kicker as Cade York and Jason Sanders are battling against each other to earn that spot.

The Jets hope that whoever wins the competition can duplicate what veteran Nick Folk (insert stats) did last season. Luckily, New York doesn’t have to worry about their punt and kick return games as it has two of the better specialists in the league in Kene Nwangwu and Isaiah Williams.

Nwangwu averaged 33.6 yards per kick return and scored a kick return touchdown. He led all active players in the NFL with 29.7 yards per kick return.

As for Williams, he was ranked third in yards per punt return (14.1) and scored two punt return touchdowns. The 25-year-old wide receiver also showed off his versatility on kick returns with a 29.2-yard per kick return average.

Williams and Nwangwu combined to help the Jets be ranked first in yards per kick return (29.9) in 2025. Needless to say, we should expect this unit to be one of the best in 2026.

Top 25 rankings

Click on any player name to read our full rankings breakdown and 2026 outlook.

No. 25: LB Kingsley Enagbare

The 26-year-old pass rusher will be looking to make an immediate impact on the Jets' defense in 2026, especially against the run. If Enagbare can take his game to the next level and become a more complete defender, there's no reason why the Jets wouldn't re-sign him after this upcoming season.

No. 24: Center Josh Myers

Despite getting a two-year extension during the final month of last season, the veteran center has a ton of pressure on his shoulders to play better in 2026. For this Jets' offense to take a step forward, Myers has to limit his pressures in pass blocking and improve as a run blocker. There are no excuses why New York's offensive line can't be one of the better units in the NFL.

No. 23: DL David Onyemata

Sticking in the trenches, David Onyemata was another key addition to address the lacking run defense from 2025. The 33-year-old was dominant against the run for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025, and his versatility to play inside or outside fits what Aaron Glenn wants from this defense. He's not the kind of impact player who will transform a game on his own, but he provides the kind of stability and versatility that any good defense needs from its role players.

No. 22: DT Jowon Briggs

Briggs, who was acquired before Week 1 of the last season, became one of the surprise stories from a disastrous 2025 season. The 24-year-old defensive lineman brought a pass-rushing prowess from the interior, racking up four sacks (second-most on the team). Heading into his second year with the team, the former seventh-round pick is just scratching the surface of who he can become.

No. 21: DE Joseph Ossai

Ossai is one of the new faces in the trenches that the Jets signed in the offseason. The 26-year-old defender isn't much of a sack artist, but recorded 10 sacks in his last two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Therefore, not only will he be able to rush the passer, but also help fix the beleaguered Jets' run defense. Unlike Kingsley Enagbare and David Onyemata, who both got one-year deals, Ossai signed a three-year deal in free agency, as the Jets hope he can live up to expectations on defense.

No. 20: TE Mason Taylor

Coming in at No. 20 in our rankings is none other than Mason Taylor. The former second-round pick was one of the few bright spots in what was a dismal 2025 season for the Jets. Despite dealing with a revolving door at quarterback, Taylor showed he had what it takes to be a TE1 in the league. However, Taylor hasn't had the best offseason program and has a new competitor entering the tight end room in Kenyon Sadiq, whom the Jets took in the first round in April's draft. That said, the sky is the limit for the second-year tight end to have a breakout 2026.

No. 19: WR Omar Cooper Jr.

The rookie receiver has yet to play an NFL regular-season snap, but is already ranked 19th in our rankings. The Jets surprisingly traded back into the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft to take Cooper Jr. after already selecting David Bailey and Kenyon Sadiq at No. 2 and 16 overall. The former Indiana Hoosier wide receiver will fit in nicely with the Jets' receiver unit, which features Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell.

No. 18: WR Adonai Mitchell

Mitchell was considered just a throw-in in last season's Sauce Gardner trade, but that could be the furthest thing from the truth. The young wide receiver showed flashes of promise last season after joining Gang Green and has been one of the breakout stars in OTAs and minicamp this summer. The Jets hope that is a sign of things to come for the No. 18-ranked player heading into this season.

No. 17: DL Harrison Phillips

The veteran defensive tackle was one of the better defenders on a not-so-great Jets' defense in 2025. Phillips was also acquired before the regular season, just like Briggs, and immediately brought a veteran presence to the locker room. Phillips won't wow you with gaudy numbers, but he's a stalwart in the middle of the defensive line and someone who has taken on more of a mentorship role, working with new Jet T'Vondre Sweat.

No. 16: CB Brandon Stephens

The veteran cornerback didn't have a great first season with Gang Green in 2026 after they signed him to a three-year, $36 million deal. While he thrived in run defense, his coverage skills left a lot to be desired. That said, the Jets are banking on Stephens bouncing back this season, especially with the new faces joining him in the secondary -- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Nahshon Wright, and rookie D'Angelo Ponds.

No. 15: LB Demario Davis

The 37-year-old Davis is returning to Gang Green for an unprecedented third time in his career. Davis signed a two-year deal with the Jets in the offseason. The hope is he still has something left in the tank to help this defense be much better than what it was in 2025. Davis will work in tandem with Jamien Sherwood, whose play took a step back last season.

No. 14: LB Jamien Sherwood

Staying at linebacker, Sherwood didn't live up to expectations last season after the Jets paid him a lump sum last offseason. While he still had 154 combined tackles, the veteran linebacker struggled, especially in coverage, which led to him being benched multiple times during the 2025 campaign. That said, it's a brand new year, and Sherwood has the talent to make last season a distant memory.

No. 13: CB D'Angelo Ponds

After not recording an interception last season, the Jets made it a point of emphasis to upgrade their secondary this offseason. In the 2026 NFL draft, New York took D'Angelo Ponds in the second round, who has drawn comparisons to head coach Aaron Glenn. Ponds has the skills and mindset to play on the boundary and inside the slot. Since the Jets already have Wright and Stephens on the outside, Ponds' best bet to play as a rookie will be in the slot, but he'll have to outplay Jarvis Brownlee Jr.

No. 12: CB Nahshon Wright

The ballhawking cornerback joined the Jets this offseason on a cheap one-year deal, despite having five interceptions last season with the Chicago Bears. New York hopes Wright can build on his play in 2025 after starting in a career-high 16 games. If he can have another Pro Bowl season, it will bode well for the Jets' defense and could lead to them re-signing him to a longer deal.

No. 11: OT Olu Fashanu

The Jets are banking on the former first-round pick elevating his game entering Year 3 in 2026. According to his PFF grades and stats, Fashanu had a good 2025 season, but some feel like there's another level that he can reach on the left side. If that's true, the Jets' offensive line can be one of the better units in 2026, which will help out Geno Smith and Breece Hall.

No. 10: DT T'Vondre Sweat

Before free agency began, the Jets made a surprising trade with the Tennessee Titans, swapping Jermaine Johnson II for T'Vondre Sweat. Sweat is joining a Jets defense that traded star Quinnen Williams last season and also struggled against the run. However, he has the skills to fill the void left by Williams and can reach new heights in Glenn's multiple defensive scheme.

No. 9: S Minkah Fitzpatrick

The Jets' secondary issues were well-documented last season, leading to an offseason trade with the rival Dolphins to acquire Minkah Fitzpatrick. The three-time first-team All-Pro safety broke up six passes and even picked up a throw in 14 starts with Miami in 2025, leaving New York fans hopeful that he can have a similar impact in Gotham.

No. 8: QB Geno Smith

The Jets haven't had a reliable quarterback in forever, which is why they're hoping that a reunion with Geno Smith will end that streak. The 35-year-old signal-caller began his professional career as a second-round pick by New York in 2013 and has made two Pro Bowl appearances since leaving after the 2016 season. He's coming off a down year with the Raiders; however, it's fair to say that Smith is still a better arm than what fans have seen in recent years.

No. 7: TE Kenyon Sadiq

He hasn't even made his NFL preseason debut, but that doesn't change the fact that Kenyon Sadiq is one of the most important Jets this season. The 21-year-old rookie demonstrated impressive playmaking skills and athleticism during his time at Oregon, which included career-high marks in receptions (51), receiving yards (560) and touchdowns (eight) in 2025. Can he make a similar impact in offensive coordinator Frank Reich's unit? Time will tell.

No. 6: RG Joe Tippmann

Offensive guard isn't the sexiest position, yet each of the other 31 NFL teams would do anything to have Joe Tippmann on their roster. The veteran blocker is a leader on and off the field in Gotham, doing whatever it takes to clear run lanes while keeping the quarterback on his feet. That's the type of reliable protection the Jets will need this fall if they want to take their offense to the next level.

No. 5: EDGE David Bailey

Despite still waiting to make his NFL debut, David Bailey is already shaping up to be a top-five player for the Jets. The 2026 draft's second-overall selection oozes with potential and instantly makes New York's pass rush look more threatening than last season. Obviously, full praise should wait until he shows what he can do in September, but all signs point to Bailey becoming a household name sooner rather than later.

No. 4: OT Armand Membou

As much as the Jets need Geno Smith to succeed next season, any success starts with his protection. Fortunately, Armand Membou is as reliable as they come in that area. Although he allowed eight sacks last season, according to Pro Football Focus, Membou surrendered just two in the last five games to close out the season—including the last three without giving one up. Assuming he has another gear, fans will be in for a treat this season.

No. 3: EDGE Will McDonald IV

The Jets' pass rush wasn't anything special before the offseason, but that was far from Will McDonald IV's fault. The former 15th overall pick of the 2023 draft has 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons and will look to take his game to new heights, not only motivated to secure a big-time contract extension, but also because Bailey's presence will take a load off his plate. New York fans should be excited to see what's next for McDonald.

No. 2: RB Breece Hall

The Jets showed Breece Hall just how important he is to them when they extended him with a three-year contract worth up to $45.75 million earlier this offseason. The 25-year-old running back broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time last season, indicating that the best has yet to come. If he not only replicates but improves on his 2025 performance, Hall might very well be at No. 1 next season.

No. 1: WR Garrett Wilson

Until that happens, though, Garrett Wilson will remain the most important player in the Jets organization. The three-time 1,000-yard wideout missed half of last year due to injury; however, all signs point to a full recovery, giving New York fans plenty to look forward to after the front office improve the offense this spring. If everything goes as well on the field as it looks on paper, the 2026 campaign could be a career year for Wilson.