The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. Each year the Jets select new additions to their team in the Draft. Of course, those prospects impact the players already on the team. Let’s talk about the Jets who gained and lost most from the class of 2026.
Winners
Josh Myers
Myers is pencilled in as starting center. I don’t think anybody is that excited about having him in that role, though. While he provides a somewhat stable floor, you’d probably prefer him to be depth than a starter. The Jets’ lack of a center pick means that will
have to wait at least a year. Myers will have no competition to retain his number one center role.
Jamien Sherwood
The Jets already added Demario Davis at linebacker this season. Davis will likely take the “quarterback of the defense” role away from Sherwood. Had the Jets picked a linebacker early (and some rumors suggest they were high on Jacob Rodriguez who went one slot ahead of their original second round pick), Sherwood could have found himself on the bench. It’s possible he could have even been traded. With no linebackers picked, Sherwood will remain a full-time player.
Isaiah Davis
Davis performed well as the number two running back behind Breece Hall following Braelon Allen’s injury. Being an RB2 on a late round rookie contract seldom comes with much job security, though. That goes double when the back was selected by the previous regime. Since the Jets did not select a running back, any potential danger to Davis’ roster spot is gone. He still might need to compete with Allen to keep the RB2 job, though.
Losers
Will McDonald
Barring injuries, I don’t think McDonald will be more than a part-time player going forward. The Jets signed a pair of edge defenders, Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai, in free agency. David Bailey will almost certainly be a full-time player. My guess is the Jets want one of their edges to be a pass rusher and the other to be more of a power defender. Enagbare and Ossai project more as stout defenders at the point of attack than pure pass rushers. Bailey is the rusher. That’s the role that fits McDonald as well. The number two overall pick is going to see the field, though. It would be tough to play Bailey and McDonald together on early downs since neither projects a strong run defender. I think the 2023 first round pick will likely be relegated to situational pass rushing status.
Jeremy Ruckert
It might be tempting to put Mason Taylor on this list, but the Jets picked Taylor in the second round a year ago. I haven’t seen anything to suggest they have soured on him. And the selection of Kenyon Sadiq does not necessarily relegate Taylor to the bench. The Jets can run plenty of personnel packages with two tight ends. I don’t think they can run many three tight end sets, though, so Ruckert’s playing time seems likely to drop dramatically. At least he will be well-compensated with his new contract.
Brady Cook
Cook was probably on borrowed time anyway after his disastrous stint playing at the end of the season, but the selection of Cade Klubnik might bring a close to his Jets career. Klubnik is the new developmental project. I would guess that the Jets will sign a veteran to backup Geno Smith in the weeks ahead. Even if they don’t, Bailey Zappe has an NFL history of at least brief splashes of quality play which is more than you could say for Cook. I don’t see Cook’s path to a roster spot. If he wants to stay with the Jets, convincing them to keep him on the practice squad might be his best shot.
