The New York Jets are in a state of flux as the new regime of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey attempt to eliminate all signs of the previous brain-truss but also end a playoff drought that is almost able to get a driver’s license. And they are going to do it, with frankly a worse roster than they had last year.
With those lofty goals in mind, here are the top 25 players as I see them on the 2025 New York Jets.
One note on this list, I left off any rookies. It wouldn’t be fair to try and rank players on a team that have no NFL experience. We do enough of that in the pre-draft process that I don’t need to guess how they will be used and to what level.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the next group – players 20-16.
20 – Allen Lazard, WR
I mean, he has shown at least some flashes to be on this list, right?
Lazard came to the Jets with high hopes as the most recent number one receiver Aaron Rodgers had. Lazard did the song and dance about wanting to be with the Jets whether or not they traded for Rodgers, but we all know he just wanted to continue his work with the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Lazard struggled big time in his first few years with the Jets, and it was only marginally better when Rodgers was under center. I’m not 100% convinced that Lazard will still be on the team when the Jets break camp in a few weeks, but if he is, I still think on paper he is the second-best receiver on the Jets.
19 – Tony Adams, S
The new regime saw enough of the 26-year-old safety to be one of the few players they brought back from last year’s team. Although in fairness, the Jets tendered Adams at the lowest level. He stands to make $3.263 million under the terms of the tender.
Adams has appeared in 41 games for the Jets over the last three seasons and he started 27 of them. He had 183 tackles, four interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and a sack in those appearances.
In my opinion Adams is a fantastic third safety and a below average starter. Adams may be in a position battle this summer with rookie Malachi Moore for a starting spot this year. Maybe Aaron Glenn can unlock something in the former Fighting Illini, but don’t expect any Pro Bowls here.
18 – Tyrod Taylor, QB
The NFL would look like a different place if Tyrod Taylor could stay healthy. Throughout his journeyman career, the 35-year-old Taylor has played for seven teams. He knows football and he knows how to play quarterback at the pro level. Is he a starter? Not at this point in his career, but he is arguably one of the best backups in the game.
Once it became clear that the Jets were not going to bring Aaron Rodgers back, I was all in favor of letting Tyrod have a shot at leading the team. But the Jets wanted to make headlines and again regulated Taylor to the bench.
Still, if Taylor must fill in for Justin Fields, I imagine the passing game will look better than it will with Fields, although the running game will take a significant blow.
17 – Derrick Nnadi, DT
Nnadi comes from a Super Bowl winning organization and has seen what it is like to reach the mountain top of the NFL. In his seven year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, Nnadi racked up 233 tackles and five sacks. The problem for the Jets, is he wasn’t a starter on that championship level defense, but a rotational player.
The Jets meanwhile, will likely use Nnadi as a starter next to former All-Pro Quinnen Williams, which likely will mean he won’t see too many double teams. The Jets are looking to get better up the middle and it will start with Nnadi.
16 – Andre Cisco, S
This is the highest rated free agent from the 2025 class that I have on the list. Needless to say, it is obvious that new GM Darren Mougey was not prioritizing free agency in his first year with the team.
Cisco is good player. Cisco didn’t have the interception numbers he would’ve liked last season, but overall still had a solid outing. He posted 68 tackles with seven pass defenses and one interception.
He has eight interceptions in his four-year career with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being selected in the third round out of Syracuse. He started 47 games for the Jaguars in that time and the Jets hope he can become a ballhawk for them in Steve Wilks’ defense. The lifelong Jets fan, Cisco signed a one-year deal with the team in hope of proving himself to be better than the market would indicate.
Stay tuned for the next five names on the list coming out in the next few days.
