Heading into the 2025 season, theJets have made a series of moves to improve the state of their roster and overall depth, but are they ready to compete for a playoff spot?
In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group. This time, we’ll go in-depth into the safety position…
Projected depth chart
Starters: Andre Cisco, Tony Adams Backups: Malachi Moore, Isaiah Oliver, Jarius Monroe Key additions/losses: Cisco was signed in free agency and Moore was drafted in the fourth round. Chuck Clark, Ashtyn Davis, and Jalen Mills were not re-signed
Top Performers in 2024: Adams had 84 tackles (third-most on team), six pass breakups, one sack and one interception in 15 games
2024 ranking via PFF: Adams was 43rd out of 106 qualifying safeties for overall grade and 33rd for pass coverage grade
What the Jets' safeties have going for them
One of the biggest offseason additions for the Jets was Cisco, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $10 million. They needed reinforcements with Clark, Davis, and Mills all free agents. Clark and Mills started 20 games between them, while Davis was a key rotational contributor.
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Cisco looks set to start alongside Adams, who was a starter for the past two years. However, he was controversially benched for a few games in the middle of last season.
The Jets appear to be high on the rookie Moore, and the utility man Oliver can also add depth to the rotation. Monroe impressed on special teams last year, which could be his path to making the roster again. However, he’ll face competition from a pair of promising undrafted rookies in Jordan Clark and Dean Clark.
Key concern for 2025: Lack of proven depth
Cisco and Adams have started 47 and 27 games, respectively, at the NFL level, but the group otherwise lacks starting experience. Oliver is the only other player on the roster to start any games at the safety position, but the Jets may have plans for him at cornerback.
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This could also put pressure on Cisco and Adams to step up as leaders and force them to take on a bigger role in terms of relaying signals and communicating in the defensive backfield. While they have accumulated some experience, they are just 25 and 26 years old, respectively, and have previously been paired with a more experienced veteran as they developed.
Player who must step up in 2025: Andre Cisco
While it’s only a one-year deal, the Jets need Cisco to perform more consistently than he did last season in Jacksonville. He was ultimately benched down the stretch.
New York Jets safety Tony Adams (22) during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium.
New York Jets safety Tony Adams (22) during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. / Mark Smith-Imagn Images
Cisco had been developing into one of the league's most promising young safeties, having played well in 2022 and 2023. However, his disappointing 2024 campaign is the reason why he ended up signing a one-year prove-it deal with the Jets rather than a longer-term pact.
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New York will hope his struggles were a product of the teamwide dysfunction on the Jaguars’ roster and that he can return to his 2023 form, where he intercepted four passes. Then both the Jets and Cisco can start thinking about an extension.
Biggest camp battle: Adams vs. Moore vs. Oliver
As noted, Adams doesn’t have many experienced players competing for time behind him, but -- like Cisco -- was benched last season, so his starting role may not be 100 percent secure.
The coaching staff is reportedly high on the rookie Moore and may be grooming him to be a long-term starter. It may be too early to expect him to be ready this season, though.
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Oliver could be unavailable to compete for a starter role if he’s earmarked for action at cornerback or in a utility role, but might be an ideal player to turn to if one of the starters gets hurt or sees a downturn in performance. The Jets' secondary didn’t seem to miss a beat wherever they deployed him last year, so he may be deserving of a bigger role.
Overall 2025 outlook
This is another position where New York has reliable starters and a few promising backups, but not a lot of proven depth, so they may need to scramble to find bodies or throw young players into the fire if injuries strike. That’s consistent with other positions on the 2025 Jets, such as wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive tackle.
The Jets are gambling on the fact that Cisco has yet to hit his prime and are probably hoping for Adams to play consistently alongside him at least until Moore is ready to step up. If the Cisco gamble pays off, the Jets will be more willing to invest in a longer-term deal to make him a cornerstone member of the secondary.