The New York Jets were not expected to be a very good team in Aaron Glenn's first season in charge, and they responded by meeting those expectations entirely after a 2-9 start to the season has once again put them in a position to target some of the top quarterbacks in the NFL Draft.
With four 2026 NFL Draft picks in the first two rounds and oodles of cap space, Jets fans can take solace in the fact that many of the more underperforming players from the 2025 squad are not going to be here next year as Glenn and GM Darren Mougey continue their work in reshaping the roster.
These five players might be on the Jets' roster right now, and their roles may vary in how expansive they truly are, but they should be very lucky the Jets are still keeping them around.
5 NY Jets who should be thankful they aren't cut
5. EDGE Braiden McGregor
McGregor has often been the worst player on the field when he's out there, as he lacks the speed off the edge or bulk on the interior to be an NFL-caliber pass rusher. On a team with better pass-rush depth, the former Michigan starter and undrafted free agent would not be on the roster.
4. EDGE Tyler Baron
Baron and fourth-round wide receiver Arian Smith are the only two members of Mougey's inaugural draft class who have struggled for most of the year, but Smith has at least shown that he can separate. Baron has been almost unplayable despite a critical need for more pass rush talent, as his lack of juice as an edge defender is coming back to haunt him.
3. S Tony Adams
Adams was benched for rookie Malachi Moore (who has been much better) early in the season, but he was forced back into action after Andre Cisco's injury. Adams remains a very poor tackler, and his ability to cover in Robert Saleh's scheme doesn't seem to have translated over to Steve Wilks' unit.
2. DL Micheal Clemons
Clemons remains a tweener doomed by his physical profile. Clemons is too sluggish to stand out as a full-time edge while not being big enough to fully kick inside to defensive tackle. As a result, he remains incapable of getting to the quarterback.
1. WR Allen Lazard
Lazard outlasting Sauce Gardner in New York was certainly quite the unexpected happenstance. Having failed to shake the drop problems from Green Bay and never really taking off with the Jets due to his inability to consistently get open, the chances of Lazard returning to the team next year seem almost infinitesimal.