Ja'Sir Taylor, Jets
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Former New York Jets defensive back Ja'Sir Taylor reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons.
More changes for the New York Jets defense.
The Cincinnati Bengals announced on social media that they have signed veteran cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor to a one-year contract.
Taylor, 27, will turn 28 at the end of the 2026 season. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound corner joined the Jets ahead of the November 4 NFL trade deadline.
It appeared general manager Darren Mougey had finished up for the day. However, at 5:00 pm, an hour after the deadline, the Jets announced another trade beat the buzzer.
The Jets flipped a conditional 2028 seventh-round pick in exchange for Taylor from the Los Angeles Chargers.
Taylor a Worthwhile Kick of the Tires
The former Wake Forest product appeared in eight games for the Jets, making one start.
He played in only 3% of the defensive snaps, but truly cut his teeth on special teams (75% of the snaps).
This was one of those trades that didn’t work out as planned. The Jets got a rental player in the back half of a season in which the Jets were 1-7 when they struck the deal. Now Taylor is set to play for a new team.
A 2028 seventh-round pick is literally the lowest price a team can pay for a player. NFL teams are allowed to trade their draft picks up to three years ahead of time. For the Jets, that was as far out year-wise as they could go, and the seventh round is the last round of the NFL draft.
Credit to Mougey for consistently utilizing late-round draft choices to bring in veterans or young players with upside via trade. Sometimes that plan works, and sometimes it doesn’t, but you gotta respect the creative roster-building strategy.
Watch out for a Surprise on Draft Day
The cornerback position hasn’t been widely discussed as a major need for the Jets heading into the 2026 NFL draft.
However, there is a chance that if the board breaks right, the Jets could invest a premium resource into the position.
That situation presented itself in a recent three-round mock draft for ESPN: four analysts, one mock, and some crazy results.
ESPN had four of its draft analysts rotate, making picks through three rounds of a mock. Those experts included Mel Kiper Jr, Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates.
Yates controlled the pick for the Jets at No. 44 overall in the second round. He predicted that the green and white would add San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson.
“The Jets can continue to check off needs with their four top-50 picks, taking a cornerback after trading away Sauce Gardner last season. Johnson blazed a 4.40-second 40 at the combine,” Yates wrote.
Johnson was the sixth cornerback taken in this simulation. The consensus big board has Johnson ranked as the No. 42 best-ranked overall prospect in this class and the sixth-best cornerback. He is listed at 6-feet and weighs 193 pounds.
“Scheme-versatile cornerback prospect with average size and the ability to play inside or outside. Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks. While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined. He trusts his footwork and technique to remain tight to the route,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote.
“He attacks the catch point with run-through force and is a tenacious wrap-up tackler who can quickly end plays. Big receivers can steal some high points, but not enough to cause concern. Johnson’s coverage versatility, toughness, and athleticism should make him an early starter for a coverage-hungry team,” Zierlein added.