The article discusses potential roster moves for the New York Jets, focusing on the quarterback position and the uncertainty surrounding Bailey Zappe and Cade Klubnik. It also mentions Jeremy Ruckert and speculates about Brady Cook's chances of making the roster, questioning the narrative that he is a lock. Other topics include Geno Smith's starting role, new helmets, former player Bart Scott's departure from ESPN, and the team's needs for the upcoming draft
The New York Jets' improved defense is expected to benefit defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, according to reports. Other Jets news includes updates on rookie QB Klubnik, the QB2 battle, and various player assessments
Cade Klubnik showed promise during offseason workouts and is in contention for the Jets' backup QB role. Despite missing time with back tightness, coaches have praised his mechanics, leadership, and potential for future playing time. He will compete with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook, and is a developmental stash for dynasty leagues
Heading into the 2026 season, the Jets 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 at the quarterback position… Starter: Geno Smith Backups: Bailey Zappe , Cade Klubnik , Brady Cook Key additions/losses: Smith was acquired via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders , while previous starter Justin Fields headed to Kansas City in another trade and Tyrod Taylor departed in free agency. Klubnik was drafted in the fourth round, and Zappe was acquired on a futures deal at the end of last season. Top Performers in 2025: Fields made nine starts, winning two. He completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,259 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception. He also rushed for 383 yards and four touchdowns. 2025 ranking per PFF: Smith was 37th out of 45 qualifiers last year, five places below Fields. Cook was dead last. Smith’s improbable return to the Jets sees him viewed very differently than he was when he left the Jets at the end of his rookie deal 10 years ago. He has matured a lot since then, leading the Seattle Seahawks to the postseason and earning two Pro Bowl invitations, the most recent of which was just three years ago. The Jets remain confident that the 35-year-old still has plenty left in the tank. They will be hoping to see the best version of him as he spearheads offensive coordinator Frank Reich ’s offense, which boasts stability on the offensive line and a retooled group of pass catchers. Head coach Aaron Glenn was probably being over-optimistic when he said that he believes Smith “can take the Jets to the promised land”. However, he refused to rule out Smith returning in 2027 if he plays well in 2026, despite the fact the Jets are widely expected to use a high draft pick on their quarterback of the future next April with Smith on a one-year deal. Behind Smith, the backup options are lacking in experience, and it would be a concern if New York entered the year being one Smith injury away from one of the current reserves being forced into significant playing time. Zappe is the most experienced option, with nine career starts, four of which his team won. However, he failed to crack a weak Cleveland Browns rotation last season and was without a team at the end of the year so he’s not exactly a sought-after talent. Klubnik is a former five-star high school recruit who many expected to play better in college and end up as a possible first-round pick. However, when the Jets took him in the fourth round, this was considerably earlier than most analysts expected based on his inconsistent collegiate career at Clemson. The Jets seem to like him a lot and obviously hope they can unlock some of his unrealized potential, but it would be a major gamble to assume he could be ready to play at the NFL level as a rookie. The other quarterback on the roster is Cook, who started the last four games in 2025 as an undrafted rookie. He looked out of his depth in those games and already seems to have already fallen behind Zappe and Klubnik in the pecking order. Ultimately, how Smith performs could make or break the Jets’ season. If he can play with the same level of efficiency as he did during his best years in Seattle, the Jets’ offense will be significantly improved, and the team should be competitive. Can we rely on that, though? Smith was poor with the Raiders last season as he led the league in interceptions and struggled to elevate a poor supporting cast. He was also the most-sacked quarterback in the league last year, which shouldn’t repeat with the Jets projected to have a solid offensive line. Perhaps with better protection, Smith can rediscover the fountain of youth. It would probably be smart for the Jets to figure out some way to get someone more established on the team as a more viable number two option. If they don’t, it look
[... truncated ...]
The Jets went into Organized Team Activities wanting to see what rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik could do . They're still waiting. Klubnik, a fourth-round pick out of Clemson, has been out of practice with back soreness. Jets coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that Klubnik was still not practicing on Tuesday, although he indicated Klubnik could be back on the practice field soon. At the moment, the Jets' plan is for Bailey Zappe to serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Geno Smith . Klubnik could earn the No. 2 job, but missing time now could put him behind in training camp. A year ago, Klubnik was viewed as a future first-round draft pick, but he had a disappointing final college season, and his draft stock slid. The Jets think he has plenty of upside. But they need to see it on the field. The other quarterback on the Jets' roster is Brady Cook , who made the team as an undrafted rookie last year and ended up starting four games, all of which the Jets lost as Cook threw two touchdown passes and seven interceptions
The Jets went into Organized Team Activities wanting to see what rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik could do . They’re still waiting. Klubnik, a fourth-round pick out of Clemson, has been out of practice with back soreness. Jets coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that Klubnik was still not practicing on Tuesday, although he indicated Klubnik could be back on the practice field soon. At the moment, the Jets’ plan is for Bailey Zappe to serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Geno Smith. Klubnik could earn the No. 2 job, but missing time now could put him behind in training camp. A year ago, Klubnik was viewed as a future first-round draft pick, but he had a disappointing final college season, and his draft stock slid. The Jets think he has plenty of upside. But they need to see it on the field. The other quarterback on the Jets’ roster is Brady Cook, who made the team as an undrafted rookie last year and ended up starting four games, all of which the Jets lost as Cook threw two touchdown passes and seven interceptions
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby is applying to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, which means teams will have to mull whether or not they’ll make a bid for his services if the league approves that application. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn didn’t offer much of a hint about where his team will fall on that question during a press conference on Tuesday. Glenn said that his mind is on the quarterbacks that are in attendance in the team’s minicamp this week — Geno Smith, Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe — and that any conversation with General Manager Darren Mougey will come later. “I’m focused on the guys that we have here now,” Glenn said. “I’m sure that’s something me and Moug will talk about. I got the quarterbacks here that we focus on right now.” Glenn also declined to say how Sorsby’s history of gambling on his own team would impact their evaluation of Sorsby as a prospective addition to the team. “I have no idea what that is to be honest with you,” Glenn said. “I heard about it, I’ve seen it on TV, but I don’t want to respond to that because I have no idea of the inner workings of that. Not fair to that player for me to do that.” Along with deciding whether Sorsby’s talent is great enough to give up a 2027 draft pick to select him in the supplemental draft, any evaluation of the quarterback will have to include the possibility that he will be suspended by the NFL as he moves into the professional ranks
Russell Wilson is joining CBS as an analyst on The NFL Today for the 2026 season and he chose that job over an opportunity to serve as the backup quarterback to Geno Smith with the Jets. Wilson’s move into broadcasting came up during Jets head coach Aaron Glenn’s press conference on Tuesday. The Jets currently have Brady Cook, Bailey Zappe, and fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik behind Smith and Glenn was asked about the impact Wilson’s decision has on their plans for the No. 2 job. “Nothing at all,” Glenn said. “I think the last time we talked I had said that we were looking at number of quarterbacks , and that’s just what it was. Hopefully he will have a good TV career. Heck, I know that he’ll be good at it, and congrats to him.” A report last month said that the Jets want to see more of Klubnik in OTAs before making any other moves for a more experienced quarterback and the elimination of Wilson as an option would seem to give the rookie a stronger chance of winding up in the backup role
One lingering question from the Jets offseason was whether veteran quarterback Russell Wilson would sign as Geno Smith ’s backup quarterback. Wilson conducted a free agent visit in late April and indicated he had an offer in hand from the Jets. At the same time, Wilson was considering an offer to work for CBS as a television analyst. The former All Pro quarterback has made his choice. He is going to CBS. At one point Wilson was an elite quarterback. That was quite a long time ago. The fact that his only option for continuing his playing career was as a backup shows how far his level of play has fallen. I don’t get the sense many Jets fans will be terribly upset that Wilson will not be joining the team. Nor should they be. Unless the Jets make a signing, rookie Cade Klubnik will compete with Bailey Zappe for the number two quarterback job
by Ari Koslow | Jets Correspondent | Thu, May 28th 3:07pm EDT Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Cade Klubnik will be part of a competition for the team's backup quarterback job. ( Rich Cimini on Twitter ) Fantasy Impact: Glenn added that it is an open competition for the backup job behind Geno Smith. Klubnik, Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook will all be competing. This will be a training camp battle to monitor. Glenn says there's an "open competition" between Zappe/Klubnik/Cook for the QB2 job, though he noted that Bailey Zappe took the second-team reps yesterday. #Jets More Cade Klubnik : News , Rankings , Projections , Stats
Jets coach Aaron Glenn stated that Brady Cook will join Cade Klubnik and Bailey Zappe in an open competition for the backup quarterback position behind Geno Smith. While Zappe took second-team reps recently, it remains a training camp battle to watch
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. The Jets have Geno Smith locked in as their starting quarterback for 2026, but it’s an open question as to whom the number two quarterback will be. One option is Bailey Zappe . Zappe has bounced around the NFL since his selection in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots . He has clear physical limitations. His play has been underwhelming with only brief stretches of marginal success. The Jets could also go with Cade Klubnik , the rookie out of Clemson. The Jets probably don’t want him to see the field, but a lack of other viable options could push him up the depth chart. Then there’s Russell Wilson, a former All Pro whose best days are far behind him at age 37. Wilson has publicly stated that the Jets have made a contract offer, and he is deciding between accepting and moving into a television analyst role. Pick your backup in this week’s SB Nation Reacts poll. We will bring you the results later in the week
Happy Saturday, Jets fans! Here are today’s links to help you kick off your weekend. NY Jets – What Is Your Biggest Takeaway From the Jets Schedule? Antwan Staley – After Jets’ primetime shutout, NFL VP points to flex scheduling as possibility Brian Costello – The NFL isn’t doing the Jets any favors with their schedule Michael Nania – NY Jets schedule prediction: There are wins that fans don’t see Michael Nania – Too many Jets fans are pegging these 3 matchups as losses Connor Long – Where does the NY Jets’ offensive line place in ESPN’s rankings? Connor Long – 3 takeaways from the NY Jets’ official 2026 schedule Bent – Jets 2026 schedule: Analysis and season prediction Albert Bainbridge IV – See NY Jets schedule release video for 2026 as ‘football is art’ Justin Melo – De’Von Achane extension makes Jets’ Breece Hall contract look better Justin Melo – Will Tim Patrick make the New York Jets’ 53-man roster? Nick Wojton – 2026 NFL schedule release: Jets one of five teams in this category Charlie Baduini – Jets’ Garrett Wilson snubbed in list of league’s top wide receivers Charlie Baduini – Darren Mougey makes good on post-draft promise to Breece Hall, Jets fans Justin Fried – Bailey Zappe somehow has a real path to the Jets’ backup QB job Jake Elman – Former Jets assistant gets new coaching job ahead of 88th birthday Colby Colwell – Jets Given More Reason for Hope That T’Vondre Sweat Trade Will Pay Off Efstathios Savvidis – Braelon Allen vs. Isaiah Davis : Which RB Should the Jets Trade This Offseason Jovan Alford – Predicting Every New York Jets Game Score Even Though It’s Way Too Early Here are your missed connections from yesterday. Have a great Saturday!
