3 under-the-radar free-agent cornerbacks the Jets could target

The New York Jets will be big spenders in free agency, and coming off a 3-14 season, that's a very good thing. There are some big fish to fry as Darren Mougey looks to infuse the roster with some much-needed talent.

Quarterback might be at the top of the list. Fixing the pass rush and adding weapons to the wide receiver room could be priorities, too. Guard could also use some love with both Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson hitting the market.

But one of the under-the-radar needs might be at cornerback. Aaron Glenn will be channeling his "super power" and calling defensive plays in 2026, and what he wants to run might be very different than the watered-down and ineffective facsimile of Robert Saleh's defense Steve Wilks employed last year.

Glenn's been incredibly heavy on man coverage in the past, and while that's not a guarantee that the Jets will follow the path he laid out with the Detroit Lions, it is a consideration. Moreover, we'll see just how married they are to young corners like Azareye'h Thomas and Jarvis Brownlee.

Three cornerbacks the Jets could potentially target in free agency

Rasul Douglas

The Jets will likely target a lot of younger free agents, but Rasul Douglas might be the rare wily vet who is too good to pass up. While he turns 31 in August, Douglas is still playing at a high level, posting a 73.5 PFF grade that ranked 19th among all corners.

Douglas worked with new Jets defensive coordinator Brian Duker last year in Miami, giving him a solid link to the coaching staff. If Brandon Stephens can repeat his surprisingly good 2025 performance in 2026, the Jets would find themselves with one of the league's better cornerback duos should they bring the former Miami Dolphin into the fold.

Jack Jones

Speaking of the Miami Dolphins, Jack Jones could be another corner the Jets target, but this time, they'd be getting one who is still in his prime. Jones' best seasons came with New England in a man-heavy scheme, and he could see a revival under Glenn.

One thing that Jones really excelled at last season was his run defense. You don't often think about corners being big factors in run support, but it's an underrated part of their games. Jones posted a 77.7 run defense grade, which was good for 14th in the league.

Amik Robertson

This time, we look to a Glenn protege in Amik Robertson. Robertson played some of the best football in his career working out of the slot in Detroit with Glenn running the show.

While the Jets seemed to get a steal in the trade that brought Jarvis Brownlee over from Tennessee, he struggled in man coverage, posting a 44.0 PFF grade and allowing an 82.4% completion percentage.

Robertson played a heavy dose of man coverage with Glenn in 2024, coming in at a 50.1% clip. In these situations, he allowed a completion percentage of just 42.9%. He was also a force against the run, a particularly important skill for a nickel back due to the fact that they replace a linebacker on the field.

Robertson posted a career-best 89.7 run defense grade with Glenn as his coordinator and recorded 23 stops. At five-foot-eight, 183 pounds, you wouldn't expect Robertson to be able to mix it up against the run, but Glenn helped him find a way.

His subpar 2025 showing that had him moved primarily to the outside, and should help keep his price tag down, presenting the Jets with the potential for a steal of a deal.