Grading every New York Jets rookie as 2026 preseason comes to an end

The New York Jets are in the waning days of their second preseason of the Aaron Glenn era, and their much-ballyhooed rookie class is appearing to be a big part of the solution.

While some of the heavy hitters in this class have struggled with injuries, there have been more than enough moments that should get fans excited about what these new additions can do.

With the preseason all but elapsed, it's time to take a look back at the youngsters and see how they performed in their first extended action.

Grading every Jets rookie as preseason ends

EDGE David Bailey

Bailey has quieted the parade of fans who were upset that he was selected over Arvell Reese, as his first Jets sack in Week 2 against the Steelers was the culmination of a very strong camp that earned praise from anyone who saw him speed around the edge.

Bailey has shown that he can be a starter right away and play a big part in a Jets defense looking to turn things around, which was part of the appeal in selecting the former Texas Tech pass rusher.

Grade: A-

WR Omar Cooper Jr.

Cooper's fantasy football writer-led demise appears to have been greatly exaggerated, as all signs point to him starting the season as the No. 3 wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell.

Cooper hasn't had the dominant preseason many expected, but with a strong showing in camp despite the Isaiah Williams competition, he has laid the foundation for a reliable, productive rookie season.

Grade: B

DT Darrell Jackson Jr.

Jackson has been much better in camp than he has in the preseason. PFF doesn't love his lack of pass-rush success, but his mammoth frame has been disruptive in joint practices.

Jackson, who could receive some developmental attention from Karl Dunbar, is a part of the five-man interior defensive lineman rotation despite some ups and downs.

Grade: C+

QB Cade Klubnik

Klubnik hasn't been lights-out and has shown a propensity for holding the ball too long in the pocket. However, Jets mid-round quarterbacks over the years have proven to be instantly overwhelmed by the pro game, and Klubnik looks to be a cut above them even without a touchdown pass in his two preseason appearances.

Klubnik has seemingly done enough to win the Jets' backup job and dissuade them from adding a veteran, which is what this team envisioned when they drafted him.

Grade: B-

OG Anez Cooper

Talk about a bipolar start to his pro career. In his two preseason games with the Jets, Cooper went from being the highest-graded Jets player in preseason Week 1 with a 90.9 grade (85.2 pass block grade) to falling as far as a 44.4 grade (0.0 pass block grade) in Week 2.

Which Cooper is the real one? The Jets may not find out for a while, as he is slated to be a backup to Joe Tippmann at right guard.

Grade: B-

TE Kenyon Sadiq, CB D'Angelo Ponds, S VJ Payne

All three of these players missed most, if not all, of training camp due to various injuries. While Sadiq had some nice catches early in the process and Ponds had a pick-six, it's hard to grade them or envision what their runway for the start of the season will look like after missing so much time.

Grade: Incomplete

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