Jets fans should watch this position battle when OTAs begin

Heading into OTAs, the New York Jets have several questions facing them, including positions on the depth chart for several players.

Who will be the backup quarterback behind Geno Smith among Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe? How will the defensive line rotation shake out? And who will start opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety?

All of those competitions will be fun to watch, but arguably the most densely populated one will be the cornerback battle between Brandon Stephens, Azareye'h Thomas, free agent signing Nahshon Wright, and draft pick D'Angelo Ponds.

Of those four corners, who will be on the field in Nashville when the Jets take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 1?

Jets fans should keep an eye on the CB competition entering OTAs

Of the bunch, it feels like Stephens is the obvious answer for the safest starting option of the bunch. Despite being widely panned at signing, the former Baltimore Ravens draft pick turned in a pretty good season for New York.

He graded out as the NFL's 38th-best cornerback per Pro Football Focus, and held up in coverage well. He'll be starting on the outside come Week 1.

D'Angelo Ponds, the Jets' second-round pick out of Indiana, is like to play primarily nickel cornerback this season. His height, 5-foot-9, may give him issues on the outside, but his motor could make him an effective slot corner.

The real competition is between free agent signee Nahshon Wright and 2025 third-round pick Azareye'h Thomas.

Both players have a real shot to earn the starting gig opposite Stephens, and it will be a tight competition to watch this summer.

Wright was a Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears last season, hauling in five interceptions in his first season as a starter. There's some concern that he's a bit of a one-year wonder, though, which is why he only signed a relatively cheap one-year deal with New York this offseason.

Thomas showed promise as a rookie last year, stepping into the starting lineup after the Jets traded away Sauce Gardner. The Florida State product broke up seven passes before going down with injury at the end of the season.

In all likelihood, Thomas gets the early starting nod, but if he gets banged up or struggles, Wright will be a solid insurance policy. Who knows, maybe he can maintain his Pro Bowl form and be the turnover machine for the Jets he was with the Bears last season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow