Jets insider reveals which players are fighting for their roster spots entering OTAs

It's safe to say that the New York Jets under Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn will look a lot different in 2026 than they did in 2025. After an offseason full of changes on the roster and coaching staff, the Jets will take the field at One Jets Drive for OTAs on Wednesday.

For Glenn and the Jets, it'll be a key checkpoint in the offseason as he looks to rebound from a disastrous three-win campaign a year ago. The beginning of OTAs also signals the start of position battles, with players fighting for roster spots and needing a strong summer to stick around.

ESPN's Rich Cimini highlighted Andre Cisco, Arian Smith, and Braiden McGregor as three players who could be in danger of being left off the 53-man roster.

With the moves made this offseason, these three names shouldn't come as a surprise to Jets fans as the team heads into OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and eventually training camp.

These Jets need a strong summer if they want to stick around

After signing a one-year deal last offseason with the Jets, Cisco struggled mightily during the 2025 season. The Jets hoped they were getting the player Cisco was during the 2022-2023 season with Jacksonville, but instead, he carried his struggles from 2024 into last year.

The former third-round pick started eight games at free safety for the Jets before suffering a torn pectoral that ended his season. In those eight games, Cisco tallied a 61.3 Pro Football Focus grade, which ranked just 64th among 98 qualified safeties.

The Syracuse product also finished with a career high 18.4% missed tackle rate. Even with the Jets re-signing the 26-year-old safety on a one-year, $2.5 million fully guaranteed contract, Cisco shouldn't be viewed as a big player in the secondary.

With the additions of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dane Belton, and VJ Payne, along with Malachi Moore entering his second season, a poor summer from Cisco could signal the end of his time in Florham Park.

Similar to Cisco, Smith enters his second season with the Jets. After being selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, it's safe to say that Smith's first season with the green and white was underwhelming.

In limited playing time, the Georgia product hauled in just seven receptions on 16 targets for 52 yards. With the additions of Omar Cooper Jr and Tim Patrick, the Jets' receiver room is a lot stronger right now than it was a year ago.

With Garrett Wilson, AD Mitchell, Cooper, Patrick, and Isaiah Williams all being roster locks, Smith will have to battle for the sixth and final receiver spot. A larger role on special teams for the 24-year-old could be the difference between making the roster or not.

As for McGregor, he's been in this position before, fighting for a roster spot. The third-year defensive end made the team out of camp in 2024 as a UDFA. The Michigan product played seven games that season before playing another twelve during the 2025 campaign.

In 19 career games with the Jets, McGregor has tallied 21 total tackles, one sack, and eleven pressures. It'll be an uphill battle for the 24-year-old to make the roster with pieces like Will McDonald, David Bailey, Joseph Ossai, and Kingsley Enagbare locked into spots.

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