Jets may have saved best pick for last with VJ Payne steal

With their final selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Jets addressed the safety position, adding Kansas State defensive back VJ Payne with the 228th overall pick.

Payne has good size for the position. He stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 208 pounds. He didn't grade out well according to Pro Football Focus, finishing the season as their 238th-ranked safety out of 914 players, but there are still positives in his game.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, Payne allowed 2.6 yards per attempt as the primary defender in coverage last season, ninth-best in college football and the best in the Big 12.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler had him as the 143rd-best prospect in the class, so it seems like the Jets got some good value on their new safety.

Jets may have gotten a steal with safety VJ Payne in the seventh round

According to Brugler's all-encompassing draft guide, The Beast, the Jets seemed to have found themselves a versatile defensive back with experience playing multiple roles on defense.

"Payne offers a rare combination of rangy size and long-striding speed to make plays near the line or at the sideline. He is at his best as a matchup player against big, dynamic tight ends, using his nimble quickness and body length to influence the catch point. Despite his starting experience, he is still a tad green and can be more reactive than proactive keying run/pass or reading routes. He is a physical tackler but often guilty of stopping his feet instead of running through his target."

Dane Brugler

We'll see how the Jets utilize Payne throughout his rookie season, but it's unlikely he receives all that much playing time.

There are several players ahead of him with much more experience on the depth chart, including former New York Giant Dane Belton, 2025 fourth-round pick Malachi Moore, Andre Cisco, and, of course, Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick will be playing all over the Jets' backend, likely splitting time at both nickel and free-ranging safety, leaving New York's other safeties to fill in elsewhere when needed.

Payne is a raw prospect and is unlikely to make a large impact early on. But he certainly has a chance to learn from the veterans in front of him and turn into a long-term option for the Jets.

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