One potential future Jets player to watch on each playoff team playing Sunday

When you sit down to watch football this weekend, you will not be watching the New York Jets, as has been the case for the past 15 NFL playoffs. So, as a Jets fan, you should probably be used to this.

The one thing you can do, however, is give yourself a little preview of 2026. The Jets are a team with plenty more questions than answers. A lot of those questions will be answered via free agency, and a lot of soon-to-be free agents will be lacing up cleats for a playoff team this weekend.

With so many holes to fill, there is no shortage of position groups to target. When the Texans travel to New England, and the Rams hit Chicago, remember that you might see multiple future Jets.

Former New York Jets players still in the NFL playoffs

New England Patriots - Jaylinn Hawkins, S

The Jets need safeties, plain and simple. Tony Adams and Andre Cisco, both currently injured, aren't cutting it regardless. Dean Clark certainly isn't cutting it. And Malachi Moore showed flashes of solid run defense and tackling, but ultimately, his pass coverage leaves a lot to be desired.

Thus, free agency will be as good a tool as any for replenishing talent quickly. While the Jets' plethora of draft picks will be crucial to build a long-term base, they need win-now talent at safety immediately if Aaron Glenn plans to compete.

Jaylinn Hawkins, New England's sixth-year safety out of Cal, fits the bill. After three and a half seasons in Atlanta and a cup of coffee with the Chargers, he has found a home over the past two seasons in New England.

Despite a mediocre 2024, Hawkins has totally flipped the script in 2025. He's as much a reason as any for their defensive turnaround. In 15 games, he put up a career high four interceptions, and tied career highs in both passes defended and solo tackles.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) has his overall defensive grade at 83.3, a 23.2 point jump from last season. Against the run, he grades at 87.4, in coverage, at 81.1, and in tackling, at 72.2. He would immediately be the best safety in the room for the Jets.

He's a free agent at the end of this season, with a calculated market value of $7.3 million annually per Spotrac. Darren Mougey would be silly not to take a serious look at him in the offseason.

Houston Texans - Ed Ingram, G

Whether it's a center or a guard or both, the Jets need a significant upgrade in the middle of their offensive line. Aside from Joe Tippmann, who is far from a made man himself, no one can be relied on.

You can never have too many offensive linemen, especially when you're already lacking, so it would be malpractice for Mougey not to attack this need in free agency. Again, maybe they plan to build up an interior core via the draft to complement Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu on the outside. Still, they need immediate help, and as many big bodies as possible.

The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Ed Ingram for the Texans is a perfect match. He enters unrestricted free agency at the end of this season, and at the age of 26, he's worth a lengthy discussion on the top floor of One Jets Drive.

After three underwhelming seasons in Minnesota, he's found his stride in Houston. Ingram has a PFF offensive grade of 74.2, including a run blocking grade of 78.3. He's likely to demand a hefty annual salary, with Spotrac calculating his value at $13 million, but the Jets need to dole out plenty of capital to fix this broken offense.

Los Angeles Rams - Kamren Curl, S

We already touched on the sorry state of the Jets' secondary — that problem is abundantly clear. My suggestion that the Jets consider bringing in Jaylinn Hawkins should in no way preclude them from considering other options on the market.

That brings us to the Los Angeles Rams, who will face a decision on their versatile sixth-year safety out of Arkansas, Kamren Curl. While Curl was an unheralded seventh-round pick by Washington back in 2020, he has turned into an exceptionally consistent safety in the league.

Curl put up an impressive 122 combined tackles and 79 solo tackles in 2025, both career highs. PFF grades his run defense this season at 86.5, his tackling at 87.8, and his overall defense at 74.1.

He'll be 27 next season, smack-dab in the middle of his unexpected prime. He's versatile, able to play free safety or strong safety. He makes so much sense for a defense that needs both flexibility and talent.

Keep an eye on Curl in the secondary on Sunday, especially going up against that Bears' number three overall rushing attack.

Chicago Bears - Jaquan Brisker, S

If you're actually paying attention, you're obviously noticing a trend. Part of the reason for so many safeties on this list is the simple fact that I'm at the mercy of who is a free agent and who is not. But part of the reason is that the secondary truly needs that much help.

Jaquan Brisker has spent his entire four-year career in Chicago after the Bears drafted him out of Penn State in 2022. He's set to get his first big deal this offseason, when he hits unrestricted free agency. And for all the reasons I've beaten the dead horse with, he would look great in Gotham Green.

Aside from an injury-shortened 2015, Brisker has been remarkably consistent. He put up over 100 combined tackles in both of his first two seasons, only dipping to 92 in 2025. He put up eight passes defended and contributed eight QB hurries to the pass rush.

His PFF grades in run defense, tackling, and pass rush, all clear 70.0. His coverage grade brings down his overall score, with an abnormal 50.4. But given an average of 63.3 over the first three years of his career, this suggests it's more of an anomaly than a trend.

I don't expect the Jets to sign all three safeties we've discussed today. But it's highly likely they snag at least one. At the very least, they should consider each of them. And that goes for offensive lineman Ed Ingram as well. So watch each game carefully, as you may be watching the next Jets' signees.