Can Payton Page survive the Jets' loaded defensive line room?

Some players enter training camp fighting for starting jobs. Others are simply fighting to maintain relevancy and continue their NFL careers. That's exactly where former undrafted defensive tackle Payton Page finds himself entering his second season with the New York Jets.

The Clemson product spent most of last year on the Jets' practice squad before appearing in four games later in the season. He isn't one of the notable names on the defensive line, nor is he expected to play a major role in 2026, but he's done enough to remain in the Jets' plans for the time being.

Day 41 of your 2026 Jets Camp Countdown belongs to the Clemson Crusher, the Page Turner, and the Author of Chaos...it's Payton Page.

The road to a 53-man roster spot won't be easy, but Page has already proven he can stick around longer than many undrafted free agents ever do by appearing in a handful of NFL games.

1. Where Payton Page stands entering Jets training camp
2. Why the Jets signed Payton Page in the first place
3. What would make 2026 a success for Payton Page
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Payton Page stands entering Jets training camp

Page arrived at Clemson as a highly regarded four-star recruit, choosing the Tigers over programs like Tennessee and North Carolina. He spent four years waiting for his opportunity in a loaded Clemson defensive line room before finally earning a full-time starting role as a senior in 2024.

The box score numbers from his senior year don't exactly jump off the page. Page finished with 32 tackles, half a sack, and third-team All-ACC honors, but he consistently held his own against top competition. If you're a starting defensive tackle for Clemson earning all-conference honors, you're doing something right.

The Jets signed him as one of their more notable undrafted free agents last offseason, and he earned a spot on the practice squad after a strong summer. He eventually appeared in four regular-season games, seeing 56 of his 61 total defensive snaps over the final two weeks of the season.

Page would finish with just four tackles, one run stop, and one pressure, although it was difficult to evaluate any of the players the Jets were trotting out on the field late last season.

Camp Countdown: Your guide to every player on the 2026 Jets roster

Why the Jets signed Payton Page in the first place

Page isn't the type of prospect who wins with eye-popping production. Instead, he's earned opportunities by steadily developing and making the most of the chances he's been given.

He's also a better athlete than his college numbers might suggest. During his final season at Clemson in 2024, Page snagged an interception and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown. He's an NFL-caliber athlete.

That athletic profile, combined with his 300-pound size and developmental upside, likely explains why the Jets invested in him in the first place. He's far from a finished product, but he's also the type of young defensive lineman teams are often willing to keep around while he continues to develop.

What would make 2026 a success for Payton Page

It's hard to see Page making a legitimate push for a 53-man roster spot barring an injury or a stellar summer performance.

T'Vondre Sweat, Jowon Briggs, David Onyemata, Harrison Phillips, and rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. all appear to have locked in roster spots as the Jets' top five interior defensive linemen. If the Jets carry only five interior linemen, there likely won't be room for Page.

RELATED: Jowon Briggs might be the Jets' best-kept secret entering 2026

If they decide to keep a sixth, however, Page should have a legitimate opportunity to compete. He'll likely battle players such as Mazi Smith for one of the final spots while also looking to secure another year on the practice squad if he falls short.

And really, that's a perfectly reasonable goal for the former Clemson standout. After all, not every undrafted free agent is going to develop into a starter or even a regular rotation piece.

Another season in the Jets' system, whether on the 53-man roster or the practice squad, would be a successful outcome for Page. If he can continue developing while staying in the organization's plans, he'll have put himself in a position to compete for a larger role down the road.

That's really all you could ask of a second-year UDFA defensive tackle with 0.5 career college sacks.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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