5 NY Jets who earned roster spots in preseason win over Giants

Winning is always fun, even if it's only the preseason. The NY Jets officially secured a perfect summer with their 10-6 win over the New York Giants in their preseason finale on Saturday.

The Jets' defensive line dominated, sacking Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito a whopping eight times. A shoestring tackle from Tanzel Smart on 4th-and-2 with under 30 seconds to go sealed the deal as the Jets improved to 3-0 in the preseason.

But Saturday's game wasn't about the result, even if beating an in-stadium rival is always fun. This game was about evaluating the roster bubble players and determining who should stick around on the 53-man roster.

The Jets will have some very difficult decisions to make before roster cuts. Let's take a look at five Jets players who earned a roster spot in Saturday's preseason win.

Israel Abanikanda, RB, NY Jets

It's been a difficult offseason for Israel Abanikanda, who seemed to be on the outside looking in at the roster bubble entering the preseason. He needed a strong showing this summer to prove to the Jets that he was worth keeping around.

He's done just that. Abanikanda capped off an excellent preseason with his best performance of the summer on Saturday, rushing for 83 yards on just nine carries. The highlight was a spectacular 45-yard touchdown, in which he broke multiple tackles before sprinting into the end zone.

The Jets aren't guaranteed to keep four running backs, but Abanikanda has done everything to force their hand. The Brooklyn native solidified his case against the Giants — he deserves a spot on the 53.

Takk McKinley, DE, NY Jets

There isn't a player on the Jets' roster who has done more to improve their stock this summer than Takk McKinley. Despite sitting out of football entirely in 2023, McKinley feels like a lock for the 53-man roster.

The former first-round pick was utterly dominant in Saturday's game, racking up a whopping three sacks of Tommy DeVito. McKinley might have been the best player on either side of the ball.

The Jets have some really difficult decisions to make regarding their defensive line room, but McKinley has done everything possible to prove he deserves a spot. Not bad for a minicamp tryout who hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2022.

Leonard Taylor, DT, NY Jets

The Jets face the impossible task of deciding which players on their defensive line to keep around. Leonard Taylor might ultimately be a victim of the numbers game, but it's impossible to say he hasn't earned a roster spot.

Taylor has flashed his athletic upside this summer, and he saved his best performance for the Jets' preseason finale. The former five-star recruit finished the game with 1.5 sacks and was a regular presence in the Giants' backfield.

It's going to be really difficult for the Jets to keep Taylor off the 53-man roster, especially since he's unlikely to clear waivers. He's not a lock for the active roster by any means, but he's absolutely earned his spot.

Braiden McGregor, DE, NY Jets

Not willing to be overshadowed by his teammates, undrafted rookie Braiden McGregor is another Jets defensive lineman who was outstanding on Saturday. McGregor was officially credited with two sacks, but he was in on at least four of the Jets' eight total sacks in this game.

The Michigan product wreaked havoc against a Giants offensive line that looked hopeless for much of the night. McGregor flashed his athletic upside and did everything you could imagine to prove he deserves a roster spot.

McGregor went into Saturday's game needing a big-time performance to solidify his roster case. He accomplished exactly that.

Adrian Martinez, QB, NY Jets

Adrian Martinez isn't going to make the 53-man roster, so this might be cheating a little. But the reigning UFL MVP did do his best to win the battle for the Jets' temporary QB3 job.

Martinez started his first game of the summer, finishing 12-of-20 for 99 yards while also showing his versatility as a runner, adding three carries for 23 yards on the ground. He nearly had a long touchdown to Jason Brownlee toward the end of the first half if not for a missed defensive pass interference penalty.

The Jets likely won't carry three quarterbacks on their active roster, but Martinez did more than enough to earn a spot on the practice squad. He's worth keeping around.