Ranking the Jets against every AFC East roster in 7 key categories

The New York Jets are positioned to, if nothing else, take some steps forward despite playing in an AFC East that has two Super Bowl contenders and one fellow rebuilding squad.

This roster is far from perfect, especially with some clear deficiencies at quarterback, but Darren Mougey is doing a solid job at rounding out the rest of the squad.

When compared to the rest of the AFC, the Jets' roster may not be as far behind as many analysts believe.

Ranking the New York Jets against the AFC East

Quarterback

Anyone arguing to the contrary on this particular ranking is not on very firm ground. Allen may be the best at his position in the league, and Maye narrowly missed out on an MVP. As such, just about every division prediction has either Buffalo or New England taking home the title here.

Smith gets the edge over Willis, as the former Seahawks and Raiders starter's experience will get the edge over someone in Willis who is quite unproven.

Running Back

This is not an indictment of Breece Hall, who is one of the top ten running backs in the league. Unfortunately, two of the few who are better than him (James Cook and De'Von Achane) reside in the division.

New England gets the edge because the 1-2 punch of TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson is a testament to their superior depth. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis are NFL players, but neither of them has played enough to warrant a ranking over Stevenson.

Wide Receiver

The Patriots had some developing pieces alongside Maye in the wide receiver room, but trading for AJ Brown and signing Romeo Doubs in free agency has pushed them to an even more rarefied tier. Buffalo's DJ Moore acquisition makes up for inferior depth when compared to the Jets. Miami may have the worst receiver room in the NFL currently.

The Jets have promising players in Omar Cooper Jr. and Adonai Mitchell, but they need to start proving it at the NFL level.

Tight End

The Jets' 1-2 punch of Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq could eventually rise to the top of this list by the end of the season, but both players are unproven at this time. As it stands right now, Taylor is a fairly average tight end, and Sadiq is a mystery after missing most of camp with an injury.

Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox have a penchant for making timely catches, and Henry has quickly become one of the best players at his position in the AFC. Miami will roll with Greg Dulcich and rookie blocking specialist Will Kacmarek.

Offensive Line

The Jets' offensive line remains one of the team's biggest strengths, as Olu Fashanu, Joe Tippmann, and Armand Membou have all proven to be rock-solid options in both the short and long term. This group could, in turn, give Smith a launching pad to thrive in 2026.

Buffalo has names like Dion Dawkins, O'Cyrus Torrence, and Spencer Brown ready to keep Josh Allen safe, while New England upgraded with Alijah Vera-Tucker at left guard. Still, as a unit, the lowly Jets actually can boast about this group.

Defensive Line

The Jets not only have a promising young player in No. 2 pick David Bailey on the edge, but they also have a veteran defensive line hell-bent on stopping the run. Buffalo's lack of interior line quality is what ultimately took them out of the top spot.

New England has invested in their defensive line, but too many of the pieces expected to play a big role are either unknowns or average role players. Miami has some ascending players, but they need one more big-name player to move up this list.

Linebacker

The Jets' starters seem more than adequate, as Demario Davis can still play at a high level and Jamien Sherwood is returning to a complementary role that is more his speed. Suspect depth, led by Kiko Maugioa, is what knocks them down.

Miami comes in first here, as rookie Jacob Rodriguez twinning with breakout star Jordyn Brooks could be the engine that powers their defense. Terrell Bernard will hold down the fort with the Bills, while Robert Spillane is doing yeoman's work to make up for a lack og depth in New England.

Secondary

The Jets have Minkah Fitzpatrick and a bunch of question marks, though those issues with the back end of the defense don't exceed what Miami has after they tore their unit down the studs under Jeff Hafley. Brandon Stephens is an underwhelming CB1, Azareye'h Thomas and D'Angelo Ponds are young, and the second safety spot has no answer.

Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Kevin Byard are a hellacious trio, giving the Patriots an edge over Buffalo here. The Bills' defense could take some steps backward now that Sean McDermott's ability to elevate mediocre talent is no longer there.

The Jets are by no means a very good team, but even compared to some of their rivals in the AFC East, the roster is at least trending in the right direction and could take off if they upgrade at quarterback.

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