Jets player in danger of losing starting job to rookie after 2026 NFL Draft

The New York Jets have high hopes for some of their draft picks. In particular, one player stands out. But here is the Jets player in danger of losing his starting job to a rookie after the 2026 NFL Draft.

The player whose lineup status is hanging in the balance is defensive tackle Mazi Smith. He appeared in just three games last season after the Jets acquired him in the deal that sent standout tackle Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys.

Smith was drafted in the first round, No. 26 overall, in 2023. He started just three games as a rookie that year. But he handled a full-time starting role in 2024. However, he didn’t crack the lineup in 2025 before the deal that sent him to New York.

Jets DT Mazi Smith will have to hold off Darrell Jackson Jr.

The Jets invested heavily in the defensive side of the ball in the draft. First, they took edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 overall. They followed up with D’Angelo Ponds in the second round. And then they grabbed Jackson in Round 4.

Jackson brings a lot of promise to the Jets. He has good size at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds and stood as the anchor of Florida State’s defensive line in 2025. And overall, he has the look of a starting defensive tackle, according to The Athletic.

“With his massive features and arms that dangle to his knees, Jackson looks like a comic-book character,” Dane Brugler wrote. “And (he) has an old-school aesthetic (doesn’t wear gloves or anything on his wrists/arms). He flashes dominance in the run game, with the length to keep blockers out of his frame and the play strength to dispose of single blocks.

“Against double and triple teams, he uses his rare size to absorb force and dig in his heels. With either a stab move or pure power, he can push the pocket but is still learning how to transition out of his bull rush.”

Maybe he won’t be a superstar. But he could be one of those under-the-radar guys who makes the whole defense better by what he takes away.

“Jackson might never develop into a playmaker, but he has larger-than-life traits to do the dirty work at nose and occasionally pressure the quarterback,” Brugler wrote. “He plays big in a big-man’s game. And there is always room for that type of player in the NFL.”

This could be a ticket out of New York for DT Mazi Smith

The Jets made it clear that Smith is on the hot seat. And not just as a starter. He will have to earn his way to stick around, according to a post on X by Rich Cimini.

“The Jets declined to exercise the fifth-year option for DT Mazi Smith, whom they acquired from Dallas in the Quinnen Williams trade. Smith, who played only three games (54 snaps) for the Jets last season, is under contract for the coming season. He will be a free agent in 2027.”

Overall, the Jets’ defense should be vastly improved in 2026. With Bailey and Will McDonald IV bringing heat from the edge of their 4-3 alignment, the Jets should be able to get after the quarterback.

And if Ponds helps in the secondary as much as some people expect, the Jets could even emerge as a top-half defensive unit. Ponds isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s considered an eventual starter, according to NFL.com.

“Ponds is a productive perimeter cornerback trapped in a smaller body,” Lance Zierlein wrote. “But he’s not lacking in confidence or coverage tenacity. He’s tremendously competitive, and winning seems to follow him at each stop.

“Eye discipline, instincts, and trigger quickness fuel his zone work and catch disruption. Size limitations will likely push him to nickelback, where mismatches against bigger bodies and physical challenges from run games will test his playmaking/durability.”

Of course, a lot of it will come down to Aaron Glenn’s coaching ability. He’s ranked No. 22, according to NBC Sports. That’s dead last among returning coaches.

“What was Aaron Glenn supposed to do?” Patrick Daugherty wrote. “It’s hard to say, other than “not that.” Glenn was plopped down in the middle of a collective nightmare. He failed to wake anyone up. A defensive coach, Glenn oversaw a unit that allowed the franchise’s second-most points per week since the 16-game schedule was implemented.”

The post Jets player in danger of losing starting job to rookie after 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.