New York Jets: Which draft prospects could bring value on special teams?

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 23: Florida Gators place kicker Trey Smack (29) checks the posts before his kick during the game between the Charlotte 49ers and the Florida Gators on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, Gainesville, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Earlier this week, we looked at the state of the Jets’ special teams units and where they might need to replace or upgrade any spots. While the team is coming off a solid year and figures to build on that in 2026, they shouldn’t rest on their laurels and should explore every avenue to further bolster this unit.

With that in mind, let’s weigh up some potential draft picks they could make later this month that figure to make key special teams contributions if called upon.

Kicking Game

Let’s disregard the punter position with Austin McNamara safely under team control for the next few years after an impressive first season.

We can’t do the same with the kicker position though, as the Jets only have journeyman Cade York and German League prospect Lenny Krieg under contract.

Since the Jets have a surplus of picks this year and next, using one on a top kicker prospect could be in play. The top prospects include Dominic Zvada from Michigan and Trey Smack from FSU but the Jets have also shown interest in UConn’s Chris Freeman who made a 65-yard kick at his pro day.

Smack made five of his six attempts from beyond 50 yards last season. Freeman only attempted and made one, but was more accurate, as he missed just three kicks all season.

Return Game

The Jets also had an excellent return game last year, fueled by Isaiah Williams and Kene Nwangwu. Unfortunately, Nwangwu has been injury prone during his time with the Jets, but players such as Isaiah Davis have filled in well and Jamaal Pritchett is still waiting for an opportunity after an impressive preseason last year so this may not be seen as an immediate need.

If the Jets do opt to bring in a rookie with return game experience to compete for a role, the two main standouts appear to be Iowa wide receiver Kaden Wetjen and Virginia wide receiver Cam Ross. These were the only two players from this year’s draft class that had a kickoff return for a touchdown but were also a full-time punt returner. Wetjen had three punt return touchdowns as well.

Two other good punt return options are Louisville wide receiver Caullin Lacy and Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion. Each had two touchdowns and averaged almost 18 yards per return in 2025. Lacy also returned kickoffs.

A good kickoff return option could be Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, who led the nation in kickoff return average last year, adding two touchdowns. He may have untapped potential on offense too, having averaged six yards per carry and rushed for 11 touchdowns last year despite being in a reserve role behind Jeremiyah Love.

Kick Coverage

The Jets were without Irv Charles and Kris Boyd – two of the main candidates to be their primary punt gunners in 2025 – all year. However, the Jets employed Nwangwu, Arian Smith and Qwan’tez Stiggers in that role and they all made good contributions.

If they’re looking for someone from the college ranks who might bring extra value by filling this role, then Ohio State cornerback Lorenzo Styles or Miami (Ohio) safety Silas Walters are two players who have done this well in the past. Styles has 4.27 speed and posted eight special teams tackles in 2024, while Walters led the nation in special teams tackles in 2023.

Mykal Walker led the Jets in special teams tackles last season, although it likely would have been Marcelino McCrary-Ball atop that category if he didn’t get hurt. Nobody hit double figures in tackles, though, so that underscores how the coverage units performed well without relying too much on one or two key guys.

Players like SMU tight end Matthew Hibner and LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. could also bolster any team’s kick coverage units. Perkins had nine special teams tackles in his freshman season and Hibner is a good all-round contributor who could also be a useful blocker on special teams.

Miscellaneous

We saw last season how a kick block can turn a game around when Will McDonald gave the Jets a late lead in Tampa Bay with his impressive touchdown return.

Penn State pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton is the kind of player the Jets could pick up later on if they opt to double-dip on the edge and he’s someone who brings added value as a kick block threat. He led the nation with three last season.

Texas edge rusher Ethan Burke is another player with a knack for blocking kicks, as he is 6’6” with good timing and reach.

Finally, Thomas Hennessy is 32 now and has just two years remaining on his contract so the Jets may want to start thinking about an heir apparent to be the long snapper down the line. Scouts seem divided on who should be regarded as the best prospect but Beau Gardner from Georgia and Garrison Grimes from BYU could be contenders. The Jets hosted the athletic Grimes for a pre-draft workout.