Winners and Losers from New York Jets OTAs

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

After the final week of OTAs, the New York Jets' front office finally got a glimpse of the roster heading into training camp. The Jets held 10 OTA practices spanning from late May to early June, with media attendance on a few of those days. While OTAs do not carry significant weight, they can provide an early look at rookies, new coaching systems, and position battles. With numerous reports coming from the facility, multiple players saw their stock rise, while others saw theirs fall heading into camp. Keeping that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from the New York Jets' OTAs.

Winner #1: WR Adonai Mitchell

The first winner from OTAs is WR Adonai Mitchell. Mitchell has reportedly built strong chemistry with quarterback Geno Smith and stood out throughout OTAs. Multiple clips of him making catches surfaced during practice, leaving Jets fans excited for his first full season with the team. Mitchell received significant praise from coaches, members of the media, and even teammates. The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt mentioned, “Adonai Mitchell has been really impressive in his routes and timing things out perfectly.” Mitchell also received recognition from quarterback Geno Smith, who said, “I think he’s going to be a special player for a long time. He’s obviously got the talent. What people might not see is the way that he works, the way that he studies, just the type of teammate that he is. He’s a great teammate. I think that goes a long way.” With all of the praise Mitchell has received thus far, it appears that his stock is climbing heading into the summer.

Loser #1: QB Brady Cook

The first loser on this list is 2025 UDFA Brady Cook. Head coach Aaron Glenn said that the backup quarterback position is going to be up for grabs. This leaves Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook, and rookie Cade Klubnik fighting for the position. During OTAs, Bailey Zappe was taking reps with the second-team offense, while Cook and Klubnik were behind him. Even though Cook has been on the team for a year, he is losing snaps to newcomer Bailey Zappe and competing with rookie Cade Klubnik. This creates an uphill battle for Brady Cook and makes him a likely practice squad option heading into camp.

Winner #2: QB Cade Klubnik

Cade Klubnik is a player who generated a lot of hype during OTAs and has Jets fans hoping they found their franchise quarterback. Klubnik stood out on the field and appeared unfazed by the speed of the NFL. Klubnik's maturity did not go unnoticed, especially by head coach Aaron Glenn, who said, "The thing I like about him is that nothing seems too big for him." Veteran QB Geno Smith felt similarly about Klubnik, even saying, “I feel like he's the guy who's always prepared.” On the first day the media was allowed to attend practice, Klubnik excelled, going 4-for-4 in 7-on-7 drills and 4-for-4 in 11-on-11 drills, according to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt. With the backup QB position up for grabs, Klubnik will have the chance to showcase his abilities and move up the depth chart.

Loser #2: TE Kenyon Sadiq

Kenyon Sadiq is another player who saw his stock fall during OTAs. Sadiq was held out for the entire OTA period due to what head coach Aaron Glenn called “a minor procedure.” More specifically, Sadiq underwent a minor procedure to repair a hernia. As a result, he missed valuable time learning a new offense and building chemistry with his quarterback. Furthermore, sophomore tight end Mason Taylor was able to receive additional reps, which could make it more difficult for Sadiq to cement himself as the top tight end. Fortunately for Sadiq, he isn't expected to be out much longer, but as of now, his stock has seen a slight decline heading into camp.

Winner #3: K Cade York

The Jets entered OTAs with an open competition at kicker. Free-agent signing Cade York missed part of the kicker competition with a groin injury, but despite that, he was able to outlast kickers Younghoe Koo and Lenny Krieg, who both struggled and were eventually cut. Surviving the first round of cuts is a major win for York, as he is not guaranteed a roster spot. However, he will still have to beat out recent signing Jason Sanders if he wants the starting job.

While OTAs are only a small part of the offseason, they shouldn't be overlooked, as they can provide some insight into the roster and coaching staff. Now that OTAs have finally ended, we are able to see which players are trending in the right direction and which players have more to prove. Once training camp officially begins, it will be interesting to see whether Adonai Mitchell continues to stand out, how the backup quarterback competition plays out, how Kenyon Sadiq looks coming off minor surgery, and how the kicking competition unfolds.

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