Let the predraft process begin.
The 2026 Senior Bowl will begin this week with practices scheduled from Tuesday through Tuesday.
The actual game will be played on Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of South Alabama. Nearly 130 players will be there to impress scouts and coaches from all 32 teams.
It appeared that two top 10 picks would be in attendance in Mobile this week. However, both Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain and Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey were removed from the updated roster for undisclosed reasons.
Following a 3-14 season, the Jets have several needs on both sides of the ball. They will have 10 draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which could help reshape Aaron Glenn’s roster in his second season as coach.
Here are a few players Jets fans should keep an eye on during this week’s practices.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
Following an injury-plagued 2025 season, Nussemeier will look to improve his draft stock beginning this week. In 2024, he led LSU to a 9-4 record after finishing with 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Nussemier returned to school instead of entering the 2025 NFL Draft. But an abdominal tear limited him to just nine games in the midst of LSU firing coach Brian Kelly in October. He finished with 1,927 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
At 6-1, 205 pounds, Nussmeier is an intriguing NFL prospect. He is a quarterback who relies a lot on his rhythm and timing. Nussmeier’s best attribute is his ability to anticipate and place the ball perfectly in his receiver’s hands.
Two areas of concern are Nussmeier’s average NFL arm strength and his propensity to turn the ball over. When he tries to throw the ball in tight windows, Nussmeier can get in trouble by putting the ball up for grabs, leading to interceptions. Nussmeier has a gunslinger personality, but it will take the right coach to rein him in to limit mistakes.
Nussmeier projects as a third- or fourth-round pick. If the Jets were to go the veteran quarterback route in free agency, drafting Nussmeier as a project wouldn’t be the worst idea ever.
USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane
The Jets desperately need wide receiver help outside of Garrett Wilson. A big body player like Lane, who is 6-4, 200 pounds, could be an excellent option inside the red zone.
In 11 games last season, Lane registered 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns. The previous season, he had 12 touchdowns and 43 receptions.
Lane is a receiver who thrives in attacking the 50/50 balls in tough coverage. Because of his limited work at USC, Lane has a ton of room to grow and could be an excellent developmental receiver.
Lane needs to improve his occasional drops and route running. However, his high-difficulty catch ability, along with a huge catch radius, makes Lane a fascinating prospect.
Iowa OL Beau Stephens
The Jets may be on the hunt for offensive line help this offseason. Both John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, who both play at guard, are both free agents this offseason.
Stephens could be a good depth player who may eventually turn into a starter. He led all Power Four guards with an 88.3 grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Stephens only allowed three pressures and zero sacks for the Hawkeyes.
Stephens is a nasty, physical, chippy offensive lineman, something the Jets could use in their run-heavy scheme.
Florida DL Caleb Banks
At 6-6, 330 pounds, Banks is like a dancing bear on the defensive line. He has an excellent combination of size, strength, athleticism, and quickness for an NFL prospect.
Banks can beat offensive linemen regularly as both a run defender and a pass rusher. His strong, powerful hands can help collapse the pocket and make quarterbacks flustered.
Scouts could have questions about Banks’ durability after missing most of this season due to a foot injury. He also missed most of spring practices last year because of the same injury. Banks returned to play in the Gators’ final two games of the season against Tennessee and Florida State.
In 2024, Banks had a breakout season after a breakout junior year, recording seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks across 12 games.
USC safety Kamari Ramsey
Following a season in which they didn’t record a single interception, the Jets could desperately need safety help. Ramsey is a versatile player who excels at both run support and pass coverage. He can also be used as a nickel defender in the slot in addition to his safety responsibilities.
In nine games, Ramsey finished wth 27 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Seeing him this week against some of the better receivers in the nation could help elevate Ramsey’s draft stock. He projects as a second-round pick.
