Heading into the 2025 season, the Jets have made a series of moves to improve the state of their roster and overall depth, but are they ready to compete for a playoff spot?

In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group. This time, we’ll go in-depth into the safety position…

Projected depth chart

Starters: Andre Cisco, Tony Adams
Backups: Malachi Moore, Isaiah Oliver, Jarius Monroe
Key additions/losses: Cisco was signed in free agency and Moore was drafted in the fourth round. Chuck Clark, Ashtyn Davis, and Jalen Mills were not re-signed
Top Performers in 2024: Adams had 84 tackles (third-most on team), six pass breakups, one sack and one interception in 15 games
2024 ranking via PFF: Adams was 43rd out of 106 qualifying safeties for overall grade and 33rd for pass coverage grade

What the Jets' safeties have going for them

One of the biggest offseason additions for the Jets was Cisco, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $10 million. They needed reinforcements with Clark, Davis, and Mills all free agents. Clark and Mills started 20 games between them, while Davis was a key rotational contributor.

Cisco looks set to start alongside Adams, who was a starter for the past two years. However, he was controversially benched for a few games in the middle of last season.

The Jets appear to be high on the rookie Moore, and the utility man Oliver can also add depth to the rotation. Monroe impressed on special teams last year, which could be his path to making the roster again. However, he’ll face competition from a pair of promising undrafted rookies in Jordan Clark and Dean Clark.

Key concern for 2025: Lack of proven depth

Cisco and Adams have started 47 and 27 games, respectively, at the NFL level, but the group otherwise lacks starting experience. Oliver is the only other player on the roster to start any games at the safety position, but the Jets may have plans for him at cornerback.

This could also put pressure on Cisco and Adams to step up as leaders and force them to take on a bigger role in terms of relaying signals and communicating in the defensive backfield. While they have accumulated some experience, they are just 25 and 26 years old, respectively, and have previously been paired with a more experienced veteran as they developed.

Player who must step up in 2025: Andre Cisco

While it’s only a one-year deal, the Jets need Cisco to perform more consistently than he did last season in Jacksonville. He was ultimately benched down the stretch.

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