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 at the special teams positions…
Projected depth chart
Starters: Harrison Mevis (kicker), Kai Kroeger (punter), Thomas Hennessy (long snapper)
Other key contributors: Kene Nwangwu, Xavier Gipson, Kris Boyd, Irv Charles, Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Key additions/losses: Kroeger and kicker Caden Davis were brought in as undrafted free agents, and Boyd was signed to a one-year deal in free agency. Punter Thomas Morstead and kicker Greg Zuerlein were released in May and Chazz Surratt signed for the 49ers in free agency
Top Performers in 2024: Surratt led the Jets with 10 special teams tackles
2024 ranking via PFF: Jets’ special teams unit was ranked 22nd in the NFL
What Jets’ special teams have going for them
The Jets are hitting the reset button on their special teams units this year, as new special teams coordinator Chris Banjo takes over from Brant Boyer, who had been in that role since 2016. There are also significant personnel changes, with Zuerlein and Morstead’s release leaving them without a proven veteran kicker or punter.
In the return game, Nwangwu made an instant impact with a touchdown on his Jets debut last season, only to then suffer a season-ending injury in the next game. However, he is likely to resume that role. Gipson could return punts for the third straight year but could face competition from rookies Arian Smith and Jamaal Pritchett.
In terms of the coverage units, the Jets are likely to be without the standout Irv Charles in training camp as he makes his way back from a torn ACL. However, Boyd and undrafted rookies like Ja’Markis Weston and Quentin Skinner could compete for roles. Returning players such as McCrary-Ball, Jarius Monroe and Qwan’tez Stiggers should also contribute.
Key concern for 2025: Is a more established kicker needed?
The Jets felt good about their kicker position heading into 2024, as Zuerlein had been solid for them in 2022 and 2023. However, he had some crucial misses in the early stages of the season and ended up with seven missed kicks in eight games.
New York just added the UFL standout Mevis, who tried out for the team earlier this month. Head coach Aaron Glenn may be hoping that Mevis follows in the footsteps of last year’s UFL success story Jake Bates, after getting to see his success up close in Detroit last year.
His competition is the undrafted rookie Davis, who is regarded as excellent at kickoffs but has missed a few kicks in offseason activities.
Unless one of these players locks in and takes the role, the Jets may need to bring in someone more experienced because Glenn won’t want a player he doesn’t completely trust deciding games in his first year as a head coach.
Player who must step up in 2025: Gipson
Gipson couldn’t have had a better introduction to the NFL when his overtime punt return touchdown gave the Jets a win over the Bills in their 2024 season opener. Since then, he’s retained that role but has mostly underwhelmed.
He has only had a punt return of more than 20 yards three times since that Bills touchdown and averaged just 8.1 yards per return in 2024. In addition, he’s fumbled nine times in two seasons.
If the Jets can find someone more dynamic and sure-handed, Gipson’s role as the punt returner will come under threat in which case his role on offense probably isn’t significant enough to keep him on the roster.
Biggest camp battle: Kroeger vs. McNamara
There will also be a competition for the punter role, with Kroeger’s only current competition being McNamara, a free agent who has yet to punt in an NFL game.
Kroeger is a former high school quarterback, who had several big plays on fake punts and field goals in college. That would be an exciting weapon to have, but he needs to outkick McNamara to secure the role and they both have big legs so it could go either way.
This could be another position where the Jets could opt to bring in a more experienced player if the two youngers fail to impress.
Overall 2025 outlook
Once again, this is an area where the Jets will need to rely on some unknown quantities but will be hoping for some unexpected contributors to step up and establish themselves.
Glenn has been insisting that special teams is something the Jets take seriously and will not overlook as they build their roster. In fact, he says there will be an elevated emphasis in this area. It will be up to Banjo to get the most out of the personnel he has at his disposal.
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