New York Jets: Selecting The 2025 All Ex-jets Team

Over the past few seasons, we’ve been putting together a team of ex-Jets based on how they had performed with their new teams during the year. Last month we recapped how ex-Jets fared during the 2025 season, so let’s now attempt to put together an all-former Jets team for 2025.

Quarterback – Sam Darnold

What a postseason for Darnold, who put to rest criticism that he was incapable of winning the big one by throwing five touchdowns and zero interceptions in the Seahawks’ postseason run to become the eventual Super Bowl champions. While his regular season wasn’t as good as last year, it was still more than worthy of this spot as he completed a career high 68 percent of his passes for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

(Last year: Sam Darnold)

Running Back – Michael Carter

Carter did enough to earn this spot over the likes of Ty Johnson, Raheem Mostert and his teammate Bam Knight as he racked up 600 yards from scrimmage with a touchdown and 33 receptions. He had 58 or more yards in five games with his best performance seeing him rack up 94 yards on 18 touches against the Texans.

(Last year: Ty Johnson)

Tight End – Tyler Conklin

There wasn’t much competition for this spot, which goes to Conklin despite a disappointing output. Despite starting five games, Conklin had just seven catches for 101 yards in 13 games. This was still enough to earn him this spot over Anthony Firkser.

(Last year: Eric Tomlinson)

Wide Receivers – Davante Adams, Kalif Raymond and Greg Dortch

Adams was a great pickup for the Rams as he led the league with 14 touchdown receptions, even though his overall production (60 catches, 789 yards) was down.

Raymond and Dortch return to this team almost by default as any other ex-Jets receivers failed to make their mark but each made worthwhile contributions. Raymond had over 300 yards from scrimmage with a touchdown on 24 catches and Dortch had four total touchdowns as he caught 27 passes for over 200 yards.

(Last year: Elijah Moore, Kalif Raymond and Greg Dortch)

Offensive Line – Mekhi Becton and Morgan Moses at tackle, Greg Van Roten and Laken Tomlinson at guard, Dan Feeney at center

Four of these were guards in 2025, but we’re putting Becton at tackle and Feeney at center because they’re capable of playing these roles.

Moses was the standout as he started every game for New England, helping them to made it all the way to the Super Bowl. He only gave up two sacks all year.

Becton, who was playing right guard and was released at the end of the season, still started 14 games on an injury-plagued Chargers line, giving up just three sacks.

Van Roten once again started all 17 games for the Giants, also giving up just three sacks with only three penalties.

Feeney didn’t play until midseason but ended up starting the last 10 games for the Bucs and he had just one penalty, although he did give up four sacks.

The final choice, edging out Kelvin Beachum, was Laken Tomlinson who was another player that ended up getting released. He had started seven games with one penalty and three sacks surrendered.

(Last season: Mekhi Becton and Kelvin Beachum at tackle, Trystan Colon and Laken Tomlinson at guard, Connor McGovern at center)

Defensive Line – Leonard Williams, John Franklin-Myers and Quinnen Williams

The defense also includes a first time Super Bowl winner, as Leonard Williams capped off another pro bowl season with his first ring. He had 62 tackles, seven sacks and 22 quarterback hits and was named as a second-team all-pro.

Franklin-Myers actually beat Williams with a career-high 7.5 sacks, although he had just 25 tackles in 16 games and looks set to move on from the Broncos.

The other Williams, Quinnen, only played seven games with Dallas but he gave their defense a spark as he had 21 tackles, nine quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks.

(Last season: Leonard Williams, John Franklin-Myers and Mike Pennel)

Edge Defenders – Frankie Luvu and Jacob Martin

Luvu was unable to emulate his outstanding 2024 season but was still extremely productive with 86 tackles, three sacks and six passes defensed.

His Commanders teammate Martin also had a nice year as he started 14 games and had 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

(Last season: Frankie Luvu and Carl Lawson)

Linebackers – Demario Davis and Blake Cashman

This duo remains the two obvious choices at linebacker as they each ended up in the top 10 for total tackles. Cashman was 9th in the league with 144 despite missing four games. He added two sacks and two passes defensed. Davis’ 143 tackles were a career-high and some speculation has linked the 37-year old to a potential return to the Jets. Davis also had two forced fumbles and three passes defensed.

(Last season – Demario Davis and Blake Cashman)

Cornerbacks – DJ Reed and Brandin Echols

Reed was a solid pickup for the Lions, although he missed six games. He had 46 tackles, seven passes defensed and two interceptions in 11 starts.

Echols established himself as a playmaker with the Steelers for whom he had some clutch plays. He ended up with 48 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions, adding a third interception in the postseason.

Sauce Gardner would be an obvious choice for this spot in future years but he only played in four games after the trade to the Colts, so he misses out.

(Last season: Corey Ballentine and Art Maulet)

Safeties – Ashtyn Davis and Chuck Clark

Davis only had one interception and one forced fumble, but he racked up a career high 65 tackles and broke up four passes as he spent most of the year as a starter in Miami.

Clark was more of a rotational contributor but he started five games for the Steelers and had 51 tackles and three passes defensed.

(Last season – Jason Pinnock and Jordan Whitehead)

Kicker – Eddy Piñeiro

There was a lot of competition for this spot but Piñeiro led the NFL in field goal percentage after making 28 of 29 field goal attempts so he deserves it. Although he also missed five extra points, none of these mattered in the end and he did kick two game winners.

(Last season – Nick Folk)

Punter – Braden Mann

Mann was one of three ex-Jets to punt in the league this year and he was easily the best with his 49.9 gross yards per punt good for sixth best in the league. His net average was down on recent years but still better than the other two ex-Jets.

(Last season – Braden Mann)

Long snapper – Zach Triner

Triner was the only ex-Jets long snapper to suit up for a game this year. The 35-year old played in one game for the Commanders, snapping the ball eight times.

(Last season – Zach Triner)

Return Specialist – Kalif Raymond/Raheem Mostert

Raymond had a low average as a punt returner this year but did score a punt return touchdown for the third time in four years. Mostert was fourth in the league for kickoff return average at 29.3 yards per runback.

(Last season – Kalif Raymond/Brandon Codrington)

Special Teamers

Once again, the NFL’s leading special teams tackler was an ex-Jet as linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips racked up 24 of them. Several others made good contributions, including Neville Hewitt, who had 12 tackles.

Conclusions

The evolution of this team from year to year remains fascinating. In particular, the skill positions on this year’s ex-Jets team are weaker than ever – a sure sign that the Jets haven’t had much talent to cut ties with at these spots in recent years. The exception here, though, was Adams.

Elsewhere, the balance of the team between AFC/NFC seems better than in the past and there are still a few guys every year setting career marks.

Would this team beat the 2025 Jets? It seems likely, based on the quarterback alone – and that’s a pretty tough defense even with Gardner excluded.

As ever, we’ll have to hope that the current regime is going to start to do a better job of retaining the right players and shedding anyone who is destined to underachieve.