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There isn’t a lot you can take from rookie minicamp practices because there is no real contract, but here are some thoughts being around the scene today.
Let’s start with seventh-round pick, safety VJ Payne from Kansas State (pictured above).
He’s a really impressive kid. Great attitude, and he could not wipe the smile off his face – so excited to take the field for the first time in an NFL practice, realizing a dream growing up in Georgia.
Many thought he’d go before the seventh round, so he could turn out to be a steal for the Jets.
This pick might be more consequential than people realize.
Keep in mind the Jets didn’t address one of their biggest needs in free agency or the draft, for a coverage linebacker.
But you often hear the phrase “positionless football” in the NFL these days, so who’s to say that a safety, over 6-3, close to 210 pounds, and who runs 4.4, can’t essentially be a combo safety/linebacker who can help them cover tight ends and running backs better.
Payne got high marks for his tight end coverage while at Kansas State.
Look, he has a lot to work on, and was a tad inconsistent last year for the Wildcats last year (who wasn’t on that team, which underachieved), but this is a player who can possibly fill a need for the Jets, somebody who can cover tight ends and/or running backs better than they did last year.
Linebacker Demario Davis was signed in the off-season, but he’s better against the run than the pass, especially at 37.
So keep an eye on Payne as a potential combination linebacker/safety coverage player.
Speaking of draft picks, Aaron Glenn was asked about David Bailey’s run defense, which some surmised was average on the college level.
“I never had an issue with his run game, you know, coming out of college,” Glenn said. “I know that’s the one thing that everyone has a knock on, and I think everyone tries to pick holes in every player that comes out.”
Look, it’s understandable that Glenn is taking up for his guy, somebody the Jets picked second overall in the 2026 draft, but the reality of this situation probably is somewhere in the middle – Bailey wasn’t as bad against the run as some would lead you to believe, but he does also need some work.
“I thought he was well-versed when it came to that, and the reason I say that is because you saw some of these guard pulls, you saw tackle pulls, and he was able to take those
guys on and be able to set an edge in that aspect,” Glenn said. “So, I have no issue with his run defense.”
Robbie Sabo of the website Jets X-Factor, who does a nice job breaking down film for Jets fans on his site and on X, recently pointed out some issues with Bailey, at times, taking on pulling guards – trying to finesse his way around the big linemen instead of taking him on. He showed some video to back up his thesis.
Granted, this was a small sampling, but from what I saw from Sabo’s film work, the kid has some work to do in this area. Sometimes, running around blocks, instead of trying to take them on aggressively by stacking and shedding, can lead to big holes in your run defense. Former Jets linebacker Quincy Williams, at times, tried to run around blocks instead of taking them on, leading to some big runs into his area.
“Obviously, there are a lot of things that he’s going to have to get better at, and he knows that and that’s why he’s here, for us to coach him up and help him with that,” Glenn said.
So, again, the answer lies somewhere in the middle – he’s not terrible against the run, but he has a lot to work on. Both things can be true.
May 8, 2026
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