With their final selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, No. 228 overall in Round 7, the Jets selected Kansas State safety VJ Payne.
Payne, a four-year starter for K-State, was a two-time Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection. He logged a total of 196 tackles during his time with the Wildcats (10.5 for loss) with four interceptions, four forced fumbles, one sack, and 13 passes defensed.
From NFL.com’s Draft and Scouting Combine profile:
Long and rangy, Payne is a durable 42-game starter and team captain who can play inside the box, over the slot and as a split safety. His coverage tape pops more than his run support and tackling. He reads and responds with good timing from depth and uses his length to smother the catch point in man coverage when matched inside. Payne held his own against three of the Big 12’s best receiving tight ends in 2025. He will do his job as a run defender but lacks an enforcer’s conviction and gets hung up on blocks too easily. Payne’s measurables and coverage versatility improve his chances of becoming a productive pro.
