With Two Preseason Games Remaining, A Look At A Projected Jets 53-Man Roster
You can tell that the Jets have been adding talent in the last few years by the larger number of players who will be cut before the August 30 deadline who can actually play pro football.
Now, this infusion may not translate to an increase in Gang Green’s win total this season—that will depend more on the growth of their coach/quarterback duo—but there are certain position groups (most prominently on the defensive line) where Head Coach Robert Saleh’s roster trimming will be difficult.
Every beat writer seems to be putting out their projections of the final 53-man roster, so here’s my first crack at it with two preseason games remaining:
Quarterbacks (3):
Starter: Zach Wilson
Backups: Joe Flacco, Mike White
The unintended consequence from Wilson’s right knee injury during the first preseason game in Philadelphia was that it guaranteed a Week 1 job for White, who, last season’s superlative performance against Super Bowl-bound Cincinnati notwithstanding, doesn’t have the arm to warrant the investment of a precious roster slot. Flacco is likely to start the regular season opener versus his old Baltimore squad, but this has to be a year where the Jets get a better read on Wilson, their No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. When he’s back, the Jets would be better served with a practice squad-level third QB so they can fortify other positions.
Running backs (4):
Starter: Michael Carter
Backups: Breece Hall, Tevin Coleman, Nick Bawden
Expect General Manager Joe Douglas’ initial 2020 Draft class to be decimated on cut day. Tackle Mekhi Becton, Douglas’ first-round pick, is already on injured reserve, ending his season, and, in this position group, it will be time to bid adieu to fourth-round pick La’Mical Perine for good. Veteran Ty Johnson’s training camp injury likely cemented his exit as well. There’s been some chatter that undrafted free agent Zonovan Knight could sneak in, but that could only happen if the Jets axe Coleman, a Saleh favorite from his 49ers days. Knight will be a prime candidate for the practice squad. Carter and Hall will share the large bulk of the carries and Bawden is the only fullback in an organization that likes to go with heavy formations.
Wide receivers (5):
Starters: Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Garrett Wilson
Backups: Braxton Berrios, Jeff Smith
The extra QB slot necessitated by Wilson’s injury is bad news for Mims, which is a shame. Sorry folks, but the depth here doesn’t match the hype, which is why I have always been hoping the organization wouldn’t give up on Mims, the disappointing 2020 second-round pick. Berrios, an All-Pro returner, is just a middling slot receiver and Smith, whom the coaches somehow love for his versatility, stinks. Since an injury to a starter would spell trouble, this is one unit where Douglas might attempt to bolster by scouring the waiver wire after the roster is set, and after Mims is either traded or cut.
Tight ends (4):
Starters; C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin
Backups: Jeremy Ruckert, Trevon Wesco
With Uzomah and Conklin aboard as free agents, look for Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur to employ a heavy dose of “12” personnel packages that utilizes two tight ends (Boosted Tight End Room Has Potential To Help Turbo-Charge Wilson's Development, Jets Offense (substack.com)). I’d rather the Jets give Lawrence Cager a longer look for the final slot rather than run it back with Wesco, but it’s looking like the team prefers Wesco’s blocking over another tight end who’s more of a big receiver. That could change if the team sees accelerated development in 2022 third-round pick Ruckert. I’m fairly sure Douglas will first try to stash Cager and Kenny Yeboah on the practice squad again.
Offensive line: (9)
Starters: Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, George Fant
Backups: Max Mitchell, Chuma Edoga, Nate Herbig, Dan Feeney
If it can stay healthy, the o-line is potentially promising, even after the Becton injury, thanks to the recent Brown signing. Hopefully, Fant and Vera-Tucker don’t regress moving to the right side. In reserve, Herbig looks like he will be able to plug a hole in the interior, if necessary, but if another tackle goes down, look out below. Mitchell is a rookie and Edoga, who is no lock to make the team, hasn’t been great when given opportunities to play. No one wants to see a reprise of currently injured Conor McDermott at tackle either. Grant Hermanns’ only mentions from beat reporters at camp have been when he starts fights, but it wouldn’t be shocking if someone emerges to take Edoga’s slot. Pray for McGovern’s good health as well, since the brutal Feeney might be the organization’s first option as next man up at center unless Ross Pierschbacher makes it onto the practice squad.
Defensive line (10):
Starters: John Franklin-Myers, Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, Carl Lawson
Backups: Solomon Thomas, Jermaine Johnson, Bryce Huff, Jacob Martin, Michael Clemons, Nathan Shepherd
Even keeping an inordinately high number of players in this group will necessitate some tough cuts, such as Douglas draft picks Jabari Zuniga (2020, third round), who has had his moments in camp and in the victory over the Eagles last week, and Jonathan Marshall (2021, sixth round), the more likely candidate to sail through waivers and onto the Jets practice squad. Tanzel Smart is another preseason hotshot, but I think the organization will stick with the agitating Shepherd for another year. Losing Curry’s locker room presence will hurt, but the Jets just have too many edge rushers who are both more effective and more available (Curry missed all of last season with a rare blood disorder and hasn’t practiced in a bit due to a hamstring injury). Saleh said he plans to keep pitch counts to keep his players fresh, though it would behoove the team to have the potentially dominant Lawson and Williams on the field as often as possible.
Linebackers: (5)
Starters: C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams
Backups: Kwon Alexander, Jamien Sherwood, Del’Shawn Phillips
The early portion of New York’s schedule is loaded with run-oriented opponents, so there’s a chance that Saleh keeps former 49er Marcell Harris as an extra backer (or over Phillips, who started the Eagles game with Mosley sitting and was very good on special teams last season). Look for Alexander to push Williams for playing time while fans should be hoping that converted safety Sherwood remains glued to the bench. The only notable cut here will be Hamsah Nasirildeen, another former safety whom Douglas selected in the sixth round in the 2021 Draft and could end up on the practice squad.
Cornerbacks (6):
Starters: D.J. Reed, Ahmad Gardner, Michael Carter II
Backups: Bryce Hall, Javelin Guidry, Brandon Echols
The Jets revamped their secondary this offseason, with free agent Reed and No. 4 overall pick Gardner joining second-year slot man MC2, turning Hall into a terrific depth piece. I think the undersized Guidry is also a player and the team remains high on Echols’ potential as well. The Jets could keep special teams ace Justin Hardee, but did anyone watch him trying to play corner against the Eagles? Ugh. In my view, his five missed tackles on special teams last season to go along with five penalties make his $2 million salary cap hold a luxury the team can’t afford given the limited roster slots.
Safeties (4)
Starters: Jordan Whitehead, Lamarcus Joyner
Reserves; Jason Pinnock, Will Parks
Super Bowl champ Whitehead is expected to be the key add to this defense with his physicality and communication skills while Joyner can be a solid free safety if he can stay on the field. Behind them, I don’t know how, other than politics, the Jets can justify keeping Ashtyn Davis, another 2020 Draft bust (third round) over Parks or Pinnock, both of whom have been more impressive in their reps.
Specialists (3):
Kicker: Greg Zuerlein
Punter: Braden Mann
Long snapper: Thomas Hennessy
Zuerlein currently holds the upper hand in the kicking competition by virtue of Eddy Pineiro’s injury, but who knows for how long? The Jets haven’t had a stable kicker since letting Jason Myers walk to Seattle as a free agent after the 2018 season. Mann will be back for his third season, Hennessy his sixth.