Jets' 53-man Roster Projection ahead of Preseason Finale
By this time in the NFL Preseason, team rosters have taken shape for the most part, but there are still jobs up for grabs during the final stretch.
That's certainly the case for the New York Jets.
Gang Green and the 31 other NFL teams must pare their rosters down to 53 men by Tuesday, August 29 at 4:00 pm ET.
The latest Jets Country 53-man roster projection, ahead of the final preseason game, has the Green & White rostering 26 offensive players, 24 defenders and three specialists.
I think the Jets will opt to keep six receivers, but only two quarterbacks. On defense, I see the team dedicating nine total roster spots for linebackers and safeties with one of the groups taking five.
Here's the latest educated guess at the 2023 Jets' initial 53-man roster.
Quarterback — 2
Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson
Cuts — Tim Boyle
Analysis
Roster spots are too valuable to use on a third quarterback, especially when an emergency option like Boyle can make it through waivers and onto the Practice Squad.
Running Backs — 5
Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook, Michael Carter, Israel Abanikanda, Nick Bawden (FB)
Cuts — Bam Knight (PS), Travis Dye
Analysis
A fullback is included amongst this quintet with Bawden snagging the No. 53 spot on the roster. Assuming that Hall begins the season on the active roster and the injury to Abanikanda isn't serious, Knight is the odd man out in the running backs hierarchy. Like last season, he will land on the PS if he passes through waivers.
Receivers — 6
Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, Corey Davis, Randall Cobb, Xavier Gipson
Cuts — Irvin Charles, Malik Taylor (PS), TJ Luther, Jason Brownlee (PS), Jerome Kapp, Alex Erickson
Analysis
The first five receivers seem set. Saleh has repeatedly said that Davis will be a part of the offense in 2023 and there's no reason to not believe him. The $1 million question is whether the Jets will dedicate six roster spots to this position group, and in the current NFL climate, I believe they will. Gipson barely beats out Brownlee here because of his ability to share primary return specialist duties with Hardman.
Tight Ends — 3
Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert
Cuts — Zack Kuntz (PS), E.J. Jenkins, Kenny Yeboah
Analysis
Conklin and Uzomah are locked into the top two spots with Ruckert looking to earn an increased role in a hopefully healthy Year 2. Kuntz is the perfect PS development prospect. Don't be surprised if Jenkins or Yeboah find their way to the Practice Squad, too.
Offensive Tackles — 5
Duane Brown, Mekhi Becton, Max Mitchell, Billy Turner, Carter Warren
Cuts — Greg Senat (PS), Grant Hermanns
Analysis
The way it seems to be unfolding, Brown will protect the blindside while Becton gets a shot to start at right tackle. Mitchell and Turner are the backups with the fourth-round rookie Warren taking on a developmental role.
Interior O-linemen — 5
Connor McGovern, Joe Tippman, Wes Schweitzer, Laken Tomlinson, Alijah Vera-Tucker
Cuts — Adam Pankey, Trystan Colon, Brent Laing, Eric Smith, Chris Glaser
Analysis
After re-signing McGovern and drafting Tippmann, the Jets will carry two pure centers, but don't be surprised if the rookie works his way into the lineup as a guard at some point. Tomlinson and Vera-Tucker are "sharpied" in as the first-string guards with Schweitzer, a battle-tested Swiss Army knife, as the backup.
Defensive Tackles — 4
Quinnen Williams, Quinton Jefferson, Solomon Thomas, Al Woods
Cuts — Isaiah Mack, Marquiss Spencer, Tanzel Smart (PS), Bruce Hector, Jalyn Holmes
Analysis
This is a solid veteran quartet headlined by the All-Pro Williams.
Defensive Ends — 6
John Franklin-Myers, Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, Bryce Huff, Micheal Clemons
Cuts — Deslin Alexandre (PS), Pita Taumoepenu
Analysis
Employing a consistent rotation on the defensive front, the Jets will keep at least 10 defensive linemen. The undrafted Alexandre loses out in a numbers game, but seems bound for the Practice Squad.
Linebackers — 4
CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes
Cuts — Chazz Surratt (PS), Claudin Cherelus, Caleb Johnson, Sam Eguavoen, Nick Vigil
Analysis
Only room for four, maybe five, at this position, especially considering how heavily defenses line up in nickel in today's NFL. The Jets opened their preseason game against the Bucs with two linebackers and three safeties on the field. Surratt, seemingly a favorite of Saleh, is the toughest cut of the group.
Safeties — 5
Jordan Whitehead, Tony Adams, Adrian Amos, Ashtyn Davis, Trey Dean
Cuts — Marquis Waters, Jarrick Bernard-Converse (IR)
Analysis
With Jordan Whitehead and Tony Adams seemingly entrenched as starters, Amos and Davis fill the two backup spots. Maybe Dean's emergence convinces the team to keep a fifth safety, especially if they only go with four linebackers, but at the least the undrafted rookie should land on the Practice Squad.
Cornerbacks — 5
Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed, Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall, Justin Hardee
Cuts — Brandin Echols (SUSP), Craig James, Jimmy Moreland (PS), Derrick Langford, Nehemiah Shelton
Analysis
Gardner and Reed accounted for one of the baddest CB duos in the NFL and Carter is solid in the slot. Hardee has a spot locked up due to his special teams prowess. Echols, who has been somewhat unimpressive in preseason game action, will start the season on the suspended list. Jimmy Moreland could warrant a sixth CB on the 53-man roster.
Specialists — 3
Greg Zuerlein (K), Thomas Morstead (P/H), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
Cuts — None
Analysis
These three proven veterans had no camp competition, and understandably so.
READ MORE:
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Saleh and Rodgers Not 'Panicking' over Jets' Offensive Line
Offensive Miscues Cost Jets in Preseason Loss to Bucs
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