Every New York Jets player, ranked
You read the title. We’re about to rank every player on the New York Jets roster as we enter training camp. All 90 of them.
Disclaimer: Ranking players is a subjective endeavor. This ranking is entirely my opinion. Feel free to disagree!
The basis for my ranking was simple. Players are ranked based on the answer to this question: How confident am I that this player can help the Jets win games in 2023?
90. G/C Brent Laing (UDFA)
An undrafted interior offensive linemen from Division II Minnesota-Duluth.
89. DE Deslin Alexandre (UDFA)
An undrafted free agent from Pittsburgh, Alexandre has little chance of making the team since he plays at arguably the deepest position on New York’s roster.
For the undrafted free agents, I mostly ranked them based on the Jets’ roster strength at their position. The stronger the Jets are at their position, the less likely they make the team. The weaker they are at the position, the more likely they make the team.
88. CB Derrick Langford (UDFA)
Like Alexandre, the undrafted free agent from Washington State has a near-zero chance of making the roster, as he simply plays the wrong position for this particular team.
87. TE E.J. Jenkins (UDFA)
Transferred from South Carolina to Georgia Tech in his final college season and had 17 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games. Extremely tall at 6-foot-7.
86. TE Izaiah Gathings (UDFA)
A very productive player in his final college season, catching 60 passes for 559 yards and two touchdowns for Middle Tennessee State in 2022. Undersized at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds.
85. RB Travis Dye (UDFA)
Productive five-year college career for Oregon and USC (5,066 yards and 38 touchdowns), but tested historically poorly – 0.15 RAS, including a 4.82 forty time. Worth noting he tested in heavy rain at his pro day.
84. LB Maalik Hall (UDFA)
Had eight sacks in his fifth season for Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State in 2022.
83. LB Claudin Cherelus (UDFA)
Posted six sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss with Alcorn State in 2022.
82. LB Caleb Johnson (UDFA)
The Jets are thin at linebacker, giving one of the three undrafted linebackers a reasonable shot at making the roster. Of the three, Johnson is the only one who hails from a Power-5 school, so I give him the edge. Johnson had 48 tackles over just 299 defensive snaps for Miami (FL) last season.
81. WR Xavier Gipson (UDFA)
The Stephen F. Austin product is a slot option, standing at 5-foot-9 and 189 pounds.
80. WR T.J. Luther (UDFA)
Luther is another slot option, standing at 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds coming out of Gardner-Webb.
79. DT Marquiss Spencer
A 25-year-old defensive tackle who signed with the Jets’ practice squad last November. He signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
78. OT Chris Glaser
Signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia in 2022. Did not play in 2022 regular season but spent much of the year on the practice squad.
77. DT Isaiah Mack
The 2019 undrafted free agent has 25 games of NFL experience with the Titans, Patriots, and Ravens.
76. OT Greg Senat
A sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2018, Senat is already on his sixth team. His only NFL action came in 2020 when he played 10 games for the Cowboys, mostly appearing on special teams.
75. G Adam Pankey
The 29-year-old has played nine career games with the Packers and Dolphins, including one start for Miami in 2019.
74. S Marquis Waters (UDFA)
A strong safety from Texas Tech. Waters was PFF’s third-highest graded safety against the run in 2022, one spot behind Lions second-round pick Brian Branch from Alabama. With the Jets’ lack of depth at safety, Waters could have a shot.
73. CB Craig James
Has played 21 career games, mostly for the Eagles from 2019-20. Decent amount of special teams experience (342 career snaps on special teams).
72. CB Jimmy Moreland
A seventh-round pick in 2019, Moreland played in 30 games with 10 starts for Washington from 2019-20, making 86 tackles, although he has not started a game since.
71. QB Chris Streveler
Streveler is a great athlete but he is nowhere close to an NFL-level passer.
70. LB Chazz Surratt
A third-round pick of the Vikings out of North Carolina just two years ago. At a thin linebacker position, he could have a chance to sneak onto the roster with an impressive offseason.
69. WR Irvin Charles
Signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana (PA) in 2022. Had a rough preseason, catching 4-of-10 targets for 27 yards. Good size at 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds.
68. WR Jerome Kapp (UDFA)
The Kutztown product impressed the Jets at a tryout and earned an undrafted free agent contract. He then generated some buzz at OTAs.
67. WR Malik Taylor
Signed with the Jets’ practice squad last December. Played 25 games for the Packers from 2020-21, serving as a core special teams player (313 special teams snaps). Has a little bit of experience with Aaron Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett, catching 7-of-9 targets for 80 yards and one touchdown.
66. WR Jason Brownlee (UDFA)
The 6-foot-3, 198-pound Brownlee made some noise in OTAs. He was productive at Southern Miss, catching 55 passes for 891 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022.
65. S Trey Dean (UDFA)
Dean logged extensive experience as an SEC starter with Florida, recording 255 tackles, 18 passes defended, and four interceptions over five years with the Gators. The Jets’ weak safety position gives Dean an inside track to a roster spot.
64. OT Yodny Cajuste
The Patriots’ 2019 third-round pick battled injuries and poor performance as he played only 17 games (5 starts) over four years.
63. CB Javelin Guidry
After two years with the Jets to start his career, Guidry spent time with four different teams in 2022. The Jets welcomed him back in May after claiming him off waivers. Perhaps his speed could find him a role on special teams.
62. QB Tim Boyle
The NFL’s new emergency quarterback rule will give Boyle a good chance of making the 53-man roster. Boyle has struggled in his career but his experience in Hackett’s offense could be beneficial to have in the locker room.
61. TE Zack Kuntz
A world-class athlete, but an incredibly raw football player, as Joe Blewett showcased on film. I’m not sure Kuntz is a lock to make the 53-man roster. He was drafted solely based on his testing performance; his film was nowhere close to draft-worthy.
60. WR Diontae Spencer
Spencer’s experience as a returner could give him a shot to make the team. He was the Broncos’ primary returner from 2019-21, returning 68 punts for a 9.8-yard average (1 touchdown) and 47 kickoffs for a 21.4-yard average.
59. TE Kenny Yeboah
Yeboah played 10 games for the Jets as a primary special teamer last season, logging 213 special teams snaps. I wouldn’t be shocked if he makes the team over Kuntz.
58. WR Denzel Mims
In May, Robert Saleh said of Mims, “he’s got a chance to compete and make this roster”. It’s clear that Mims is not a lock to make this team, and rightfully so considering how poorly he has played over the last two seasons.
57. OT Carter Warren
Warren is a developmental prospect who won’t play in 2023 unless it is an emergency, but his ample experience with true pass sets at Pittsburgh could help minimize the learning curve if he is tossed into action as a rookie.
56. LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
There’s a chance for Nasirildeen to earn reps in this defense but we haven’t seen anything of note from him in his two years with the team.
55. FB Nick Bawden
Bawden carved out a small role in the Jets’ offense during the second half of 2021, impressing with his blocking. He missed all of 2022 due to injury. We’ll see if the Jets deem his blocking worthy of a roster spot – he’d probably steal the spot of a running back or tight end.
54. G/C Trystan Colon
A versatile interior lineman who played 20 games (4 starts) for the Ravens over the past three years. His production is solid and the film backs it up. I think he could be a diamond in the rough as a backup interior lineman, but it’s a crowded battle for the Jets’ second-string roster spots along the offensive line, so Colon is not a lock to make the team.
53. DT Tanzel Smart
Smart is headed for his fourth season with the Jets despite playing only six regular season games so far. He continuously impresses in the preseason but hasn’t been able to get on the field too much in the regular season.
52. DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
The Jets have not definitively stated that Jarrick Bernard-Converse will be converting from cornerback to safety, but that seems like the best course of action considering both JBC’s skill set and the Jets’ predicament at safety.
51. LB Zaire Barnes
Barnes is a major work-in-progress at linebacker, but he is a great athlete and could contribute on special teams right away.
50. QB Zach Wilson
The NFL’s worst starting quarterback in 2022. Even amongst backups, he ranks as one of the league’s worst options. It’s hard to feel good about Wilson as the Plan B behind Aaron Rodgers.
49. CB Bryce Hall
Hall gave up a touchdown in Week 1 of the 2022 season and never played another defensive snap. Still, it’s hard to forget the upside he showed in 2021, when he recorded 16 passes defended. With Brandin Echols facing a one-game suspension, Hall has a chance to earn the top backup cornerback spot for the season opener.
48. S Ashtyn Davis
It seems like the ship has sailed for Davis at safety. However, he carved a niche on special teams in 2022, playing 278 snaps in 14 games.
47. LB Jamien Sherwood
Sherwood is the current favorite to replace Kwon Alexander as the Jets’ LB3, barring a late Alexander reunion. His lack of athleticism is concerning but he played well in a very limited sample size last season.
46. DT Solomon Thomas
Thomas struggled as both a pass rusher and run defender last season, although it looks like he will have a role in the defense once again this year.
45. OT Max Mitchell
Mitchell needs a lot of development before he can be considered a starting-caliber tackle, but I don’t think he’s too far off from being a league-average backup tackle.
44. G/C Wes Schweitzer
Schweitzer’s contract included a surprisingly high total of $3.2 million in guaranteed money, which all but ensures he will be on the team. While he brings starting experience at all three interior positions, he was never particularly good at any of them. As far as backups go, though, he’s fine.
43. OT Billy Turner
Like Schweitzer, Turner has a lot of starting experience despite never playing very well in that role. His starting experience alone makes him a decent backup option. Plus, he has plenty of experience alongside Hackett and Rodgers, which can only help.
42. CB Brandin Echols
Echols performed admirably in his relief appearances last season. The Jets clearly favor him over Hall.
41. LS Thomas Hennessy
Hennessy has been a beacon of consistency for the Jets since 2017. Showing how much they value him, the Jets re-signed Hennessy to a three-year, $5.97 million contract that includes a position-record guarantee of $2.625 million.
40. RB Israel Abanikanda
Abanikanda should bring big-play potential to the Jets’ offense right away, although I am concerned about some of his weaknesses in the passing game. I like his long-term upside, but in Year 1, I’m not as high on Abanikanda’s potential impact as others. Rodgers and Hackett place a heavy onus on running backs in the passing game, so I think they will lean toward the running backs who can thrive in that phase.
39. TE C.J. Uzomah
I think Jeremy Ruckert will overtake C.J. Uzomah as the Jets’ TE2 at some point; if not prior to Week 1, then at some point during the year. Uzomah’s blocking was detrimental last season.
38. RB Michael Carter
Which version of Carter will the Jets get? The 2021 version of Carter could be the RB1 for many teams in the NFL. The 2022 version of Carter should not be on a 53-man roster. Carter’s range of outcomes is among the largest on the team.
37. DE Will McDonald
McDonald’s time to shine will probably come in 2024, when the Jets likely say goodbye to at least one or two of their top defensive ends. This year, snaps will be difficult to come by for McDonald. Still, I could see him being an efficient pass rusher in his limited role, finding a way to make a handful of game-changing plays even if his overall consistency still needs work.
36. S Jordan Whitehead
Whitehead struggled as a starter last year and I think there are quite a few reserves and special teams players on the team who will make a more positive impact in their smaller roles than Whitehead will in his starting role.
35. K Greg Zuerlein
Zuerlein had an average season in 2022 by most metrics. He ranked 14th out of 32 qualified kickers in NFL Next Gen Stats’ field goal percentage over expectation, and 17th in Football Outsiders’ field goal/extra point DVOA.
34. S Tony Adams
Call me crazy, but I believe in Adams more than I believe in Whitehead. I see a good season coming for Adams. His performance in late-2022 impressed me, even if the sample size was small. If he can put together a strong training camp and preseason, I’ll push him even further up this list by Week 1.
33. WR Randall Cobb
Cobb is the perfect WR5 for this Jets team. He has reliable hands, is a smart route runner, and has chemistry with Rodgers. I think he will be really efficient in a small role.
32. TE Jeremy Ruckert
While I’m not sure Ruckert will make much of a receiving impact this season, I think he will make a big impact with his blocking, allowing him to surpass Uzomah.
31. P Thomas Morstead
Last season, Morstead ranked 10th out of 32 qualified punters in both punting EPA per punt and PFF’s punting grade. The longtime vet still has plenty left in the tank.
30. CB Justin Hardee
Hardee showcased his special teams stardom in 2022, making his first Pro Bowl. He tied for sixth in the league with 15 special teams tackles, blocked a punt, and recovered an onside kick.
29. WR Mecole Hardman
Hardman has established himself as a big-time explosive-play threat on gadget plays and should continue to do so in New York. He also appears to be the current favorite to return punts and kickoffs.
28. OT Duane Brown
Brown is entering his age-38 season and had a rough season in 2022 as he dealt with a shoulder injury throughout the entire year. There are a lot of question marks, but if he can stay fully healthy, he should have a reasonable chance of being a league-average starting tackle.
27. S Adrian Amos
Amos recently turned 30 and had a down year in 2022. He has a much better resume of production than Whitehead, though. I think he will find a middle ground between his 2022 struggles and his pre-2022 success, giving the Jets a league-average season.
26. DT Quinton Jefferson
Jefferson’s athletic pass rushing will fit right into the Jets’ downhill, one-gapping defensive line, but the Jets need to figure out how to hide his run defense.
25. DE Jermaine Johnson
Johnson has the potential to land much higher on this list by the end of the year, but I’m hedging my bets for now. While I see him having an improved year as a pass rusher, I am hesitant to predict he’ll be any better than average in that phase. His strong run defense will continue to be the basis of his game.
24. OT Mekhi Becton
Becton would land much higher on this list if it were based on pure talent. When you play one game in two years, though, it is difficult to be confident. The No. 24 spot on the list is a reasonable middle ground between Becton’s high-end potential and the very real possibility that he either barely plays or does not play at all.
23. C Connor McGovern
While McGovern’s tenure as the Jets’ starting center was a roller-coaster, I think it’s fair to say he was ultimately a league-average starter for them. As a backup, he’d be one of the best in the league, and as a secondary starting option in the event Joe Tippman isn’t ready, the Jets can do a lot worse. McGovern’s pass-blocking is not ideal for a starter, but his run-blocking is fantastic and would help the Jets establish the elite run game they want to build in front of Rodgers.
22. DT Al Woods
Woods is one of the best in the league at what he does. As long as the Jets make sure he is only on the field in the right situations, Woods should make a big impact.
21. LB Quincy Williams
Williams improved in 2022, but he is still slightly overrated by some fans. His coverage was problematic last season, although his run defense was solid.
20. S Chuck Clark
Clark is technically still on the roster since he has not been placed on injured reserve yet, so I figured he should be included. I was a huge fan of Clark’s resume and thought he would be a big upgrade for the Jets’ safety unit. His sound tackling and quality coverage against tight ends would have been much-needed boosts in areas of weakness.
19. RB Zonovan Knight
This is one of my bolder choices on the list; admittedly, it’s an optimistic projection. I am very high on Knight. He impressed me in 2022 with his elusiveness, power, pass-blocking, and soft hands. All of these things came in a small sample, so Knight must continue to prove himself this year, but he’s a guy I’m willing to bet on. My prediction is that Knight will be the clear RB2 to Hall when it’s all said and done.
18. DE Micheal Clemons
Clemons has bulked up in preparation for more snaps on the interior. It remains unclear exactly what his split will be. Is it a full-time move? 50-50? 75-25 in favor of the edge, like John Franklin-Myers?
Where he lines up will determine how he makes his impact, but regardless of how it shakes out, I think Clemons will have a great season. On the edge, he proved in 2022 that he can be dominant against the run, although his pass rushing was lackluster. If he plays inside, Clemons probably won’t be as dominant against the run, but I think he can be a good pass rusher from that position.
17. C Joe Tippmann
I like Tippmann’s odds of being an above-average starting center in his rookie year. We’ve seen quite a few rookie centers hit the ground running in recent years, and I think Tippmann has the right skill set to make an instant impact.
16. WR Allen Lazard
Lazard’s efficiency dipped in 2022 when he had to take on a larger volume of targets due to Davante Adams’ exit. But when Lazard was a low-volume complementary receiver from 2019 to 2021, he was really efficient – and the Jets should give him an opportunity to slide back into that role. His blocking is an added bonus.
15. DE Bryce Huff
It’s hard to be a top 15 player on your team when you played less than 200 snaps in the previous season. Bryce Huff pulls it off. Regardless of whether Huff reprises the same role or gets a bigger snap count, the challenge for him will be to maintain the elite efficiency he posted in 2022. If he can do that, Huff can still be a top 15 player on the team even while playing a minimal snap count. Still, it’s fun to imagine how productive Huff could be if he were given a large snap count.
14. WR Corey Davis
Davis proved in 2020 that he can be a quality WR2. Injuries and terrible QB play have prevented him from showcasing that in New York. I think Davis will put it all together in 2023.
13. CB Michael Carter II
Carter II doesn’t have the flair to his game that gets people to Pro Bowls, but he is incredibly good at the little things, making him one of the league’s most effective slot cornerbacks. You usually don’t notice him very much on gameday, which is a great thing for the cornerback position.
12. TE Tyler Conklin
Providing good run blocking, soft hands, and sharp route running, Conklin is a very solid all-around starting tight end. The numbers didn’t bear it out in 2022; they will in 2023.
11. LB C.J. Mosley
Mosley had a resurgent 2022 season after a rough return in 2021. He wasn’t particularly elite in any area, but he was solid in most areas, and his leadership remains a huge plus.
10. G Laken Tomlinson
Tomlinson would be nowhere close to this spot if the list were based on 2022 performance. However, I see Tomlinson having a bounce-back year. The presence of a veteran quarterback should make life easier for all of the Jets’ linemen. In particular, Rodgers should minimize the number of communication breakdowns that occur, which were the crux of Tomlinson’s rough season.
9. DE Carl Lawson
Lawson had a good-not-great season in 2022 after returning from his Achilles injury. After an injury-free season and with another full year of recovery under his belt, I think Lawson has a great chance of improving in 2023.
8. DE John Franklin-Myers
Franklin-Myers’ positional versatility and ability to affect both the pass and run are unique traits that allow the Jets to mix and match along the defensive line.
7. CB D.J. Reed
The record books might not say it, but Reed is a Pro Bowl cornerback.
6. RB Breece Hall
While Hall might need some time to hit his stride, I think he will ultimately have a fantastic season and pick up where he left off in 2022.
5. G Alijah Vera-Tucker
Possibly the only player in the league who is capable of playing at an All-Pro level at guard and a very high level at two tackle spots. The Shohei Ohtani of offensive linemen.
4. WR Garrett Wilson
Wilson could end up at No. 2 by the end of the season, as I think he has more room for progression than the two players in front of him. For now, though, a No. 4 ranking behind two first-team All-Pros and a four-time MVP is nothing to sneeze at.
3. DT Quinnen Williams
Arguably the best two-way defensive tackle in the NFL last season. A handful of defensive tackles could match his pass rushing. Some could match his impact against the run. None could match him in both categories.
2. CB Sauce Gardner
I completely understand the argument for ranking Williams over Gardner, but for me, I give a slight edge to Gardner. Statistically speaking, Gardner was the clear-cut No. 1 cornerback last season, while the same cannot be said for Williams at defensive tackle. The All-Pro voting backed this up; Gardner received the most first-team votes for cornerbacks and Williams had the second-most for defensive tackles.
1. QB Aaron Rodgers
No explanation required.
