The most recent New York Jets roster prediction features some notable changes
With several weeks of New York Jets training camp now past, it’s somewhat easier to get a read on which players will make the 53-man roster. Still, the preseason often plays a large role for fringe roster players, helping or hurting their cases. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of which players the Jets think they can get through to their practice squad (see: Jason Pinnock vs. Tony Adams in 2022).
Given what we’ve seen in camp so far, here’s my prediction for the Jets’ 53-man roster. I’ll put up one final edition shortly before cutdown day.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor (2)
NFI list: Jordan Travis
Practice squad: ???
Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor are cemented as the top two quarterbacks on the Jets’ roster. After Joe Douglas’ post-draft comments, I thought Jordan Travis would be ready to start the regular season and would be the Jets’ third-string quarterback. However, with Robert Saleh’s comments that Travis’ recovery is taking a lot longer than expected, he seems destined to begin the season on the non-football injury (NFI) list.
I assume the Jets will have some quarterback on their practice squad come the regular season. Knowing who that will be is quite difficult, though. The Jets have been running through non-NFL-level passers like water this offseason, as they need players for the various teams in practice. The most recent addition was Adrian Martinez, the UFL MVP in 2023. Undrafted free agent Andrew Peasley remains on the Jets’ 90-man roster despite his putrid play in camp.
I think it’s more likely the Jets end up with someone like 2023 undrafted free agent Nathan Rourke (most recently released by the Giants), Trevor Siemian (ugh), Jake Fromm, or the like. Or perhaps they won’t sign a practice squad passer at all, as they didn’t have anyone there before Rodgers got hurt in 2023.
Running back: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis (3)
Practice squad: Izzy Abanikanda, Xazavian Valladay
Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis are pretty much roster locks. The question is if the Jets will carry a fourth halfback. They did in 2023, but that was mainly because they wanted to stash Izzy Abanikanda. With how little Abanikanda has shown in OTAs and training camp, would the Jets even keep him around? Xazavian Valladay has flashed more than him.
Abanikanda’s college film and statistics showcased little ability besides raw speed. The Jets clearly felt that way about him last season, as they refused to trust him even when Dalvin Cook was failing miserably. I don’t think any other team will claim Abanikanda, making him a practice squad candidate.
However, if the Jets don’t carry a fullback, Abanikanda has a clearer path forward.
Fullback: None
Although I still think the Jets might carry Nick Bawden, the fact that he was released and hasn’t yet returned to the team makes me wonder.
Wide receiver: Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson (PR), Malachi Corley (KR), Irvin Charles (6)
Practice squad: Jason Brownlee, Malik Taylor
The Jets have insisted from the jump that Mike Williams will be ready for Week 1, and as with Breece Hall last year, there’s little reason to doubt them. Xavier Gipson was running as the starting slot receiver in 11 personnel, which likely means his spot is guaranteed. I also think he’ll ultimately be their punt returner. Irvin Charles is all but a lock as a special teamer, especially after the Jets lost Justin Hardee.
I still don’t think Jason Brownlee or Malik Taylor will make the roster. The Jets can stash them on the practice squad without any trouble and sign them to the active roster if necessary.
Tight end: Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah (3)
Practice squad: Zack Kuntz
The Jets’ top two tight ends are locks, and it seems that Kenny Yeboah is, too. Perhaps Anthony Firkser’s arrival gives some possibility that he’ll either take over the TE3 role or make it as the TE4, but I doubt it. Zack Kuntz will go to the practice squad again as a developmental prospect.
Offensive tackle: Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, Olu Fashanu, Carter Warren, Max Mitchell (5)
The Jets’ top four tackles are locks. After that, it seems that Max Mitchell is getting enough run at tackle for him to make the roster. I sincerely hope the Jets aren’t relying on him to play guard, as he was even worse there against the Chargers in 2023 than he had played at tackle (and that was already terrible enough).
I assume the Jets will have some tackle on the practice squad, but I don’t know who.
Interior offensive line: John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Wes Schweitzer, Jake Hanson (5)
Practice squad: Xavier Newman, Chris Glaser, Brady Latham
The first four are locks, but the Jets have only one backup interior lineman. Unless they’re trusting Mitchell here, they need someone else. It could be they just have an open competition between Kohl Levao, Jake Hanson, Xavier Newman, Chris Glaser, and Brady Latham. All five are either former or current undrafted free agents.
Of Hanson, Newman, and Glaser, Hanson was the most decent as a pass-blocker in 2023, which makes me give him the nod. It could be anyone, though — and Connor McGovern could still return. I assume whoever doesn’t make the roster will go to the practice squad, although that’s a lot of interior linemen to have there.
Levao may also have more of a shot than we think, as he has some experience at all five offensive line positions. It’s hard to evaluate the position until preseason games hit.
Edge rusher: Jermaine Johnson, Haason Reddick, Will McDonald, Micheal Clemons, Takk McKinley, Eric Watts (6)
Practice squad: Braiden McGregor
Once again, the top four here are pretty much locks. I think Takk McKinley has an excellent shot of making the roster, as the Jets don’t have any battle-tested options behind him and usually like to go with a five-man rotation. It could be the Jets will simply go with five and put both Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor on the practice squad; however, we’ve heard Watts’ name enough in OTAs and training camp for me to think he has a shot. We’ll see what happens in the preseason.
Defensive tackle: Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw, Leki Fotu, Solomon Thomas (4)
Practice squad: Leonard Taylor, Tanzel Smart
Those four top defensive tackles are locks. I really thought Leonard Taylor had a good shot, but I haven’t heard a peep about him in training camp. Tanzel Smart is the Jets’ perennial practice squad guy and the first one up when there’s an injury.
Linebacker: C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Chazz Surratt, Sam Eguavoen, Zaire Barnes (6)
This might be the toughest position to project for the Jets. They kept Zaire Barnes on their active roster in 2023, which was surprising considering that he was a sixth-round pick. He was injured for much of the season, though. I think the Jets like him as a developmental prospect, as he has tantalizing physical traits.
Any one of Chazz Surratt, Sam Eguavoen, or Barnes could make the roster, or any combination thereof. Saleh mentioned in a press conference that the Jets generally carry “five or six” linebackers, which could be a signal that as many as three of them could make the roster. Surratt is a standout special teams player, and Eguavoen has plenty of experience there.
I’m putting all six on the roster.
Cornerback: Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols, Qwan’tez Stiggers (5)
Practice squad: Jarrick Bernard-Converse
When the Jets signed Isaiah Oliver and drafted Qwan’tez Stiggers, that was a bad sign for Jarrick Bernard-Converse. With the top four cornerbacks almost certainly locks, it’s unlikely the Jets will keep six corners. Qwan’tez Stiggers has had a strong camp and is the newest fifth-round pick compared to Bernard-Converse’s sixth-round status in 2023.
The Jets moved Bernard-Converse back to cornerback, as confirmed by Saleh. After an injury-riddled rookie season, he will most likely take a spot on the practice squad.
Safety: Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis, Isaiah Oliver (4)
Practice squad: Jaylen Key
The Jets’ safety room is pretty much set. The only question is if Jaylen Key will make the roster, but the Jets tend to run thin at safety. That makes Key a likely practice squad addition.
Kicker: Greg Zuerlein (1)
Punter: Thomas Morstead (1)
Long snapper: Thomas Hennessy (1)
My roster projection has 15 of the 16 practice squad spots filled. I’m likely wrong about at least some of them. Teams tend to sign other teams’ cut players to the practice squad, anyway, making it hard to project.
