Cut-down day is here, and the New York Jets have some awfully tough decisions to make.
There is plenty of depth and talent at multiple positions on the roster. Many players have a good chance to be contributors in the 2024 regular season, but it depends on who the Jets decide to keep.
Plenty of articles will predict the 53-man roster. However, this article’s contents will focus on the winners of the most critical battles. Follow along as we predict the winners of each one.
Quarterback battle: Adrian Martinez vs. Andrew Pealsey
The Jets, with Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor in the fold, will not need to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. The team’s QB3 will likely have a home on the team’s practice squad, where they will stay ready to be elevated if needed.
As for who the winner is… it’s not particularly close. After playing about even with Andrew Peasley in the early portion of camp, Adrian Martinez decisively won the position battle with his play in the preseason.
The former UFL MVP looked like a smooth operator on the field. He had multiple upper-tier throws in terms of placement, even if some were not caught. Furthermore, he displayed a solid level of athleticism for the position.
Martinez is not a future superstar in the league, but he is a perfect fit for the Jets as a third-string quarterback.
Winner: Martinez
Keep or cut Israel Abanikanda?
Outside of the top three players at the position, the Jets have a big decision to make regarding one of their 2023 draft picks.
Israel Abanikanda had a bounce-back finish to the summer. The Pittsburgh product had a brutal start to the offseason, as he looked lost in the team’s offensive scheme. He was indecisive and ineffective in every aspect possible. Not only was he behind Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis, but he was in danger of losing reps to Xazavian Valladay.
Flash forward to August, and Abanikanda has completely flipped the script. In preseason games, Abanikanda looked more decisive and comfortable, and his game is seemingly rounding out. He had some great pass-blocking reps and showed soft hands in the receiving game. Abanikanda is also showing an improved ability to get downhill.
Will it be hard to carry four running backs? Yes. But considering Abanikanda’s traits, it will be well worth keeping him on the roster, and that is what I predict the Jets will do.
Verdict: Keep
Wide receiver battle: Jason Brownlee vs. Brandon Smith
In the Jets’ wide receiver room, there are some interesting depth options who are locks to be cut.
Isaiah Winstead has some traits and a big-bodied frame that could fit nicely on the practice squad. Tyler Harrell has blazing speed that could possibly be utilized if he fills out his frame.
However, when it comes to the actual roster battle at wideout, it comes down to Jason Brownlee and Brandon Smith.
In an ideal world, the Jets could keep both players. However, I believe Irvin Charles’s special teams contributions will give him one of the roster spots and reduce the number of available wideouts.
Brownlee and Smith are essentially the same type of player. Both rely on contested catch ability and are a work in progress as route runners. The main difference is that Brownlee has experience in regular season games while Smith has only served on practice squads.
I see the Jets repeating history with this decision, keeping Brownlee on the active roster and placing Smith on the practice squad. It will allow Smith to develop and give Brownlee one more chance to make a real-game impact when called upon. In 2025, though, Smith could have a much better opportunity to push for Brownlee’s role on the roster.
Winner: Brownlee
Defensive line battle royale: Eric Watts, Takk McKinley, Braiden McGregor, Leonard Taylor, Jalyn Holmes
Arguably the deepest position on the roster, the decision on who the Jets will keep seems pretty straightforward.
The decision would be even easier if the Jets decided to part ways with Micheal Clemons. Many, if not all, of the players listed have outperformed Clemons in practice and preseason games in 2024. However, the Jets are seemingly dead set on keeping him.
With that in mind, the three players kept in this situation are McKinley, McGregor, and Taylor. Holmes and Watts have had nice performances throughout training camp but have not been as consistent as the other three players in preseason games. Furthermore, they are perfect fits on the team’s practice squad, as they have talent but are not ready to supplant current players on the roster.
Ultimately, Taylor, McKinley, and McGregor have shown too much this preseason to be let go.
Taylor has been a force on the interior, causing havoc on quarterbacks and running backs alike. He is rediscovering the form that garnered him first-round buzz before the 2023 season.
McKinley has been a force as a pass rusher and has played the run very well. McGregor has displayed impressive power as a pass rusher.
When building a roster, it is important to keep the best 53 players you possibly can. The Jets would be remiss to let Taylor, McGregor, or McKinley go.
Winners: Taylor, McGregor, McKinley
Linebacker battle: Chazz Surratt, Zaire Barnes, Sam Eguavoen
Out of the depth options at linebacker, the closest player to a lock seems to be Zaire Barnes.
The second-year player has consistently flown around all preseason, delivering big hits in practice and games for the team. As a draft selection of Joe Douglas, the organization has already invested in his development. With his progress, there is a slim chance New York will move on.
As for the Surratt and Eguavoen debate, it all comes down to overall impact.
Both players play fast and can fly all over the field. Both can provide good coverage, as each linebacker had a positive PFF pass coverage grade in the preseason. Both players make an impact on special teams.
At the end of the day, the decision is essentially a coin flip. I have the Jets sticking with Surratt, but they could easily choose Eguavoen for the same role.
Winners: Barnes and Surratt
Brandon Codrington decsion
To return, or not to return. That is essentially the Brandon Codrington-sized question facing the New York Jets.
The North Carolina Central product immediately made an impact for the Jets this preseason, breaking off multiple big returns on punts and kickoffs. He looked fast every time he touched the ball and always seemed like a threat to make a big play.
However, Codrington is very undersized and raw as a cornerback. He currently does not provide much defensive value and would make the roster solely because of his special teams contributions.
While I see a path for Codrington to make the roster, I do not think it will happen initially. New York seems like a team that, in all likelihood, will need to use every roster spot to its maximum potential. This likely would mean that their returner roles would be filled by another contributor on the roster, such as Abanikanda, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, or Isaiah Davis.
Codrington has the potential to be a great NFL returner, and the Jets will likely try to get him onto the practice squad. However, with New York having a crunch at other positions, keeping a player whose only value is returning does not seem like the smartest move.
