Tuesday’s cutdown deadline has come and gone, and the New York Jets have their first look at the 53-man roster.
While the list did not contain staggering surprises, many fans of the team have strong opinions on the players who made the team and those who were unfortunately released.
As is the case with significant roster moves, there’s a lot to learn about what the team’s thought process was regarding their roster construction.
It’s time to take a look at the five most important things we learned from Tuesday’s announcement.
There was a deeper reason for DT trades
It turns out the additions of Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs were not just a sign that the team wanted to improve its depth at defensive tackle.
Byron Cowart, one of the early winners at camp in July, was placed on injured reserve with no designation to return after suffering an ankle injury in early August.
His season is over – just like that.
Leonard Taylor III found a spot on the roster due to Cowart’s injury, but the arrival of Phillips and Briggs makes a lot more sense now. It’s a good reminder that there could always be further motives behind a trade.
The Jets had no choice but to strike those deals with Cowart now out for the year.
Preseason results mean nothing at WR
In case anyone needed a reminder: the preseason means absolutely nothing for the most part. The clearest example came in New York’s decisions at wide receiver.
Undrafted free agents Jamaal Pritchett, Quentin Skinner, and Brandon Smith (a 2021 UDFA) all outperformed the likes of Allen Lazard and Xavier Gipson. Pritchett’s ability as a returner left many fans wondering if he would take Gipson’s spot specifically.
It didn’t happen. All three were waived on Tuesday. From Gipson to Lazard to Jeremy Ruckert, players who struggled mightily throughout camp and the preseason are getting longer looks with the team.
The preseason simply doesn’t matter as much as fans may want it to. Otherwise, Pritchett, Skinner, and Smith would have roster spots right now.
Special Teams matters
Many players who made the final roster may not have stood out on either the offensive or defensive side of the ball, but they had key roles on special teams. In many cases, those special teams players won jobs over others on the roster who may have performed better during practices or preseason games.
It’s a good reminder that players like Brandon Smith or Quentin Skinner needed to do more than just make receptions. They needed to stand out on special teams as well.
To Chris Banjo and the rest of the Jets coaching staff, it clearly wasn’t enough.
Trust in secondary versatility
The Jets kept the same number of linebackers as they did cornerbacks (five). While that is somewhat unorthodox for most teams around the league, it does highlight one key part of what the team likes from their secondary.
Versatility.
New York kept four safeties. One of those players is Isaiah Oliver, who offers slot experience alongside his work at safety. His role on the team essentially adds another corner to the room.
The versatility of Qwan’tez Stiggers and Malachi Moore certainly helps in that regard as well.
Scheme matters
Malachi Corley, to the surprise of no one, was released as one of the first cuts announced Tuesday morning.
He lasted just a full calendar year with the Jets after being a third-round pick by the team that coveted the Western Kentucky product in the 2024 draft. It’s highly unusual for any team to move on from a third-round pick just a year after the selection, even with a new regime in tow.
Corley’s case is unique, though. Outside of all the rumblings about his immaturity, the previous regime that wanted him so badly on the team refused to even give him a legitimate shot to play due to his deficiencies.
In short, if a player is raw in certain aspects of his game, the team that drafts him better be ready to scheme plays open for him – otherwise, they’ll end up like the Jets with Corley.
