New York Jets early 53-man roster projection, post-NFL Draft

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The two major tentpoles of the NFL offseason — free agency and the NFL Draft — are over. Unless general manager Darren Mougey has some surprise moves up his sleeves, the current iteration of the Jets’ roster will mostly be what it looks like when training camp opens in late-July.

There are a lot of new faces — more than anything, this has been a youth movement. Both Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn said that was intentional: Out with the old, in with the new. On paper, this doesn’t look like a team that most will predict to win the division or go on a run in the playoffs, but there is potential for the Jets to perform above expectations if certain players (particularly at quarterback) take a step forward, or if certain rookies can make an immediate, positive impact.

Let’s take a look at the Jets roster and take an early stab at what the team’s 53-man roster might look like when it’s all said and done; it’s a good way to take a step back and look at where the team stands heading into the next phase of the offseason. (Note: Undrafted free agents are not necessarily officially signed, but based on reporting.)

Quarterback (2)

In: Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor
Out: Jordan Travis, Adrian Martinez, Brady Cook (UDFA)

The Jets have been cagey when asked about Travis, the 2024 fifth-round pick who missed his entire rookie year while recovering from a leg injury suffered in his final game at Florida State. Travis didn’t practice with the team or participate in any on-field activities outside of rehabbing off to the side with trainers occasionally. The Jets refusal to even comment on his health status isn’t a great sign — the previous staff said Travis suffered a setback last year, and his agent claimed to ESPN that was because the team tried rushing him back. In any event, even if he is cleared there’s no guarantee Travis will be the same player he was pre-injury — his roster spot is far from guaranteed. Cook is intriguing competition for the third quarterback too; he was one of the better athletes at the position in this class, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash with a 37-inch vertical and 10 foot, 8-inch broad jump at the combine.

Running Back (4)

In: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu
Out: Donovan Edwards (UDFA), Zach Evans

Edwards is the highest-rated rookie in the Jets’ reported UDFA class and has a legit shot at cracking the 53 if the Jets are willing to carry four running backs — not counting Nwangwu, who is almost exclusively a return specialist but appears on the roster as a running back. I’ll be getting into the Jets’ UDFA class later this week, but Edwards brings a bit a different flavor than the rest of the running back room. He’s on the smaller side (5-11, 205) but has decent speed and athleticism (4.44 40, 38.5-inch vertical) and was viewed as a potential top NFL prospect after a productive sophomore year in 2022 (1,191 total yards, nine touchdowns, 7.1 yards per carry) but fell off over the last two years (1,410 combined total yards, 10 touchdowns, 4.4 yards per carry).

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler pegged Edwards as a sixth/seventh round pick and wrote that he is a “dynamic screen target” in the passing game and that he “projects as a change-of-pace runner with receiving versatility.” I couldn’t find a spot for him in this initial 53, but that could change once I see him in action in OTAs and training camp.

Wide Receiver (6)

In: Garrett Wilson, Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, Malachi Corley, Arian Smith (rookie), Tyler Johnson
Out: Xavier Gipson, Marcus Riley, Brandon Smith, Ontaria Wilson, Easop Winston, Quentin Skinner (UDFA), Jamaal Pritchett (UDFA), Dymere Miller (UDFA)
Injured: Irv Charles

Unless the Jets trade Lazard to the Steelers to rejoin his pal Aaron Rodgers, this group of six feels like a safe bet. Gipson regressed as a returner last year and hasn’t made an impact in the passing game — and with Nwangwu’s presence, he’s not the best returner on the roster anymore. He’ll have to fight to stick around. Of the UDFAs, Skinner (who reportedly received a $185,000 guarantee) is the most intriguing. He has good size (6-4, 203) and averaged 19.8 yards per catch over three seasons with Kansas.

It will be fun to watch Corley, Smith — the speedy fourth-round pick with some drops issues at Georgia — and free agent signee Tyler Johnson duke it out for the fourth receiver spot during training camp. All three have different skillsets: Smith is a burner, Corley is more of a gadget player (nicknamed the “YAC King” in college) and Johnson thrives on contested catches and has the most NFL experience (49 games) of the trio.

Charles is a quality special teamer that will push for a spot if he’s healthy, but he tore his ACL in December — odds are he won’t be ready for the start of the season.

Tight End (3)

In: Mason Taylor (rookie), Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smartt
Out: Andrew Beck (fullback), Zack Kuntz, Neal Johnson

Taylor will walk into the Jets building and immediately take his place at the top of the depth chart. If the Jets had brought in more competition maybe Ruckert’s spot wouldn’t be as secure — he has yet to make an impact since the Jets drafted him in 2022 — but the hope is he can at least take a step forward as a blocker and contribute in the running game. Smartt is an intriguing athlete and pass-catcher that came on strong with the Chargers at the end of last season.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Beck find his way onto the roster as a fullback, especially since the Jets intend to be a run-heavy operation.

Offensive Line (10)

In: T Olu Fashanu, G John Simpson, C Joe Tippmann, G Alijah Vera-Tucker, T Armand Membou (rookie), C Josh Myers, T Chukwuma Okorafor, T Carter Warren, G Xavier Newman, G/T Max Mitchell
Out: Obinna Eze, Zack Bailey, Kohl Levao, C Gus Hartwig (UDFA), OT Leander Wiegand (UDFA)

The Jets could stand to bring in another veteran backup for the interior but even if they don’t this is a solid group with young talent in the starting lineup and some proven depth. Myers has been a solid starter for the Packers the last few years and played with Fields at Ohio State. Okorafor is a good fit as a swing tackle, and under a new coaching staff maybe Warren can take a leap forward too.

Defensive Tackle (5)

In: Quinnen Williams, Derrick Nnadi, Byron Cowart, Jay Tufele, Leonard Taylor III
Out: Phidarian Mathis

It was surprising that the Jets didn’t draft any defensive tackles but perhaps that’s an indication of this coaching staff’s belief in Taylor, who was one of the highest-rated UDFAs last year and showed some flashes as a pass rusher in 2024. Nnadi, Cowart and Tufele will rotate alongside Williams as run stoppers. If Williams gets hurt at any point, this group is in trouble unless Taylor makes a major leap forward.

Defensive End (5)

In: Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, Micheal Clemons, Rashad Weaver, Tyler Baron (rookie)
Out: Eric Watts, Braiden McGregor, Ja’Markis Weston (UDFA)

The Jets didn’t address this position in a major way this offseason, so Clemons will likely stick around as a backup (which he’s much better suited for compared to the heavy workload he received last season). Weaver has shown some flashes as a pass rusher in his career but hasn’t recorded a sack in a regular-season game since 2022. Baron was an intriguing late-round addition as a pass-rushing specialist. He was productive at Miami (11.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss the last two years) while being coached by Jason Taylor, Mason Taylor’s father.

Watts and McGregor showed promise in training camp last year as undrafted rookies but failed to produce when given chances during the season, though perhaps one or both will take a leap forward with a year of experience under their belt. Weston has gone down an interesting path, going from wide receiver to safety to defensive end, though he’s primarily a special teams player — likely the reason why the Jets gave him $200,000 guaranteed. That doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot, but it gives him a better shot.

Linebacker (4)

In: Jamien Sherwood, Quincy Williams, Francisco Mauigoa (rookie), Jamin Davis
Out: Zaire Barnes, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Jimmy Ciarlo, Aaron Smith (UDFA), Jared Bartlett (UDFA)

Depth looks like an issue here — if either Sherwood or Quincy Williams miss any time the Jets don’t have a great solution. It’s unclear as of yet what the Jets’ base package will be on defense; if it includes three linebackers it’s unclear exactly who the third would be — as of now, that would include a battle between Mauigoa, a fifth-round pick, Davis and Barnes. Perhaps the Jets will dip into free agency once the compensatory draft pick window closes. Some notable veterans available: Ja’Whuan Bentley, Kyzir White, Isaiah Simmons, Shaq Thompson, Eric Kendricks, Raekown McMillan and former Lions special teamer Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

Cornerback (7)

In: Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens, Michael Carter II, Azareye’h Thomas (rookie), Isaiah Oliver, Qwan’Tez Stiggers, Kris Boyd
Out: Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Tre Swilling, Jordan Clark (UDFA)

Oliver can play both safety and corner but the Jets have him listed as a corner — and I know they value his skills as a nickel. Stiggers will have to prove himself to a new coaching staff but he has the tools to be an intriguing player with some development, and the Jets have the staff to get him there — I lean toward him sticking around. Boys is almost exclusively a special teamer.

Bernard-Converse is entering his third year and hasn’t played much on defense. He has intriguing athletic tools but his best shot at sticking around might be by moving back to safety.

Safety (4)

In: Andre Cisco, Malachi Moore (rookie), Tony Adams, Dean Clark (UDFA)
Out: Jaylin Simpson, Jarius Monroe

Cisco, Moore and Adams are locked in, and all three should play. If the Jets consider Oliver a safety he’d be the fourth here, but if not Clark is an intriguing undrafted signing that received $160,000 guaranteed. Brugler had him ranked as the 26th-best safety in this class and wrote that he “is a rangy, physical defender with an interchangeable skill set who can provide depth at multiple spots and shine on special teams.”

Special Teams (3)

In: K Anders Carlson, P Thomas Morstead, LS Thomas Hennessy
Out: K Greg Zuerlein, P Austin McNamara, K Caden Davis (UDFA)

The Jets will have legit competition for both Zuerlein and Morstead in training camp. Zuerlein had a rough 2024 and, barring a stellar camp, it would be surprising if the Jets kept him. Morstead has a past relationship with special teams coordinator Chris Banjo so I’d expect him to stick around. Davis is an intriguing but he only has a few years of experience as a kicker so he might be better suited for the practice squad.

(Photo of Tony Adams and Michael Carter II: Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)

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