New York Jets: Analyzing top 10 roster moves

Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Saalim Hakim (15) against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets have some tough decisions to make regarding their roster size and the decisions are only going to get harder from here on out. Cut day is a tough day for many as the Jets try to cut down to 53 players by Saturday, Sept. 5.

There isn’t a lot of time left until the regular season opener, but the first wave of cuts are over so let’s analyze the roster decisions the Jets made on the first wave of cuts.

Next: 10. Saalim Hakim

Oct 26, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Saalim Hakim (15) stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Buffalo Bills defeated New York Jets 43-23. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

10. Saalim Hakim

In the first wave of cuts the Jets trimmed the fat at the receiver position and Hakim was a casualty. Arguably one of the fastest players in the entire NFL, Hakim has floated between the practice squad and active roster over the last several years. Even holding the kick return position last season for the Jets, but the problem with Hakim was that he could never translate that dynamic speed to the football field.

Hakim averaged a paltry 21.5 yards per return last year in 16 regular season games, the Jets were hoping that Hakim would be able to channel that Olympic speed into special teams touchdowns. It’s been quite the opposite as he’s never really made an impact with the Jets whether that be in the return game or even at his position of choice. In the world of the NFL where versatility is the key to making it past the final cuts, Hakim just didn’t bring enough to the table.

In a crowded receiver group it was especially important to be able to stand out from the crowd. The Jets started out with 13 receivers on their 90-man roster a few weeks ago and realistically all the analysts around the league knew that number was getting cut down. The number we were really looking at is 5 maybe 6 tops at the receiver position this year for the Jets. Which is tough this season because the Jets have the best and most competitive receiving corps they’ve had in a decade.

So after this wave of roster cuts the Jets have trimmed their overall receiving core to 8 players which is still above the number we just talked about so expect some more receivers to be looking for work after we get through the next several rounds of cuts for the Jets. After last week’s preseason game against the New York Giants, Walter Powell looks to be the Jets’ lead return man with another week and change to go through the final roster cuts with no one else legitimately pushing him at this point.

Next: 9. DeVier Posey

Aug 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeVier Posey (11) during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

9. DeVier Posey

Posey was always a guy who had long odds to make the Jets final 53. Again referencing the crowded receiver position, the problem with Posey is he didn’t make enough plays when he had the opportunities whether that was in practice or in games.

Per pick-value chart, #Jets gave up equivalent of low 5th Rnder for WR DeVier Posey, who was cut Sunday. Multi-pick swap w/ HOU on draft day

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 31, 2015

For those of you at home curious about in terms of value what did we get/lose in the trade with Houston during the draft that brought Posey in the building, here is what went down. Thanks to new general manager Mike Maccagnan’s ties with the Texans, he was able to get Posey essentially thrown in the deal for lack of a better phrase. It was a very nice low risk-high reward trade that essentially just added more competition to the receiver position throughout the summer.

Roster bubble snap counts: Zac Stacy 34, Shaq Evans 28, Brent Qvale 26, DeVier Posey 16… — Seth Walder (@SethWalderNYDN) August 30, 2015

Another indicator was the fact that Posey had very limited snaps in the all important third preseason game which just happened to be the last game action before the Jets brass made their decisions on who stays and who goes. Regardless, the Jets didn’t necessarily lose in any way in the trade that sent Posey to Florham Park, because really they got what they wanted out of him. A training camp body that would push the starters and maybe he makes the team maybe he doesn’t, but they got good competition out of it all.

Next: 8. T.J. Graham

Nov 9, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver T.J. Graham (10) avoids Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brice McCain (25) and scores a touchdown during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

8. T.J. Graham

This seems so long ago, Michael Vick dropping back and throwing a beautiful 67-yard touchdown strike to Buffalo cast-off T.J. Graham to increase the Jets’ lead and eventually win the game and end their 8-game losing streak last season. But fast-forward several months and that same promising receiver is now looking for work after being released by the Jets.

Early in camp Graham had a lot of momentum to make the roster. We talked about it earlier, versatility is everything in this league; the more you can do the more likely you’ll find a job in the NFL. Graham was a stand-out special teamer for the Jets throughout the summer as a gunner, return-man and deep-threat receiving option. But he was constantly over-shadowed by other receivers in Chris Owusu and Powell and that is all she wrote.

Graham’s snap-count for the Giants game was extremely low and I believe he didn’t play a snap on offense, again a sign of things to come for Graham. He should still find a landing spot as he was one of the first cuts the team made. This isn’t the first cut and it won’t be the last at the receiver position, but all this competition is good and hopefully this competitiveness results in the Jets ending an embarrassing streak of their own and that would be getting a 1,000 yard receiver. Hasn’t happened since 2007, but with the weapons the Jets have they have the best chance they’ve had in years to end the streak.

Next: 7. Javier Arenas

Sep 22, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive back

Tyrann Mathieu

(32) celebrates with teammate cornerback Javier Arenas (35) after intercepting a pass against the New Orleans Saints during a game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 31-7. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

7. Javier Arenas

Another deep position group for the Jets in 2015 is the cornerback position and a late addition to this unit was Arenas. A seasoned veteran who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals and most recently with the Atlanta Falcons.

He’s a bit under-sized for the position, standing at 5’9 but he is a hard worker who is constantly around the football. The issue for him is simply the fact that the numbers at the position were too great. When you consider the locks for the team at corner: Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, then the guys who were near locks to make the team in Dee Milliner and Dexter McDougle, it was hard to keep Arenas around. That is already five guys seemingly guaranteed a roster spot with no room to spare.

So the numbers game didn’t look upon Arenas with favor, but he’s another veteran who should find a job quickly simply due to the fact that the NFL is a passing league. You can never have too many quality corners on a roster, just ask Rex Ryan.

Arenas wasn’t a surprising cut by any means, his lone chance of making the roster was making enough big plays to sway the coaches and make them make a tougher decision on roster cuts and he wasn’t able to do that. This leaves the Jets with nine corners on their roster and will be another position to keep an eye on over the next week and a half to see who stays and who goes.

Next: 6. James Brewer

Dec 14, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Jets logo prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

6. James Brewer

The first real slightly surprising release from the first wave of cuts for the green and white came with Brewer. I guess Madden ratings don’t factor much into the decision making between cutting a guy and keeping him on your roster.

Brewer may have had one of the best player ratings at offensive guard for the Jets in the popular video game franchise, but that didn’t stop the green and white from releasing the longtime NFL veteran. After playing his entire career with the Giants, Brewer decided to shift rivals by joining the Jets.

One of the positions of emphasis for the Jets was figuring out what they were going to do at the open guard spot on their offensive line. With a wide array of players battling for that opening, Brewer was certainly in the mix all off-season along with incumbent starter Willie Colon and some other players like Brian Winters, Brent Qvale among others.

I thought that he’d make it to at least the final wave of cuts before the Jets brass were forced to make a tough decision on whether he made the roster. Obviously the Jets coaching staff felt differently, with Brewer’s release they now have 13 offensive linemen left on their roster. Typically NFL teams have two players per position: two left tackles, two rights guards, etc. So look for the Jets to make a few more cuts along the offensive line before making their final roster adjustments.

Next: 5. Matt LaCosse

Nov 29, 2014; Evanston, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Matt LaCosse (11) with the ball during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. Illinois won 47-33. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

5. Matt LaCosse

With the Jets injuries to the tight end position, they reached out into the free agency pool in early to mid August and brought in an intriguing prospect in LaCosse. He’s got the prototypical size you look for in a tight end standing at 6’6 and with 245 pounds of muscle.

But again similar to Arenas’ situation, he wasn’t able to stand out or separate himself from the other tight ends already on the roster. Really, no one at the Jets’ tight end position has stood out through the offseason: Jace Amaro has been injured, Cumberland has been average at best, Kellen Davis is primarily a blocking tight end, and Wes Saxton is a project.

Here’s a look at LaCosse’s strengths, based on his NFL.com scouting report:

“Smooth release from the line and gets into routes quickly. Good play speed inside his routes with ability to get on top of safeties quickly when he’s asked to threaten on third level. Sinks hips into breaks and accelerates into cuts. Can go low and make the tough catch with soft mitts. Used in-line and from wing spot, but was lined up outside in his last regular season game. Willing to fight and sustain when asked to square up as in-line blocker. Block technique needs work, but he has ability to get better.”

He battled through injuries during his time with the Giants over the summer and he never appeared as if he had fully recovered from those injuries. Which in a what can you do for me now league severely hurt his stock and chances at making the final 53.

Next: 4. Keith Lewis

Aug 28, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Keith Lewis (41) intercepted the ball for Washington Redskins wide receiver Aldrick Robinson (15) in the end zone during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

4. Keith Lewis

Another interesting prospect for the Jets who just never was able to make an impact with gang green was with Lewis. According to Spotrac.com here were the details of Lewis’s contract with the Jets.

Keith Lewis signed a 3 year, $1,575,000 contract with the New York Jets, including an average annual salary of $525,000. In 2015, Lewis will earn a base salary of $435,000. Lewis has a cap hit of $435,000.

They saw enough out of Lewis during his short tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to give him a three-year contract. But sometimes things don’t work out and the Jets didn’t owe Lewis any guaranteed money.

NFL contracts now-a-days don’t really mean much in terms of face-value: you could give a guy a 10-year deal for $150 million and $149 of that could come in the form of some option that the team knows the player will never touch. It’s a business and the Jets have to do what is in the best interest of the team and they certainly did that by releasing Lewis and getting one step closer to finalizing their 53 man roster.

Next: 3. Dashaun Phillips

Jun 9, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets cornerback Dashaun Phillips (32) and New York Jets cornerback Dexter McDougle (23) talk during New York Jets minicamp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

3. Dashaun Phillips

According to a NewYorkJets.com article by Senior Reporter Randy Lange on the release of Phillips…

“Phillips, the first-year corner, was signed to the Jets’ practice squad last October and signed a reserve/future contract in late December.”

Here is what the folks over at NFL.com had to say about Phillips coming out of the draft:

“Quick-footed and explosive changing direction. Smooth hips, feet and transition. Shadows his man and allows little separation in man coverage. Willing in run support. Plays with emotion and has a chip on his shoulder. Confident and competitive. Good hands and body control (12 career interceptions). Recorded a 39-inch vertical jump, a 6.65-second three-cone time and 3.97-second 20-yard shuttle at his pro day, indicating exceptional lateral agility and lower-body explosion. Tough and will play through injuries as he did playing through a left foot injury as a junior. Four-year starter. Solid football character.”

Some of his weaknesses according to the same draft profile on NFL.com:

“Is thinly built and struggles to shed blockers to support the run. Can be late to see plays developing and get out of position sorting out routes and trying to do too much in zone coverage. Diminished ball production (only two interceptions the last two years). Regularly matched up against inferior Division II competition.”

Phillips was constantly battling injuries throughout his time with the Jets and was another case of a player who could never stay healthy. It is what unfortunately lead to his release from the team bringing the Jets to eight corners on the roster.

Next: 2. Kevin Vickerson

Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson (94) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. Kevin Vickerson

According to a NewYorkJets.com article by Senior Reporter Randy Lange on Vickerson’s placement on IR…

“Vickerson, who was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list with a hamstring injury at the start of training camp, signed with the Jets in March. He’s an eighth-year NFL veteran who had played for Tennessee, Denver and last season for Kansas City.”

To continue to cut their roster to the NFL mandated 75 players, the Jets have placed Vickerson on IR. A common tactic by NFL teams to cut, waive or place a player on a short term IR so that they can bring back said player after the first game of the season so their contract is no longer fully guaranteed. But in this case, Vickerson’s injury proved to be too much and he’s out for the season.

This roster move makes sense since the team had to do what is in the best interest of the team and also think about depth for the future.

Next: 1. Jace Amaro

Aug 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates with tight end Jace Amaro (88) after catching a touchdown pass against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jace Amaro

According to a NewYorkJets.com article by Senior Report Randy Lange on Amaro’s placement on IR…

“Amaro, who suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason opener at Detroit, was the Jets’ second-round selection out of Texas Tech last year. In his rookie season he had 38 receptions for 345 yards (9.1 yards/catch) and two touchdowns.”

Amaro’s been battling through a shoulder injury for a majority of camp and he’s been questionable for the start of the regular season for some time now. This is an unfortunate injury for a guy really looking to have a bounce back season with the Jets this season. Now the Jets will be leaning on a huge season from Jeff Cumberland and hoping he can reach his full potential. This transaction got the Jets to the NFL roster limit of 75 players ahead of the 4 p.m. ET deadline.

The roster will be finalized later this week shortly after the Jets’ final preseason game as you can see from this quote off of NewYorkJets.com:

“Final cutdown day comes quickly. All NFL teams must be down to 53 players on their rosters by Saturday at 4 p.m. Teams can then start to establish their 10-player practice squads on Sunday at about 1 p.m.”

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