New York Jets 2019: Ranking the 53-man roster — #45 Brandon Shell

As another lost New York Jets season unfolds, it’s time to evaluate this 53-man roster from top to bottom. Let’s continue this daily ranking with #45, offensive tackle Brandon Shell.

New York Jets fans used to howl in laughter at the drafting of mediocre offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse. But at least he lasted nine NFL seasons.

Mike Maccagnan thought he’d struck gold, trading up in the fifth round of the 2016 draft to secure South Carolina right tackle Brandon Shell, nephew of NFL great Art Shell.

For what it’s worth, most analysts saw Shell as a seventh-rounder or UDFA. Sometimes, the experts do know what they’re talking about.

Joe Douglas plans to totally remake this offensive line, but that process may take time, and there are pieces worth retaining, in reserve roles.

Jonotthan Harrison needs to return, Kelvin Beachum and Alex Lewis merit short-term deals, and rookie project Chuma Edoga gets another season or two.

The general feeling is that Shell is a goner. No athlete should ever be handed a starting position, and from day one, Maccagnan had Shell on the field.

His subpar 63.8 Pro Football Focus rating in 2019 accurately reflects his three-year Jets career, competent in the run game and dismal in pass protection. The Goose Greek, SC native has not earned his next contract.

So here’s the issue. While Shell does not dominate at the point of attack, he has still played better than Edoga. And no other franchise is gonna blow free agent money on below-average Jets linemen — at best they’ll be treated as training camp fodder.

Douglas may want to wait out free agency and offer Shell an easily avoidable, short-term, veteran minimum-level pact, reflective of his pro future as a bottom of the roster, gameday-inactive or emergency stand-in.

#53 Trumaine Johnson     #52 Ryan Kalil      #51 Kelechi Osemele      #50 Quinnen Williams        #49 Chuma Edoga     #48 Vyncint Smith     #47 Sam Ficken     #46 Nate Hairston