3 NY Jets players whose job is in jeopardy after the draft

3. Alex Lewis, OG, NY Jets

Not only is Alex Lewis' starting job in jeopardy, but so too is his place on the active roster. In fact, he's likely already lost the former.

The Jets traded up nine spots in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft to select standout USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker. Vera-Tucker is expected to be a day-one starter at left guard for the Jets.

The same role that Lewis filled a year ago.

The 29-year-old joined the Jets in 2019 and went on to start 12 games at left guard after the Kelechi Osemele experiment proved to be a failure. Lewis retained his starting role into 2020 starting the first nine games before landing on the reserve/non-football injury list.

He was nothing special during his time as a starter and likely a below-average starting lineman. That's why the Jets drafted Vera-Tucker, who played exclusively on the left side of the offensive line at USC, to be his immediate and long-term replacement.

In theory, the Jets could keep Lewis on the roster and have him compete with Greg Van Roten and perhaps others (Cameron Clark?) for the starting right guard job. But his contract certainly makes him expendable.

Lewis will carry a cap hit of just under $7 million into 2021, but he could be cut with around $1.6 million in dead cap. Designating him as a post-June 1st release would save the Jets over $6 million in cap space.

That seems to be a likely path the Jets take.

Lewis has already lost his starting job. His roster spot might be next.