3 NY Jets veterans who will be cut before Week 1 and why

The NY Jets will have some difficult decisions to make in the next few weeks, as the looming threat of cutdown day makes it difficult for Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas to inform both young players and veterans alike that there is no more room on the roster for them. 2024 has been unusually competitive at the back end of the roster.

The Jets were heralded for not only a strong draft class but a promising crop of undrafted free agents that many were surprised did not get picked in the seven-round affair. Some of the young studs have been impressive so much that it seems very unlikely many of the veterans on the fringes of the roster could be pushed to the side.

These three Jets vets, some of whom have been on the team for multiple seasons in a row, had better not have put any money down for a new apartment in New York. Barring a major change in philosophy, it seems like Saleh could opt to keep some younger names over them.

3 NY Jets veterans who will be cut before Week 1

3. LB Sam Eguavoen

Eguavoen is purely a special teams player, as he mustered just 14 defensive snaps last season. While he is fairly impressive in his role, the emergence of players like Zaire Barnes and Chazz Surratt behind him could make the veteran a bit expendable.

After showing some flashes with Miami in the past, Eguavoen should be able to find a new home after the Jets part ways.

2. TE/FB Anthony Firkser

Firkser's value to the team will be exclusively as a fullback, as the Jets deciding not to retain Nick Bawden could present an opening for more playing time.

Where this could work against Firkser, however, is the fact that he has multiple other tight ends on the roster he needs to worry about possibly taking his snaps.

Jeremy Ruckert, Zach Kuntz, and Kenny Yeboah all have a higher ceiling than Firkser, so much so that Nathaniel Hackett could take advantage of their blocking skills as a fullback or H-back in his newly tweaked offense.

Firkser will be 30 in February and has just nine receptions in the last two years. Time is running out for the Harvard alum in the pros.

1. DT Tanzel Smart

Smart has been bouncing on and off the Jets' practice squad for years, but this may be the season in which they finally part ways with him. Quinnen Williams and Javon Kinlaw are the starting defensive tackles, and their backups seem to have been set in stone as former No. 3 pick Solomon Thomas and run-stuffer Leki Fotu.

Even though the Jets will likely keep around 10 defensive linemen, they could try to reinforce the edge rusher position to make up for the absence of Haason Reddick. With Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor impressing in the preseason, Smart seems to be running out of road.

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