4 notable NY Jets who could be cut before the summer

3. Ashtyn Davis, S, NY Jets

The competition for the Jets' backup safety jobs is one of the more underrated position battles the team will have this summer. One player looking to stick around is former third-round pick Ashtyn Davis.

Davis has failed to establish himself as a regular defensive contributor in his three years in the NFL. He played just 13 defensive snaps this past season, although he did manage to secure a game-winning interception in that time.

Still, the 26-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract and faces steep competition this summer. The Jets are high on former undrafted free agent Tony Adams, veteran Will Parks is a well-respected locker-room leader, and the team added versatile defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse in the sixth round of this year's draft.

That's not to mention undrafted rookies Trey Dean III and Marquis Waters, who were each given a sizable amount of guaranteed money. The Jets have a plethora of options behind presumptive starters Jordan Whitehead and Chuck Clark.

The other factor to consider here is money. Davis is actually slated to make over $3 million this season. His 2023 cap hit is just below Allen Lazard, Chuck Clark, and John Franklin-Myers.

The Jets can save nearly $3 million by releasing or trading Davis at any point, and given that the team is still looking to create cap space, this feels like a very realistic move they could make.

Davis is far from a roster lock and easily the most expensive of the Jets' backup safeties. He's as likely of a candidate as anyone to be a late cap casualty.