5 NY Jets players who shouldn't be back in 2023

1. Lamarcus Joyner, S, NY Jets

Lamarcus Joyner was the weakest link on the Jets' defense in 2022. The veteran defensive back was re-signed in the offseason after his first year in green and white was limited to just nine defensive snaps due to a triceps injury suffered in Week 1.

The Jets weren't paying Joyner much, mostly due to the fact that he really hadn't had a successful season since his final year as a full-time safety with the Rams in 2018. That was four years ago.

The Jets were hoping to see that version of Joyner instead of the one that had been pigeonholed into a nickel cornerback role with the Raiders. Unfortunately, that's not exactly what happened.

Perhaps it was partially due to age, but Joyner was a liability for the Jets this past season. The nine-year NFL veteran finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 57.0 that ranked 71st out of 87 qualified safeties.

Joyner was one of just four qualified safeties to finish with a PFF coverage and tackling grade south of 55.0. He missed 14.5 percent of his tackle attempts in 2022. By pretty much every metric, Joyner was one of the worst safeties in football.

You could make an argument that the Jets should look to upgrade at both safety spots, as Jordan Whitehead had his fair share of gaffes as well, but with Joyner set to be a free agent, there's really no chance the Jets bring him back.

The Jets' defense was outstanding in 2022, and their top-level cornerback play was able to mask some of the weaknesses of their safeties, but it's clear that safety is the biggest position of need on defense this offseason.

Lamarcus Joyner won't be back in 2023. You can count on that.