5 NY Jets starters who are likely gone after the 2023 season

2. Jordan Whitehead, S, NY Jets

The Jets' safeties were an issue last season. Lamarcus Joyner proved to be a shell of his former self, while Jordan Whitehead's inconsistencies proved to be a problem in his first year with the team.

But rather than completely overhaul the position group, the Jets opted for the band-aid approach. They traded for Chuck Clark and later signed Adrian Amos to replace Joyner, all the while hoping that Whitehead would show signs of improvement in his second season.

That's still the expectation entering 2023. Whitehead will return as one of the Jets' starting safeties, and he'll hope to improve following a disappointing 2022 season.

Whitehead's 15.6 missed tackle rate was tied for the fourth-worst among qualified safeties last season, according to Pro Football Focus. That can't be the case again in 2023.

Even if it isn't, and Whitehead does improve, he's still set to be a free agent at the end of the year. That safety overhaul might not have happened this offseason, but it absolutely could take place next spring.

At just 26 years old, Whitehead is far from an aging veteran. He will be given every opportunity to prove that he deserves an extension this season.

But given what we saw in his first year with the Jets, it wouldn't be a surprise if the team moves on after just two seasons. Whitehead is playing for his Jets future in 2023.