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

NY Jets general manager Joe Douglas has completely overhauled this Jets roster over the course of his four years with the organization. A roster that was once arguably the worst in football is now equipt to legitimately compete for a Super Bowl this season.

That work didn't happen overnight, either. A mix of young foundational building blocks and established complementary veterans has created one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.

The Jets may not necessarily be "all in" on the 2023 season with Aaron Rodgers under center, but it's clear that their focus is on winning now. What does that mean for the future? Well, some changes could (and likely will) come in the not-so-distant future.

The following five players may be penciled into starting roles this season, but that doesn't mean they'll even be on the roster next year.

5. Adrian Amos, S, NY Jets

The Jets signed Adrian Amos to a one-year deal last week following a season-ending injury suffered by projected starting safety Chuck Clark. With Clark sidelined, Amos is expected to fill in for his injured teammate.

The team is hoping Amos could bounce back from a difficult season in 2022. It wasn't long ago that the former Green Bay Packers safety was seen as one of the better safeties in the NFL.

Still, it's unlikely the Jets view Amos as a long-term option. Both Amos and Clark are set to be free agents at the end of the year, and the most likely outcome is that he's looking for a new home again next spring.

Is it possible that Amos plays well enough to convince the Jets to bring him back? Absolutely. But don't place any bets on him returning for another season just yet.

4. C.J. Uzomah, TE, NY Jets

C.J. Uzomah may not be a "starter" in name, but the veteran tight end did start 13 of the 15 games he played last season. He was on the field for 53 percent of the team's offensive snaps. For all intents and purposes, he's a starter.

Uzomah mostly played second fiddled to position-mate Tyler Conklin in his first season with the Jets. He finished the year with just 21 catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns, although he did make his presence felt as a blocker.

The Jets like what Uzomah brings, both on and off the field. On the field, he's a reliable possession receiver who doubles as an effective in-line blocker. Off the field, he's one of the most charismatic and beloved players in the locker room.

That said, he might not necessarily be a part of the Jets' future. Uzomah is still under contract in 2024, but the Jets could release him and save over $5 million.

Now, the fact that the Jets restructured Uzomah's contract this offseason makes it a little less likely. Releasing him next spring would incur a dead cap penalty of just under $6 million. They'd still save money, but not as much as they would have if the restructuring didn't happen.

This largely depends on the development of Jeremy Ruckert and, to a lesser extent, Zack Kuntz. Ruckert was one of the stars of OTAs this spring, and the Jets believe he could be ready to take on a larger role in 2023 after what was essentially a redshirt rookie year.

If the Jets believe Ruckert can replicate Uzomah's production, it would make sense for the team to move on next offseason. After all, they didn't draft Ruckert to sit on the bench for three years.

3. Carl Lawson, DE, NY Jets

The Jets haven't really had the opportunity to see what Carl Lawson is capable of yet. The former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher was signed to a hefty three-year, $$45 million contract ahead of the 2021 season.

Lawson was tearing it up in training camp and looked every part of the big-money pass rusher the Jets hoped they were getting. That was until he tragically tore his Achilles in a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers.

Lawson was forced to miss the entire 2021 season. He returned in 2022 but suffered a setback just a few months before the season began. He didn't even begin running until a few weeks before training camp.

Despite this, Lawson played all 17 games last season, and while he clearly wasn't the same player he was prior to his injury, he still finished with seven sacks.

The Jets fully expect Lawson to return to form in 2023, now another year removed from his torn Achilles. Unfortunately, the stage has been set for his eventual departure.

Lawson is a free agent at the end of the year, and the Jets have drafted two pass rushers, Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald, in the first round of each of the last two drafts. They're preparing to move on from Lawson.

It's not impossible for Lawson to salvage his Jets career. If he returns to his pre-injury form and plays like the team's best edge rusher, it'll be hard to move on, even with Johnson and McDonald on the roster.

Still, the Jets have clearly prepared for Lawson's departure. The writing is on the wall.

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.

1. Duane Brown, OT, NY Jets

The soon-to-be 38-year-old Duane Brown has nothing left to prove in the NFL. He's a five-time Pro Bowler, multi-time All-Pro, and is entering his 16th season as a professional. That's as impressive of a resume as any player on the Jets roster.

He's also coming off an injury-riddled 2022 season that saw him play essentially the entire year with a torn labrum. Brown was forced to strap his injured shoulder into a harness each game, telling reporters after the season that he played through immense pain.

This is why the Jets weren't sure if Brown would return for another season. The former first-round pick could have simply called it quits on a remarkable career. Instead, he came back because he wants to win.

Brown is penciled in as the likely Week 1 starting left tackle entering the 2023 season. He might be competing with Mekhi Becton on paper, but if Brown is healthy, all signs point to him starting at left tackle.

His future, however, is a little less certain. Brown is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the year, and given his age and recent injury woes, it's probably a safe bet to assume he won't be back in 2024.

The best-case scenario would see Becton slide into the starting left tackle role next season, with someone like Max Mitchell taking over at right tackle.

Perhaps that's a bit optimistic, but either way, Brown should not be viewed as a likely starting option next season. It's most likely this year is his last opportunity to win a Super Bowl, at least with the Jets.