5 veterans who shouldn't be on the NY Jets roster in 2024

The NY Jets unsurprisingly went with a veteran-heavy roster in Aaron Rodgers' first season with the organization. Sure, many of the core pieces of the puzzle were still on rookie contracts, but the Jets intentionally supplemented their roster with a host of veterans.

This was a Jets team that had legitimate Super Bowl aspirations entering the 2023 season. Unfortunately, many of those veterans haven't exactly gotten what they signed up for.

The Jets are expected to run it back with Rodgers and a similar roster next season, but that doesn't mean there won't be some changes in the offseason. In particular, a handful of veterans are likely playing out their final stretch with the organization.

Whether their contract is expiring or they're future cap casualties, here are five veterans on the Jets' roster who likely won't be on the team in 2024.

5. Jordan Whitehead, S, NY Jets

The numbers might not always show it, but the Jets have one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. Their defensive line is stacked. Their linebacker duo might be the best in football. Their cornerbacks are the best in football.

But if there was one weakness with this Jets' defense, it would be their safeties. Tony Adams is young and cheap enough that the Jets will likely give him another opportunity as a starter in 2024. As for Jordan Whitehead, his time with the Jets might be coming to an end.

Whitehead has allowed a whopping eight touchdowns this season — nearly double any other safety in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. His 15 missed tackles also rank second-worst among all safeties.

With Whitehead set to be a free agent in the offseason, the Jets should absolutely look to find his replacement. This is the one position on defense they should attempt to upgrade this offseason.

4. Carl Lawson, DE, NY Jets

The Jets had an opportunity to cut Carl Lawson this offseason and save $15 million in the process. Instead, they restructured his contract and pushed dead cap into the future. They're likely regretting that decision now.

Lawson has been a complete nonfactor for the Jets this season. The Auburn product has played just five games this season, registering four total tackles. That's it. He has two total pressures on 50 pass-rush snaps.

This is in large part due to a back injury that Lawson suffered in the summer that seems to still be affecting him. The Jets bet on Lawson returning to full health in 2023, and that bet didn't cash.

The Jets were preparing for Lawson's departure regardless of how he played this season. His lackluster performance makes it an even easier decision to move on.

3. Duane Brown, OT, NY Jets

Another player who somewhat surprisingly returned this season is offensive tackle Duane Brown. Brown played through a torn labrum in his shoulder all of last season, and instead of retiring this offseason, he decided to return for one more year in the hopes of winning a Super Bowl.

Obviously, that isn't going to happen.

Brown once again ran into injury troubles this season, starting just two games before landing on the injured reserve with a hip injury. The Jets activated him from the injured reserve, but he's yet to start a game since returning.

At 38 years old, there's little reason the Jets would look to bring back the soon-to-be free agent Brown this offseason. There are countless other ways the team should address the offensive tackle position in free agency and the draft.

2. Dalvin Cook, RB, NY Jets

The Jets signed Dalvin Cook to provide much-needed depth behind Breece Hall early in the season while Hall was still recovering from his torn ACL. Unfortunately, the lack of a true training camp clearly affected Cook.

The four-time Pro Bowl running back was a disaster early in the season, and while he's played better in recent weeks, he's clearly not the player he once was in his prime. Anyone who watched Cook play his final season in Minnesota could have told you that.

Hall will obviously return in 2024 alongside the young Israel Abanikanda, but it would make sense for the Jets to add another capable back to their running back room. Cook shouldn't be that player.

The longtime Vikings running back has fallen off a proverbial cliff over the last two seasons, ranking among the worst running backs in football in nearly every advanced metric. Despite his recent uptick, there's no reason to trust him as an RB2 next season.

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

C.J. Uzomah is the only player on this list who isn't a free agent in the offseason, but that shouldn't stop the Jets from moving on. Unfortunately, the Jets restructured Uzomah's contract this past offseason, which means it won't be painless to cut ties in the spring.

Releasing Uzomah would incur a dead cap penalty of nearly $6 million in 2024, but that's a lot better than the $11.22 million they'd have to pay him otherwise.

Uzomah has hauled in just eight catches for 58 yards this season, and his consistent struggles led to him being passed on the depth chart by Jeremy Ruckert. If not for a knee injury suffered in Week 13, he may have lost his active game-day roster spot altogether.

Instead, Uzomah is on the injured reserve, and there's a very good chance he's already played his final game with the Jets. He should not be back in 2024.