NY Jets: 3 veterans who could be cut before training camp

The NY Jets went into the offseason looking to overhaul a large portion of their roster after a disastrous 2-14 season a year ago. And now that the dust has settled, it's safe to say they accomplished their mission.

General manager Joe Douglas was active in free agency adding a host of players.

The likes of Corey Davis, Tevin Coleman, Keelan Cole, and Tyler Kroft were added on offense while players like Carl Lawson, Sheldon Rankins, Jarrad Davis, Lamarcus Joyner, and Vinny Curry were signed to contribute on defense.

All of those player figure to play some type of role on the team in 2021.

The Jets continue to make additions during the 2021 NFL Draft adding players such as Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore, and Michael Carter — four players who will likely play a sizable role in their rookie seasons.

The roster overhaul is well underway as Douglas continues to reshape the team to his liking. The Mike Maccagnan era is slowly fading away as Douglas' additions now make up the majority of the roster.

However, his work isn't done just yet.

Rookie minicamp has come and passed, but with training camp a little over a month away, there's still time to make a few roster moves. As such, we could see a few players cut before camp even arrives.

We take a look at three veterans who could be released before training camp.

3. Josh Malone, WR, NY Jets

The Jets overloaded the wide receiver position this offseason signing the likes of Corey Davis and Keelan Cole in free agency before drafting Elijah Moore with the 34th overall pick in the draft.

As it stands right now, the Jets currently have a whopping 13 wide receivers on their 90-man roster. And with one more potentially on the way in the form of Tavon Austin, they could make a cut or two at the position before training camp arrives.

One player who might be on the chopping block is Josh Malone.

Hardly a high-profile player by any means, Malone has spent the last two seasons with the Jets, suiting up for just four contests a year ago. In those four games, he hauled in just four catches for 16 yards.

Malone only saw action following a string of injuries last season and is considered a longshot to make the roster. But given the logjam at the position, the former fourth-round pick might not even make it to camp.

The Jets likely see more upside in players like Lawrence Cager and Jeff Smith. Even players like Matt Cole and D.J. Montgomery offer more upside on special teams than Malone who was used sparingly on specials in 2020.

Another name to keep an eye on is Braxton Berrios. While he'll likely make it to training camp, the Jets have done everything they could to replace his role on the roster. It's hard to see where he fits in, either as a backup slot or punt returner.

Nonetheless, the Jets can cut Malone with no dead cap, and if they do, in fact, sign Tavon Austin, perhaps he's the odd-man-out.

2. Ryan Griffin, TE, NY Jets

On to two players who are a little more high-profile. First up is veteran tight end Ryan Griffin. Griffin experienced a bit of a career resurgence filling in for Chris Herndon in 2019.

The longtime Houston Texans tight end hauled in 34 catches for 320 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 13 starts. He parlayed that success into a three-year, $10.8 million extension with the club in December of that year.

Somewhat surprising at the time, and a deal that hasn't exactly aged well.

Griffin did next to nothing in 2020 recording just nine catches for 86 yards despite an abysmal year from Herndon. He was a regular contributor on special teams, but aside from that, his impact on offense was minimal.

Seen as a prime cut candidate this offseason, the Jets have retained Griffin to this point. But it's far from a lock that he does make the final roster.

The Jets signed veteran Tyler Kroft in free agency and he might have the inside edge at the No. 2 tight end role behind Herndon. There's also tight end/fullback hybrid Trevon Wesco, promising UDFA Kenny Yeboah, and special-teams ace Daniel Brown.

You could argue that all three players provide more value to the Jets than Griffin does at this stage.

The Jets can move on from Griffin after June 1st and save over $2.3 million in cap space. And seeing as though he might just be taking away snaps from the likes of Wesco and Yeboah in camp, the Jets could opt to cut him sooner rather than later.

1. Alex Lewis, OG, NY Jets

The Jets struck out on signing Joe Thuney in free agency, but they made up for it by trading up to grab USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker with the 14th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Vera-Tucker was widely seen as the best interior offensive lineman in the draft and is expected to slot in as a day-one starter at left guard alongside 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton.

That leaves Alex Lewis, the man who has been the Jets' starting left guard for the better part of the last two seasons, in a peculiar position.

At the moment, Lewis remains on the roster. And if the Jets carry him into the summer, he will likely compete with players like Greg Van Roten and Dan Feeney for the starting right guard job.

The Jets could opt to keep Lewis for extra interior depth. But after adding Feeney, Corey Levin, and a few undrafted linemen this offseason, they don't need to keep Lewis on the roster.

And seeing as they could save over $6 million if they cut him after June 1st, it might make sense to cut ties with the veteran guard.

Lewis is a fine player and it certainly wouldn't be a mistake to keep him. After all, you could never have enough offensive line depth.

But if the Jets feel that they have enough interior depth with Van Roten, Feeney, Levin, and Cameron Clark, Lewis could get the ax.