NY Jets 53-man roster and 16-player practice squad prediction

The NY Jets are just weeks away from the start of the 2022 season, and in a few days' time, they'll be forced to make some very difficult decisions regarding final roster cuts.

All NFL teams will be required to trim their rosters to 53 players by 4 pm ET this coming Tuesday. That leaves only a few practices and one remaining preseason game for the roster bubble players to make a final impression.

This Jets roster is deeper than it's been in years which makes this year's roster prediction even more challenging. There are realistically anywhere between five and nine roster spots still up for grabs.

We did our best to predict not only the Jets' 53-man roster but their 16-player practice squad as well. Here's what we came up with.

NY Jets quarterbacks

• Zach Wilson
• Joe Flacco
• Mike White

The top two spots on the Jets' quarterback depth chart aren't in question. Zach Wilson is the designated starter with Joe Flacco filling in for the second-year quarterback until he returns from his knee injury.

The Jets see Flacco as one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL and the perfect veteran insurance behind Wilson. He'll likely have the opportunity to prove that early in the season.

The real discussion comes with the third-string quarterback. The Chris Streveler story has been fun, but he probably hasn't done enough to usurp White even though he has outplayed him this summer.

It'll be interesting to see if the Jets continue to carry three quarterbacks on the active roster once Wilson returns. There's no guarantee White would clear waivers and revert to the practice squad.

For now, these are the three quarterbacks the Jets will carry on their initial 53-man roster.

NY Jets running backs

• Breece Hall
• Michael Carter
• Tevin Coleman

There will be some discussion about the decision to leave only three running backs on the active roster, but with only a select few roster spots to go around, difficult decisions needed to be made.

Breece Hall, Michael Carter, and Tevin Coleman are all locks. They each figure to play their own defined role on offense. The true competition has been for the fourth running back spot on the roster.

In this scenario, I decided to keep both Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight on the practice squad (assuming they clear waivers). The new practice squad rules allow for more flexibility between the active and reserve rosters which provide the Jets with insurance in case an injury occurs.

I also opted against carrying a true fullback on the roster as Nick Bawden and Trevon Wesco don't make the cut. Much like with Johnson and Knight, though, Bawden was retained on the practice squad meaning that the Jets can still have the fullback they desire.

NY Jets wide receivers

• Elijah Moore
• Corey Davis
• Garrett Wilson
• Braxton Berrios
• Jeff Smith

Perhaps another surprise is the decision to only carry five wide receivers. That decision was made easier with a corresponding move at the tight end position that will be revealed momentarily.

The top five wide receivers on the Jets' depth chart are pretty much locks. Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Garrett Wilson, and Braxton Berrios aren't going anywhere, and Jeff Smith has done enough to secure his spot.

The big question here was surrounding Denzel Mims. While it seemed unlikely that the team would just outright release him (although it's still possible), a trade seems like the best-case scenario for everyone involved, especially after Mims officially requested a trade on Thursday.

Others such as Irvin Charles and Calvin Jackson feel like prime practice squad candidates.

NY Jets tight ends

• Tyler Conklin
• C.J. Uzomah
• Jeremy Ruckert
• Lawrence Cager

The three locks here are Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, and Jeremy Ruckert. In fact, with Nick Bawden down on the practice squad, the Jets could even use Ruckert a little at fullback if need be.

The Jets probably went into the summer expecting to carry three tight ends, but Lawrence Cager is making it very difficult to leave off the 53-man roster. I don't expect him to pass through waivers which means the Jets may have no choice but to award him with a roster spot.

The converted wide receiver has flashed in practice and excelled in both preseason games to this point. He's still a bit of a developmental project, but his upside makes him worth keeping around.

NY Jets offensive linemen

• Duane Brown
• Laken Tomlinson
• Connor McGovern
• Alijah Vera-Tucker
• George Fant
• Dan Feeney
• Nate Herbig
• Max Mitchell
• Conor McDermott***

There are eight offensive linemen with solidified roles on the roster. The starting offensive line of Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and George Fant are safe as well as top backups Dan Feeney, Nate Herbig, and rookie Max Mitchell.

Feeney will be the designated backup center who could also pitch in at guard while Herbig primarily backs up Tomlinson and Vera-Tucker. Right now, the Jets see Mitchell as the backup right tackle.

I fully expect the Jets to carry another offensive tackle to back up Brown on the left side, but that player might not be on the roster. Conor McDermott is one option, but it seems more likely that he starts the year on the injured reserve until he's healthy.

The safe bet here is to assume that the Jets scour the waiver wire in search of their backup left tackle. For now, though, McDermott can be used as a placeholder.

NY Jets defensive ends

• Carl Lawson
• John Franklin-Myers
• Jermaine Johnson
• Bryce Huff
• Jacob Martin
• Micheal Clemons

This is the deepest position on the roster and some very, very difficult cuts are going to have to be made. The six players listed here are all probably safe.

Carl Lawson and John Franklin-Myers will start in the base defense with Jermaine Johnson, Bryce Huff, Jacob Martin, and Micheal Clemons rotating in. The real question is whether or not the Jets carry a seventh defensive end.

Seven defensive ends is a pretty unprecedented amount to carry, but the likes of Vinny Curry, Jabari Zuniga, and Bradlee Anae make this decision difficult.

Curry has battled hamstring injuries this summer and just hasn't been able to make up enough ground. While it's possible the Jets bring him back at a later date, it would be a mild surprise to see him on the initial 53-man roster.

Meanwhile, Zuniga and Anae each deserve to make the team after their performances this summer. In this scenario, there just isn't room for either and the Jets try to sneak them onto their practice squad. Don't be surprised if one or both are claimed off waivers, though.

NY Jets defensive tackles

• Quinnen Williams
• Sheldon Rankins
• Solomon Thomas
• Nathan Shepherd
• Jonathan Marshall

Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, and Solomon Thomas are locks for the 53-man roster, and each figures to play an important role in the defensive line rotation. Everything else is up for grabs.

There's very much a scenario where the Jets only opt to keep one of Nathan Shepherd or Jonathan Marshall. You could certainly argue in favor of carrying an extra defensive end here instead of a fifth defensive tackle.

That said, Shepherd and Marshall each occupy different roles and are both useful players. Shepherd is one of the few true 1-technique defensive tackles the Jets have and they don't really have anyone else to fill that role.

At the same time, Marshall was a sixth-round pick last year and his play this summer warrants a roster spot. In the end, I made room for both. Tanzel Smart has impressed again this summer, but he seems destined for the practice squad.

NY Jets linebackers

• C.J. Mosley
• Quincy Williams
• Kwon Alexander
• Jamien Sherwood
• Hamsah Nasirildeen

The late-July addition of Kwon Alexander spices up this Jets linebacker room a little bit. The way I see it, the team's top four linebackers are all locks for the 53-man roster.

C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Alexander, and Jamien Sherwood are all making the team. The Jets see Sherwood as Mosley's primary backup and someone who could potentially develop into their MIKE linebacker of the future.

I think the Jets carry five linebackers here allowing second-year pro Hamsah Nasirildeen to make the team. Marcell Harris is an intriguing player who knows the system, but he's just missed too much time due to injury this summer to warrant a roster spot.

Others such as Del'Shawn Phillips and undrafted rookie DQ Thomas feel like prime practice squad guys.

NY Jets cornerbacks

• D.J. Reed
• Sauce Gardner
• Michael Carter II
• Bryce Hall
• Brandin Echols
• Javelin Guidry

The cornerback room is low-key one of the most interesting position battles on the roster. The top four guys here are all locks and the same is probably true for Brandin Echols, although his injuries this summer have caused him to slide down the pecking order a little bit.

I have the Jets carry six cornerbacks with the speedy Javelin Guidry making the cut. Guidry is the primary backup to Michael Carter II in the slot which necessitates a reserved roster spot for the former undrafted free agent.

That leaves veteran special teamer Justin Hardee on the outside looking in. The Jets love Hardee, but he's exclusively a special teamer and the team could save $2 million in cap space by cutting him.

With such a deep roster and so many difficult cuts to be made, keeping around a player like Hardee just doesn't make much sense.

NY Jets safeties

• Jordan Whitehead
• Lamarcus Joyner
• Jason Pinnock
• Will Parks

Jordan Whitehead and Lamarcus Joyner are your projected starting safeties while Jason Pinnock's strong summer has removed any slim possibility that he might not make the team. It's safe to say that he's a lock now.

The real battle is for that fourth safety spot, assuming the Jets carry four safeties. Veteran Will Parks has been competing with third-year safety Ashtyn Davis for what is very likely one roster spot.

Parks is a proven veteran with more than 75 career games under his belt and he's absolutely earned a roster spot with his performance both last year and this summer. As for Davis, he hasn't done much to help his case this summer.

The former third-round pick has been outplayed by his veteran teammate over the last few months and, quite frankly, it would be a travesty if he made it over Parks.

The Jets may not be top-heavy at the safety position, but they do have pretty good depth, as evidenced by the fact that Elijah Riley — a surprise early roster cut — was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly after being waived by the Jets.

You could do a lot worse than Pinnock and Parks as your two backups.

NY Jets specialists

• Greg Zuerlein
• Braden Mann
• Thomas Hennessy

The Jets already ended any speculation regarding their specialists when they released the incumbent Eddy Pineiro this week. Pineiro's release means that veteran Greg Zuerlein will be the team's Week 1 kicker.

The Jets are now set to have had a different Week 1 kicker in each of the last seven seasons — a feat that is equal parts impressive as it is depressing. The team hopes that Zuerlein can buck the trend.

Braden Mann and Thomas Hennessy didn't face any competition this summer and will return to fulfill their respective roles.

NY Jets practice squad

• Chris Streveler
• Ty Johnson
• Zonovan Knight
• Nick Bawden
• Irvin Charles
• Calvin Jackson
• Grant Hermanns
• Ross Pierschbacher
• Jabari Zuniga
• Bradlee Anae
• Tanzel Smart
• Del'Shawn Phillips
• DQ Thomas
• Isaiah Dunn
• Rachad Wildgoose
• Ashtyn Davis

Putting together the Jets' 16-player practice squad was arguably even harder than figuring out the 53-man roster. Before we break down each selection, let's first rehash the newest practice squad rules.

Not only has the practice squad size increased from 14 to 16 players, but teams are now able to elevate a player from the practice squad a total of three times before they must be signed to the active roster.

Teams are also still allowed to protect up to four players on the practice squad per week and there is no limit to the number of times a player can be protected. Now on to our selections.

The Chris Streveler dream stays alive, at least for the time being, as he's an easy practice squad addition with Zach Wilson still sidelined. It's unclear if he'll remain with the team after Wilson returns.

I stashed both Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight on the practice squad. Given that the Jets only carry three running backs in this scenario, I'd imagine Johnson (if not both) will be elevated a few times. The same goes for fullback Nick Bawden who was stashed on the practice squad as well.

Undrafted rookie wide receivers Irvin Charles and Calvin Jackson are able to continue their development down on the practice squad. Both players flashed this summer and will be the first ones promoted if an injury strikes the Jets' receiver room.

I only kept two offensive linemen on the practice squad and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Jets add another player here, but for now, I retained developmental tackle Grant Hermanns and center Ross Pierschbacher.

All three of Jabari Zuniga, Bradlee Anae, and Tanzel Smart were kept on the practice squad, but I'd expect at least one of them to be claimed if they were exposed to waivers.

At linebacker, Del'Shawn Phillips and DQ Thomas make the cut. Phillips has received some first-team reps this summer and played all 17 games with the Jets last year. He's a dark horse to make the 53-man roster.

The Jets keep Isaiah Dunn, last year's highest-paid undrafted rookie, on their practice squad along with Rachad Wildgoose who appeared in a few games with the team last year.

Finally, Ashtyn Davis sticks around on the practice squad with the Jets wanting to keep a fifth safety under contract. There's always the possibility that he gets claimed off waivers, but this scenario assumes he sticks around.

NY Jets roster cuts

• La'Mical Perine
• Denzel Mims (trade)
• Tarik Black
• Kenny Yeboah
• Trevon Wesco
• Chuma Edoga
• Chris Glaser
• Vinny Curry
• Marcell Harris
• Justin Hardee
• Tony Adams
  
  

With 53 players on the active roster and 16 practice squad spots, I was forced to make 11 permanent cuts. Of course, that number will almost assuredly be higher with additions expected to be made between now and the start of the regular season.

There are undoubtedly a few players on this list who belong on NFL rosters and will, at a bare minimum, sign on with other teams' practice squads.

Running back La'Mical Perine's time with the Jets comes to an end in unspectacular fashion. The former fourth-round pick has underwhelmed during his time with the Jets and doesn't deserve a spot over Ty Johnson or Zonovan Knight.

One way or another, I don't see Denzel Mims being on the Jets' final roster. Whether that's because he's outright released or, more likely, traded, his time in New York is likely coming to an end very soon.

Tarik Black was a straightforward cut as undrafted rookies Irvin Charles and Calvin Jackson have shown more this summer. It wasn't easy to cut ties with Kenny Yeboah and he could still sneak onto the practice squad, but the Jets have enough tight ends that they can let him go.

Trevon Wesco misses out on a practice squad spot with Nick Bawden filling his role. Meanwhile, the Chuma Edoga experiment ends with the Jets finally cutting their losses. Reserve guard Chris Glaser follows him out the door, although he could push for a practice squad spot.

Vinny Curry and Marcell Harris are two veterans who I can see returning in the future. Both players were expected to make the roster as of a few months ago but lost a lot of ground due to nagging injuries.

The Jets save $2 million in cap space by cutting Justin Hardee while undrafted safety Tony Adams just misses out on a practice squad spot. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jets went with him over Ashtyn Davis, though.