NY Jets 53-man roster prediction following the 2023 NFL Draft

The NY Jets had quite a busy NFL Draft week. Not only did the team add seven new rookies to their roster in the 2023 NFL Draft, but they also just so happened to trade for one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. No big deal.

That's not even including the 10+ players the Jets signed as undrafted free agents following the conclusion of the draft. An influx of talent to the roster should make for some intriguing roster battles this summer.

With the Jets' roster as deep and talented as it's been in years, the team will be forced to make some unfortunately difficult decisions. Of course, injuries can and will happen. New players could be signed. Others on the roster could be traded/released.

It's not a perfect science predicting a 53-man roster in early May, but that's the task we set out to accomplish here.

NY Jets quarterbacks (3)

• Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle

The Jets are set to carry four quarterbacks into training camp this summer, with Aaron Rodgers joining the likes of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Chris Streveler.

Wilson and Boyle will compete for the primary backup job, but either way, I expect both players to make the final 53-man roster. The Jets have consistently carried three quarterbacks on their roster in recent years, and I don't expect that to change this season.

Wilson is all but guaranteed a roster spot along with Rodgers (obviously). If Boyle struggles this summer and Wilson holds his own, there's a chance the Jets opt to carry Wilson as the sole backup.

The safe bet is to assume all three make the team, though. Streveler will look to earn a practice squad spot again this year.

NY Jets running backs (4)

• Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, Israel Abanikanda

The Jets added former Pittsburgh standout Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round of this year's draft. He will essentially replace Ty Johnson on the team's roster following Johnson's surprise release last month.

Breece Hall is still recovering from a torn ACL, but the expectation is that he will be ready for Week 1. If he suffers a setback, though, don't be surprised if the Jets add a veteran in free agency.

Michael Carter will look to bounce back following a disappointing sophomore season. He will be competing for playing time with the likes of Abanikanda and Zonovan Knight.

Fullback Nick Bawden doesn't make the cut, but there's a chance the Jets keep him on the practice squad if they want a true fullback under contract. Undrafted rookie Travis Dye is a potential practice squad candidate as well.

NY Jets wide receivers (5)

• Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Corey Davis, Mecole Hardman, Denzel Mims

There's still a possibility that the Jets trade or release Corey Davis before Week 1, but after not adding a single wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft, the safe bet is that he will remain with the team.

Davis returns alongside Garrett Wilson and newcomers Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman in a new-look Jets' wide receiver room. The real battle here is for the fifth and potentially sixth roster spots.

I gave the edge to Denzel Mims, who will be entering the final year of his rookie contract, but don't be surprised if one of the team's undrafted rookies pushes for a spot. Stephen F. Austin's Xavier Gipson, Southern Miss' Jason Brownlee, and Gardner-Webb's T.J. Luther are all intriguing prospects in their own right.

Others such as Irvin Charles, Malik Taylor, and Diontae Spencer are long shots unless the latter can carve out a role as a return specialist.

NY Jets tight ends (4)

• Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, Zack Kuntz

The Jets enter the 2023 season with a pretty deep and talented tight end room. Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah are roster locks and figure to play important roles in the team's offense again.

The real intrigue comes with who the Jets' third tight end will be. 2022 third-round pick Jeremy Ruckert, 2023 seventh-round pick Zack Kuntz, and former undrafted free agent Kenny Yeboah figure to compete for one or two roster spots this summer.

Ruckert had a very quiet rookie season, but the Jets hope he will take a step forward in his second NFL campaign. Kuntz is quite literally the most athletic tight end in NFL history, but he's a major work in progress.

Don't be surprised if Yeboah sneaks onto the active roster again for special-teams purposes. Perhaps the Jets try to sneak Ruckert or, more likely, Kuntz onto their practice squad. Undrafted rookie E.J. Jenkins is another intriguing developmental project.

NY Jets offensive linemen (9)

• Mekhi Becton (OT), Duane Brown (OT), Carter Warren (OT), Max Mitchell (OT), Laken Tomlinson (OG), Alijah Vera-Tucker (OG), Wes Schweitzer (OG/C), Connor McGovern (C), Joe Tippmann (C/OG)

Don't look now, but the Jets' offensive line room is legitimately one of the deeper position groups on the roster. There were some tough cuts here, and the Jets might not even be done adding to the position group.

I opted to carry nine offensive linemen, cutting players like Cedric Ogbuehi and Trystan Colon in the process. The Jets re-signed Ogbuehi this offseason, but following the addition of Carter Warren, there isn't room for him on the roster if everyone is healthy.

Colon was signed away from the Baltimore Ravens in March, but he's essentially the third or fourth center on the depth chart. Wes Schweitzer and Connor McGovern/Joe Tippmann could handle backup center/guard duties.

The Jets have some serious depth at all five spots on the offensive line. Joe Douglas did an excellent job with that this offseason.

NY Jets defensive linemen (10)

• Carl Lawson (DE), John Franklin-Myers (DE), Jermaine Johnson (DE), Will McDonald (DE), Bryce Huff (DE), Micheal Clemons (DE), Quinnen Williams (DT), Quinton Jefferson (DT), Solomon Thomas (DT), Isaiah Mack (DT)

The Jets will almost definitely carry more defensive linemen on their 53-man roster than any other position group. That's just the way Robert Saleh likes to operate.

The addition of Will McDonald leaves the Jets six-deep at defensive end. I don't expect any of those six listed above to be fighting for roster spots this summer.

There's a little more intrigue at defensive tackle, however. The Jets very well could sign someone like Al Woods before the season starts, but for now, I'll give that fourth and final defensive tackle spot to waiver-wire claim Isaiah Mack.

Mack was a perpetual summer standout for the Ravens, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he was one of the standouts from Jets training camp this year.

The Jets could also opt to carry only three true defensive tackles, given the versatility of Franklin-Myers and Clemons, but when in doubt, always assume they'll carry more.

NY Jets linebackers (5)

• C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Kwon Alexander, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes

This is the only position group on this list where I will project the Jets to sign a player. The Jets remain interested in re-signing Kwon Alexander, and after opting not to address the position in a significant way in the draft, I fully expect it to happen.

C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams will be the Jets' two nickel linebackers. The competition for that third linebacker spot in the base defense is wide-open, though.

The job should be Alexander's if he's re-signed. If not, the Jets will turn to youngsters Jamien Sherwood, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Zaire Barnes, and Chazz Surratt.

With Alexander on the roster, I project the Jets to carry five linebackers, leaving Nasirildeen and Surratt to compete for practice squad spots. Sherwood and Barnes offer more on special teams.

NY Jets cornerbacks (6)

• Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols, Bryce Hall, Justin Hardee

The Jets' cornerback room remains untouched and unchanged from last season. Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II form arguably the best cornerback trio in the NFL.

Don't scoff at the team's depth, either. Bryce Hall and Brandin Echols both have starting experience and would likely be competing for starting jobs on other teams. Hall is the wild card here.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Jets attempted to trade Hall this summer, especially given how small of a role he played last season. If he doesn't play special teams, he's essentially just taking up a roster spot.

I think the Jets will carry 10 defensive backs either way, so if Hall is traded, that could open up a spot for another cornerback or even a safety. Justin Hardee's roster spot is pretty safe as the Jets' special-teams leader.

NY Jets safeties (4)

• Jordan Whitehead, Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, Jarrick Bernard-Converse

The battle for the backup safety jobs on the Jets' roster might be one of the most intriguing competitions this summer. Jordan Whitehead and Chuck Clark are likely locked into starting roles, but there's some serious competition behind them.

The Jets really like Tony Adams, so his roster spot is probably safe — although we all saw what happened with Jason Pinnock last year.

Sixth-round pick Jarrick Bernard-Converse offers cornerback/safety versatility and has plenty of special-teams experience, so I give him the edge here. Will Parks is a tough cut, but I think he ends up back on the Jets' practice squad as he did last year.

Ashtyn Davis is one of the more surprising cuts, although releasing him would actually save the Jets a good amount of money. The Jets are deep enough at safety that they can move on from Davis, who is in the final year of his rookie contract.

NY Jets specialists (3)

• Greg Zuerlein (K), Thomas Morstead (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)

There really isn't any drama here. The Jets re-signed Greg Zuerlein this offseason and didn't bring in any competition. Thomas Morstead was brought back to replace Braden Mann. Thomas Hennessy was just handed a record-breaking four-year extension.

Barring injury, this will be the Jets' specialist room in 2023.