Final NY Jets 53-Man Roster Projection: Jets make surprising and difficult roster cuts

The NY Jets' preseason is officially in the books. The Jets now have a little over 48 hours to make final decisions regarding which players will be a part of their initial 53-man roster.

It's always one of the most bittersweet times of the year. While some players will live their dreams and earn a spot on the team, many others will become victims of the numbers game and be sent to the waiver wire.

The Jets will have some very difficult decisions to make over the next couple of days. With roughly nine roster spots still up for grabs, it's anyone's guess as to which players will make the team. This is our best guess.

With the preseason officially over, here is our final prediction for the Jets' initial 53-man roster in 2024.

NY Jets Roster Prediction

Quarterbacks (2)

• Aaron Rodgers
• Tyrod Taylor
• Jordan Travis* (Reserve/NFI)

This one feels rather straightforward. Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor are the unquestioned QB1 and QB2 on the depth chart. The only real intrigue comes with what the team does with rookie Jordan Travis.

Travis is currently on the NFI list and seems likely to remain on the list to start the season. It's unclear when he's expected to return, but the Florida State product doesn't seem likely to be a part of the Week 1 roster.

Expect Travis to begin the year on the NFI list, which will keep him sidelined for a minimum of six weeks. Adrian Martinez seems to have the edge over Andrew Peasley in the battle for the Jets' temporary QB3 and practice squad quarterback.

Running Backs (4)

• Breece Hall
• Braelon Allen
• Isaiah Davis
• Israel Abanikanda

Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis already secured their roles prior to the Jets' preseason finale against the New York Giants on Saturday. That game was intended to be the Israel Abanikanda showcase, and he didn't disappoint.

The Brooklyn native rushed for a team-high 83 yards on nine carries including a 45-yard touchdown. Abanikanda is fighting for one of the final spots on the Jets' roster.

Xazavian Valladay and Deon Jackson aren't threats to Abanikanda's spot. Instead, he's fighting to convince the Jets to carry four running backs. His performance this preseason might have saved his roster spot.

Wide Receivers (6)

• Garrett Wilson
• Mike Williams
• Xavier Gipson
• Malachi Corley
• Allen Lazard
• Jason Brownlee

If roster spots were based solely on merit, former UFL standout Brandon Smith would likely earn the nod here over Jason Brownlee. However, Smith worked behind Brownlee for much of the summer, and the latter came on strong in camp and might have done just enough to stick around.

Irv Charles is another obvious name to keep an eye on here. The Jets love his special-teams value, especially with the departure of Justin Hardee this offseason, but Brandin Echols and rookie cornerback Qwan'Tez Stiggers impressed as gunners this summer.

It's very possible the Jets decide to keep Charles on the active roster (perhaps alongside Brownlee), but it might make more sense to carry a player who offers more versatility, especially if you already have two solid gunners who can fill his role.

Tight Ends (3)

• Tyler Conklin
• Jeremy Ruckert
• Kenny Yeboah

Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert are locked in as the Jets' top two tight ends. The question then becomes: how many tight ends will the Jets carry on their 53-man roster?

Kenny Yeboah is a special-teams regular who has spent the summer as the Jets' No. 3 tight end. He feels like a safe bet to make the team, especially since he's a favorite of special teams coordinator Brant Boyer.

Veteran Anthony Firkser was one of my final cuts. The Jets could keep him around as a tight end/fullback/H-back hybrid, but the team could also use Ruckert and/or Yeboah in that role. Firkser just misses the cut.

Zack Kuntz could be practice-squad bound again if the Jets want to continue developing him.

Offensive Line (10)

• Tyron Smith
• John Simpson
• Joe Tippmann
• Alijah Vera-Tucker
• Morgan Moses
• Olu Fashanu
• Wes Schweitzer
• Carter Warren
• Max Mitchell
• Xavier Newman

The top eight players on the above list are all locked into roster spots. The real conversation starts with players like Max Mitchell, Xavier Newman, and Jake Hanson, all of whom have made cases to earn a place on the 53-man roster.

Mitchell is the fifth tackle on the depth chart, but he has starting experience and offers guard versatility. His spot seems safe if he's healthy.

Newman quietly put together an excellent summer and should have done enough to secure a spot on the team as a versatile backup interior lineman. That leaves Hanson, who unfortunately missed time due to injury, as the odd man out.

Hanson, Chris Glaser, and Kohl Levao feel like obvious practice squad candidates.

Defensive Ends (5)

• Jermaine Johnson
• Will McDonald
• Micheal Clemons
• Takk McKinley
• Braiden McGregor
• Haason Reddick* (Reserve/Did Not Report)

This is where the competition gets really stiff, and it's also where we're going to cheat a little. I fully expect Haason Reddick to be on the Jets' 53-man roster come Week 1, but I'm less confident the two sides will work out a deal by cut day on Tuesday.

That means, for the purposes of this projection, Reddick is still not on the active roster. This allows both veteran Takk McKinley and undrafted rookie Braiden McGregor to earn a place on the team.

McKinley and McGregor both put together outstanding summers, with both players shining in the Jets' final preseason game on Saturday. It would be a travesty if either player was left off the initial 53-man roster.

A move will have to be made once Reddick is officially added to the active roster, but McKinley and McGregor earned their places. Perhaps the Jets ultimately carry 11 defensive linemen and make a cut elsewhere. Meanwhile, Eric Watts is a practice squad stash player if he clears waivers.

Defensive Tackles (5)

• Quinnen Williams
• Javon Kinlaw
• Solomon Thomas
• Leki Fotu
• Leonard Taylor

Reddick's absence from the active roster allows undrafted rookie Leonard Taylor to sneak onto the 53-man roster following a stellar performance in the Jets' final preseason game of the summer.

Taylor is a former five-star recruit who was seen as a potential first-round draft pick as recently as December and January. He flashed his upside as both a pass rusher and run defender throughout the preseason.

It's a lot to ask the Jets to carry 11 defensive linemen, and perhaps Taylor misses the cut once Reddick is finally added to the active roster, but it's impossible to argue he hasn't earned his place. The Jets should do everything they can to keep Taylor around.

Linebackers (5)

• C.J. Mosley
• Quincy Williams
• Jamien Sherwood
• Chazz Surratt
• Zaire Barnes

The top three linebacker spots here are all solidified. C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams make up arguably the NFL's best linebacker duo, and Jamien Sherwood has flashed plenty of upside as the team's primary backup.

Chazz Surratt is beloved by the Jets' coaching staff and a personal favorite of Brant Boyer, so he feels like a safe bet to make the team. The Jets could carry only four linebackers, but I'll give a slight nod to former sixth-round pick Zaire Barnes.

Barnes showed signs of steady improvement this summer and is worth keeping around as a developmental linebacker. Keep an eye on veteran Sam Eguavoen, though, who was a core special-teamer a year ago. He has a case for the 53-man roster as well.

Cornerbacks (6)

• Sauce Gardner
• D.J. Reed
• Michael Carter II
• Brandin Echols
• Qwan'Tez Stiggers
• Jarrick Bernard-Converse

The Jets have the best cornerback room in the NFL — that statement shouldn't even be a debate at this point. Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II form one of the best cornerback trios the NFL has seen in a long time.

Meanwhile, the depth behind them proved to be just as impressive this summer. Brandin Echols, Qwan'Tez Stiggers, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse should all be locks for the 53-man roster, with the latter two improving their stock quite a bit in the preseason.

Bernard-Converse is dealing with a minor injury but is expected to be ready for Week 1. The likes of Shemar Bartholomew and Tre Swilling deserve shoutouts for their impressive summers and could be practice squad-bound.

The Jets would love to find a way to keep undrafted rookie Brandon Codrington after his impressive performances as a returner this summer, but there just might not be room. He's a safe bet for the practice squad, though, if he clears waivers.

Safeties (4)

• Chuck Clark
• Tony Adams
• Ashtyn Davis
• Isaiah Oliver

There shouldn't be any drama in the Jets' safety room. Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis, and Isaiah Oliver are all locks for the 53-man roster, and it seems unlikely that the Jets will choose to carry more than four safeties.

Mr. Irrelevant Jaylen Key should have a place on the practice squad. That's about all that's worth noting about this position group.

Special Teams (3)

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

More of the same here. Greg Zuerlein missed his last two field goals erratically in the Jets' preseason finale, but there's no reason to be concerned at this time. Thomas Morstead and Thomas Hennessy complete a special-teams trio that could be among the best in the league.

More NY Jets news and analysis: