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

The NY Jets training camp and 2021 preseason are officially over. The team now begins its march towards its season opener on Sunday, September 12th in Carolina against former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold and the Panthers. 

Before the Jets can get there, the front office and coaching staff are tasked with paring down their roster from 80 to 53 players by Tuesday, August 31st at 4 p.m. ET.

The Jets will also put together their 16-player practice squad. Keep in mind, Gang Green is No. 2 in the waiver order, so they'll have an early look at hundreds of players who end up on the free market.

The August 31st cut-down date is nine days before the NFL season begins, so there's potential for plenty of roster movement in the days leading up to the first game. Often, this period is referred to as final cuts. But nothing in the NFL is permanent.

The Jets' 53-man roster on September 12th might look different than the first one they unveil on Tuesday. General manager Joe Douglas could be working the waiver wire and the phones, looking to add a pass rusher, offensive lineman, defensive back, linebacker, or even a veteran quarterback. 

Typically, spots 47-53 on the back of a roster are wide open and interchangeable. The expanded practice squad and the new roster rules adopted a year ago have given teams more flexibility than in years past.

Don't dismiss the value or importance of players on the practice squad. A year ago, Jets like Javelin Guidry started on the practice squad before becoming key contributors on the main roster. 

The Jets' 53-man roster and 16-player practice squad announced this coming week might not be permanent, but here's my final prediction on what it could look like.