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

NY Jets defensive backs

• Bryce Hall, Blessuan Austin, Javelin Guidry, Jason Pinnock, Justin Hardee, Isaiah Dunn, Michael Carter II, Marcus Maye, Lamarcus Joyner, Sharrod Neasman, J.T. Hassell (11)

Keeping seven cornerbacks seems excessive, and there's no doubt that the Jets won't be dressing all of them on game days. But with Justin Hardee primarily as the team's elite gunner on special teams, the Jets are, in theory, keeping only six.

Initially, I had the Jets carrying eight cornerbacks and only three safeties, with Michael Carter potentially playing some safety, early in the season, if any injuries were to occur.

But the shoulder injury suffered by Brandin Echols changes things and clouds his status for Week 2. Therefore, for the time being, Sharrod Neasman and JT. Hassell make the team as backup safeties while Ashtyn Davis presumably ends up on PUP to start the year.  

The tandem of Marcus Maye and Lamarcus Joyner at safety should be intriguing to watch. How the Jets coaching staff utilizes the newly-formed pair will be fascinating.

The real story is at cornerback. Bryce Hall, Blessuan Austin, and Javelin Guidry figure in as the Jets' top three corners when the season starts. But as the year progresses, it's anyone's guess as to who will emerge as the team's best cover corners.

Draft picks Jason Pinnock, Michael Carter II, and Brandin Echols could push for playing time and potentially usurp the current top three cornerbacks. Undrafted free agent Isaiah Dunn will also be in the mix.  

• Final 53-man Roster Breakdown: 25 on offense, 25 on defense, and 3 on special teams.

• Players eligible to return from PUP or Injured Reserve: Conor McDermott [OT], Jabari Zuniga [DE], Jarrad Davis [LB], Brandin Echols [CB], Ashtyn Davis [S]