Projecting how the NY Jets' depth chart will shape up in 2024

The NY Jets made a great deal of changes over the 2024 offseason. With three new starters on the offensive line, a revamped wide receiver room joining Garrett Wilson, and big names coming and going on the defensive side of the ball.

The team won't release their unofficial depth chart until early August, so this will be based on projections around the football world and our own post-draft analysis of what the Jets' roster could look like.

For the purposes of this article, we'll focus on the more notable names that we'll be more likely to see on game day.

NY Jets Offense

Quarterback

• Aaron Rodgers
• Tyrod Taylor
• Jordan Travis (R)
• Andrew Peasley (R)

If all goes well, we will never get to know just how capable of a backup the soon-to-be 35-year-old Tyrod Taylor is. Aaron Rodgers is coming off his torn Achilles but has historically been a very healthy player.

He'll turn 41 in December, but his rehab went about as well as it could have gone, as he was a full go at OTAs to open up the new year.

Running Backs

• Breece Hall
• Braelon Allen (R)
• Isaiah Davis (R)
• Israel Abanikanda
• Tarik Cohen
• Xazavian Valladay
• Nick Bawden (FB)

Here's where it could get interesting for the Jets. It seems like the writing is on the wall for the former Pittsburgh running back Israel Abanikanda. He was poor as a pass blocker last season, and the Jets in some ways expressed how they feel about him as a player, adding two running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft.

We should expect to see Braelon Allen on some third downs, as well as get some goal-line work. Allen, at just 20 years old is 6-foot-1, 235 pounds. Isaiah Davis will also get some earlier down work, but expect Allen to be the clear two in this backfield with Abanikanda getting phased out as the season progresses.

Tarik Cohen will likely exclusively be on special teams if he makes the team, with the Jets considering the brand new kickoff rules with this signing.

Wide Receivers

• Garrett Wilson
• Mike Williams
• Malachi Corley (R)
• Xavier Gipson
• Allen Lazard
• Jason Brownlee
• Irvin Charles
• Malik Taylor
• Lance McCutcheon
• Tyler Harrell (R)
• Hamze El-Zayat (R)
• Marcus Riley (R)

While it is clear that Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams will likely be the leading receivers on this Jets team, it is that number three spot where it gets tricky. My bet is on rookie wideout Malachi Corley.

With Robert Saleh taking a more involved approach in the offense this season, he'll likely have an affinity for Corley over Lazard. Lazard was beyond disappointing last season, and he didn't do himself any favors in some postgame interviews, even calling the Jets coaching staff out.

Alongside Lazard, we could expect to see more of Jason Brownlee this year, with Xavier Gipson primarily working as a special teamer.

Tight Ends

• Tyler Conklin
• Jeremy Ruckert
• Kenny Yeboah
• Zack Kuntz
• Lincoln Sefcik (R)
• Kevin Foelsch (R)

With the Jets passing on Brock Bowers in this year's draft, they'll be running back the same tight end room as they had in the 2023 season. We can expect to see more of Jeremy Ruckert by the end of the year, but in terms of yards and touchdowns, I'd imagine that Tyler Conklin leads this group by a sizable margin.

Offensive Line

• LT: Tyron Smith, Olu Fashanu (R), Obinna Eze, Willie Tyler (R)
• LG: John Simpson, Xavier Newman, Vitaliy Gurman
• C: Joe Tippmann, Wes Schweitzer, Chris Glaser
• RG: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jake Hanson, Brady Latham (R)
• RT: Morgan Moses, Carter Warren, Max Mitchell, Austin Deculus

Compared to last season, Jets fans can enter this season with a pretty reasonable level of confidence when looking at the names rounding out this unit.

With three new starters and a first-round selection, Joe Douglas did a tremendous job addressing what was arguably the worst-performing and least healthy offensive line in the entire league last year.

Olu Fashanu is a name we can expect to see in the starting lineup at some point in the season, whether that's replacing an injured Tyron Smith, or moving in and earning a spot at right tackle. That said, don't expect him to play guard for this Jets team in 2024.

NY Jets Defense

Defensive End

• Haason Reddick
• Jermaine Johnson
• Will McDonald
• Micheal Clemons
• Jalyn Holmes
• Eric Watts (R)
• Braiden McGregor (R)

The top four names are the guys we can expect to see on game day for the Jets in 2024.

We know that head coach Robert Saleh likes to rotate his guys on the defensive line, and despite 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald being a healthy scratch in multiple games last season, Jets fans can anticipate him being a lot more involved with the departures of Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers.

However, on crucial downs, it'll be Haason Reddick and Jermaine Johnson on the edge for the Jets. Keep an eye on one of the undrafted rookies who could push for a roster spot.

Defensive Tackles

• Quinnen Williams
• Javon Kinlaw
• Solomon Thomas
• Leki Fotu
• Tanzel Smart
• Bruce Hector
• Leonard Taylor III (R)

Much like the edge guys, Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will rotate on the defensive line. Expect Javon Kinlaw and Solomon Thomas to be the snap leaders behind Quinnen Williams, with the remaining players battling it out throughout the season.

Leonard Taylor is the most intriguing guy on this list in terms of how much he'll play. He might put together a strong case for a roster spot this summer.

Linebackers

• C.J. Mosley
• Quincy Williams
• Jamien Sherwood
• Chazz Surratt
• Zaire Barnes
• Sam Eguavoen
• Marcelino McCrary-Ball
• Jackson Sirmon (R)
• Jimmy Ciarlo (R)

Not much to say about this group. C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams are both among the best linebackers in all of football, with Jamien Sherwood, Chazz Surratt, and Zaire Barnes likely being the primary backups for Gang Green.

Cornerbacks

• Sauce Gardner
• D.J. Reed
• Michael Carter II
• Brandin Echols
• Qwant'ez Stiggers (R)
• Tae Hayes
• Shemar Bartholomew (R)
• Myles Jones (R)
• Brandon Codrington (R)

The Jets have arguably the best cornerback in the league in Sauce Gardner, the best No. 2 cornerback in football in D.J. Reed, and the best slot corner in the game in Michael Carter II.

As for the rest of the group, expect to see Brandin Echols as the primacy backup, with my money on CFL product and rookie Qwan'tez Stiggers getting most of his work in at the safety position.

Safeties

• Chuck Clark
• Tony Adams
• Ashtyn Davis
• Isaiah Oliver
• Jarrick Bernard-Converse
• Jaylen Key (R)
• Al Blades Jr. (R)
• Jarius Monroe (R)

In what is no doubt the weakest positional group on this Jets defense, there are certainly battles to be had throughout the season for these starting spots.

I do expect Tony Adams to continue to progress as a player and to be the Jets' free safety by season's end. If Chuck Clark can return to what he once was before his season-ending ACL injury in June of 2023, then it can be anticipated that he'll slot into the strong safety position for this Jets defense.

Special Teams

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

There is no drama here. While the Jets will enter the summer with two kickers on their roster, Greg Zuerlein will be the guy come Week 1. He's joined by Thomas Morstead and Thomas Hennessy to complete one of the best special-teams units in the NFL.