Ranking the NY Jets' 5 biggest roster needs in 2023

NY Jets, Robert Saleh, Sauce Gardner
NY Jets, Robert Saleh, Sauce Gardner / NorthJersey.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
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The NY Jets may have fallen off toward the end of the 2022 season, but it was a massive step forward for a team that's struggled for the better part of the last decade, and now, the organization and fanbase are brimming with optimism about the future.

With plenty of cap space, players hitting the market, and five picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Jets have the opportunity to fill plenty of needs, but what exactly are those roster needs?

5. The NY Jets need to improve their wide receiver corps

The Jets nailed the 2022 NFL Draft, picking up the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, and now with Corey Davis likely to be released, they will be looking for someone to pair with Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore.

The quarterback position will certainly need to be fixed, as Zach Wilson hasn't proven capable of getting the best out of a high-level group on the outside, but with veterans like DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and others out there, it's a good time to add to their weapons.

4. The NY Jets need to find solid depth at linebacker

The Jets got a fantastic All-Pro season out of linebacker C.J. Mosley, along with promising performances from Kwon Alexander and Quincy Williams, but if the defense wants to be elite once more, they will need to get great performances out of their group again.

With both Alexander and Williams hitting free agency, the Jets have some big decisions to make. If they can find veterans that consistently make plays and finish tackles, it will go a long way toward making this a top-five defense in the NFL once again.

3. The NY Jets need to improve safety in a big way

The Jets thought they'd found their answer at safety when they signed Jordan Whitehead in 2022, and while he had his moments, the consistency just wasn't there. The team may be looking to find not one but two starting safeties ahead of 2023.

Whitehead has been considered a potential cap casualty this offseason, but with names like Jordan Poyer, Jessie Bates, and Jimmie Ward out there, there's no shortage of veteran talent to lead the back end of this defense alongside Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed going forward.

2. The NY Jets need to protect their QB by finding offensive line help

While many will point to the QB struggles as the main reason the Jets fell off in 2022, it's no surprise that their downfall began with the injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker, and with his return, along with Mekhi Becton in 2023, they could be building a very strong group.

There are many veterans available that could fill this role in New York, with Taylor Lewan and Mike McGlinchey among the biggest names. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is also an option, but either way, depth along the offensive line is key to any success the team will have next season.

1. The NY Jets need to find a quarterback

This is the most obvious need, as the Jets appear to have a roster ready to compete in 2023, but without a star under center, this team has severe limitations that not even an elite defense would allow them to overcome.

Next. NY Jets land new star OL in 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft. dark

They've been linked to all the top quarterbacks on the market with Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, and Jimmy Garoppolo all in play, and while Zach Wilson could still be a potential option for the future, the Jets fanbase would riot if he started Week 1 in 2023.