August 26, 2024

With training camp and preseason over the Jets have to narrow down their roster from 90 players to 53 players. Here is how I think it will go

Offense:

QB - Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor

RB - Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isiah Davis, Izzy Abanikanda 

WR - Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson, Allen Lazard, Jason Brownlee, Brandon Smith

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

TE - Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah

Defense: 

DE - Jermaine Johnson II, Will McDonald IV, Takk McKinley, Michael Clemmons

DT - Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw, Solomon Thomas, Leki Fotu, Tanzel Smart, Leonard Taylor II

LB - CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes 

CB - Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandon Echols, Quan’tez Stiggers, Brandon Codrington

S - Ashtyn Davis, Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, Isaiah Oliver 

Special teams

Kicker - Greg Zuerlein

LS - Thomas Hennessy

Punter - Thomas Morstead

Non-report/ NFI

Jordan Travis (QB)

Hasson Reddick (DE)

Overall there are 3 major things to watch, whether Izzy Abanikanda makes the team, the decision of Braiden McGregor or Takk McKinley, and what the Jets do at cornerback.

The decision for cornerback will depend on whether they want to keep 6 or 7 cornerbacks, right now there are 5 CB locks to make the team, Sauce, Reed, Carter, Echols, and Stiggers. If they want to keep 6 they have the option of either Brandon Codrington or Jerrick Bernard-Converse, for me, Brandon Codrington could be the one kept if they go with this scenario because of his versatility on special teams with his return game. If they go with 7 they will keep both Bernard-Converse who has had a great camp since switching his position from safety and Codrington, but if they go with this it will likely mean Izzy Abanikanda would be cut and leading the Jets to have 3 runningbacks.

The Next decision I am not happy I am in Joe Douglas’s shoes right now and that is keeping 2 of Takk McKinley, Braiden McGregor, or Leonard Taylor. The decision is between 3 players who have balled out each practice and game in the preseason. But right now the one that is most certain to keep his spot is Takk McKinley. Now for either McGregor or Taylor, McGregor's chances are much lower because of the reason they would have 7 edge rushers if they kept him, and for Taylor that gives the Jets another interior pass rusher to develop. 

The decision that could be the most interesting is what the Jets do with Izzy Abanikanda. They have 3 options, keep him, trade him, or cut him. Right now I think the Jets are pretty certain that they might cut him by looking at the first unofficial depth chart and his playing time in the preseason. But in the preseason he has been very good, rushing for 129 yards, and 2 touchdowns on just 21 carries.  

That is how I think the 53 man roster shapes out to be.