Image Credit: (Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports)
Written by: Nicholas Mullick Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mullick-354076184/
Twitter: @nicholasmullick
The New York Jets will be playing their final preseason game against the New York Giants today at 1:00PM EST. With the Roster now shortened to 80 players it is not going to be enough as there are still 27 more players that need to be cut. In this I have labeled players as either Locks, Made Roster, or Cut. If a player is labeled as a Lock then there is a 0% chance that they will be getting cut. If they are labeled as made roster, well they then made the roster. Now if they are labeled as a Cut, well then they are off the team. So let's get this started by looking at the Jets Offense.
Offense
Quarterbacks (3)
Locks: Zach Wilson and Joe Flacco
Made Roster: Chris Streveler
Cut: Mike White
Zach Wilson will not be getting cut no question. I have to say, It is clear that Joe Flacco will not be going anywhere when the preseason is over. I have been on record saying that “I never want to see him start as the QB for the New York Jets”, but it is clear he is going to Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. I hope Flacco can showcase his skills from his Baltimore days and live up to this hype being reported in the past few weeks. It will be interesting to see who backs up Flacco week 1, because I doubt it will be Wilson. I think that the Jets will go with Chris Streveler as the backup due to how impressive he has been in the preseason. I doubt Mike White makes the roster, unless he performs well against the New York Giants.
Running Back (4)
Locks: Michael Carter and Breece Hall
Made Roster: Ty Johnson and Tevin Coleman
Cut: La’Mical Perine and Zonavan Knight
Besides Carter and Hall being clear locks to make the roster, the backup roles could go either way. It would be a bit more understanding if this staff actually utilized the running backs more in the preseason. I still think Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson will still be on the roster. Perine and Knight showed flashes, but I am not sure that it is enough for them to be on the active roster. We will see after their game against the Giants.
Fullback (0)
Locks: None
Made Roster: None
Cut: Trevon Wesco and Nick Bawden
With the Jets needing a backup QB, I could see the Jets abandon the Fullback position and get a roster spot to fill that spot. Once Wilson is healthy, the Jets can sign another fullback to the team.
Wide Receivers (5)
Locks: Corey Davis, Braxton Berrios, Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore
Made Roster: Jeff Smith
Cut: Denzel Mims, Tarik Black, Irvin Charles, Calvin Jackson
Only change here is that the Jets will be having 5 wide receivers on the team. I did this so Lawrence Cager will still be on the roster and be in a hybrid TE/WR role. Davis, Berrios, Wilson, and Moore clearly are locks to make the roster. As of now it looks like Jeff Smith as well will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Denzel Mims, like I said in my Trade Destinations article I made of him, is done as a Jet and I doubt he makes the roster. Black, Charles, and Jackson will be battling for a spot on the practice squad.
Tight End (4)
Locks: C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin, and Jeremy Ruckert
Made Roster: Lawrence Cager
Cut: Kenny Yeboah
The Jets would be foolish to not have Cager on the roster after his strong performances in the preseason. The experiment has been a success as of now and if they cut him, he will absolutely get picked up by another team. That would be the only change at this position as Conklin, Uzomah, and Ruckert are not going anywhere.
Offensive Line (9)
Locks: George Fant, Alijah Vera Tucker, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Duane Brown
Made Roster: Chuma Edoga, Nate Herbig, Max Mitchell, and Conor McDermott
Cut: Grant Hermmans, Dan Feeney, Greg Senat, Dru Samia, Chris Glaser, and Ross Pierschbacher
No locks added for the offensive line for the Jets. With Benenoch getting cut I have Conor McDermott making the roster, due to his experience as a blocker and he would be a dependable option while Max Mitchell learns the system. Edoga and Herbig should make the roster, but I am not confident. Hermmans, Feeney, Senat, Samia, Glaser, and Pierschbacher are battling for roster/practice squad spots.
Defense
Defensive Tackle (5)
Locks: Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers
Made Roster: Solomon Thomas, Sheldon Rankins, Jonathan Marshall
Cut: Tanzel Smart and Nathan Shepherd
Williams and Franklin-Myers are not going anywhere once the preseason is over. It is difficult to determine who else makes the roster due to the depth this team has. Solomon Thomas and Jonathan Marshall are in good shape making the roster, but I would not call them locks. Sheldon Rankins may have durability issues, but when on the field has a strong impact for the run. Tanzel Smart has been impressive the past few preseasons. Shepherd is looking like he is on the way out in New York unless he impresses against the Giants.
DE/EDGE Rusher (5)
Locks: Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson and Michael Clemons
Made Roster: Josh Martin, Bryce Huff
Cut: Vinny Curry, Jabari Zuniga
Lawson, Johnson, and Clemons are clearly locks to make the roster. I debated moving Josh Martin as a lock, but I wanted to wait another week and see how he performs against the Giants. Bryce Huff has shown flashes last season and probably was their best pass rusher last year. He should make the roster. Zuniga has impressed in the preseason, but I am not sure that it will be enough to make the roster, unless he does well against the Giants. I got to be honest, I am shocked Vinny Curry is still a Jet and was not a part of the second round of cuts.
Linebackers (5)
Locks: CJ Mosley and Quincy Williams
Made Roster: Kwon Alexander, Del’Shawn Phillips, and Jamien Sherwood
Cut: Hamsah Nasirildeen, Marcel Harris, and DQ Thomas
The linebackers are tough to predict for the Jets. Well excluding the fact that CJ Mosley and Quincy Williams are locks to make the roster. I am likely going to stick with my prediction of Kwon Alexander and Jamien Sherwood as making the roster. But I debated whether the Jets will go with either Del’Shawn Phillips or Hamsah Nasirildeen. To me due to the coaching connections, I have to give the leverage to Philips making the roster over Nasirildeen. This Giants game is going to be very important for both players. I don’t see Harris or Thomas making the roster unless injuries occur.
Cornerback (6)
Locks: DJ Reed, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Bryce Hall, Micheal Carter
Made Roster: Brandon Echols, and Justin Hardee
Cut: Javelin Guidry, Isaiah Dunn, and Rachad Wildgoose
No change with this position as of now. I contemplated moving Hall down tomade roster, but he has really only had 1 bad game. He is the most experienced in Saleh’s system as a Jet. DJ Reed got paid and is not going anywhere. Ahmad “Sauce’’ Gardner was the Jets 1st Round pick and he is not going anywhere. Michael Carter emerged last year and won’t be going anywhere with how promising he has been. I still see value in Echols who showed flashes last season and Hardee is a special teams player. Guidry, Dunn, and Wildgoose need to play well against the Giants in order to have a chance making the roster.
Safety (4)
Locks: Jordan Whitehead
Made Roster: Lamarcus Joyner, Jason Pinnock, and Will Parks
Cut: Ashtyn Davis and Tony Adams
Excluding Jordan Whitehead, I don’t think I can label anybody as a lock at safety. I considered Joyner, but I decided against it. I think Joyber and Pinnock should make the roster. With Elijah Riley being cut, there has to be a new safety that makes the roster and I am going with Will Parks who like I said has flown under the radar as a great player. It is unlikely that Tony Adams is making the roster. As for Ashtyn Davis, the Jets should just cut ties with him as he has not improved through his time with the Jets. He honestly has gotten worse and its time to part ways with him.
Special Teams
Kicker (1)
Locks: Greg Zuerlein
Long Snapper (1)
Locks: Thomas Hennessy
Punter (1)
Locks: Braden Mann
The Special Teams has officially been locked as with Piniero being cut Zuerlein will be kicking. Braden Mann will be punting for the Jets and Thomas Hennessy will be the long snapper.