How Many Offensive Slots Are Available?
Edition #638
Good morning ☕
How about those Rangers. I’m not sure how they won Game 3, but good teams find ways to win when they’re not at their best. Something the Jets will surely have to do this season if they hope to go as far as they want to go. The Jets could actually learn a lot from this Rangers team.
Today we’re going to look at who’s a lock to make the 53, and who’s set to battle it out for their position.
🟢 Aaron Rodgers called Malachi Corley his favourite receiver in the draft before stating “Now, he might not have been the best on paper in the draft,” Rodgers went on to say, according to ESPN, “but I really felt like he was going to fit in with what we’re trying to do — his mindset, his ferocity.”
⚪ Rodgers also had some comments about the Jets locker room on Sirius XM: "There's lots of belief [in the locker room]," stated Rodgers, "I'm always confident, you know me, I feel like if I'm on the field and doing what I'm capable of doing, No. 1, we've always got a chance, and No. 2, more than that, we're one of those, you know, half dozen to 10 teams that can actually win a championship this year. So that's what's exciting."
🟢 Jeff Ulbrich recently spoke to the official site about the importance of continuity for the defence: "The continuity, especially on the back end is so critical," Ulbrich said. "These guys have to know each other's strengths, their weaknesses, their shortcomings, their superpowers, their kryptonite. They also have to know how to communicate at the highest level and some of that communication over time becomes just a wink. It's a little hand signal. It's very subtle. When you get to that level, that's where the really special stuff lives. The fact that we have some continuity, that we've had guys that have been here in the system for multiple years now, it's exciting to think where they could take it."
⚪ Jets safety Chuck Clark also spoke to the the official site: "For me, I knew that I was in a new environment and then to come somewhere new and get hurt, and that was first time ever being hurt and just the embrace that I got from everybody around the building," Clark told Ethan Greenberg of newyorkjets.com. "I felt embarrassed getting hurt. It was just a weird feeling in a new place. I get hurt and I'm embarrassed. But the vibe that I got from everybody else who's just like, welcome this is OK, you're gonna be alright, we know the type of player you are. So I think that feeling, just the vibe that I got from the defense, this top elite defense, to come and be a part of that."
🟢 The team on the First Things First podcast believe the Jets are playing with fire sticking with Nathaniel Hackett - “They don’t trust Nathaniel Hackett… They tried to replace him but let him keep the title because it’s what Aaron wants.” said Nick Wright before Chris Broussard added “The success he had with Rodgers when he won the two MVPs, he was the OC in Green Bay but he wasn’t calling the plays… And then you saw him call plays in Denver and that went so badly that he stopped calling plays when he was the head coach.”
✈️ The Jets have one of the more complete rosters in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for if you’re a player on the bubble. There are arguably more slots open on the defensive side of the ball, but today we’re focusing on the offensive side.
The Jets carried 27 players on the offensive side of the ball last season. 2 QBs, 4 RBs, 7 WRs, 4 TEs and 10 OL.
If you look at the expanded roster, the Jets currently have 46 offensive players signed, which means that around 20 offensive players will be cut before opening day.
So how many of those 27 spots (where hypothetically the Jets carry the same number of offensive players as last year) are already locked up?
How many of those spots are available? Let’s take a look through the group position by position.
QB Locks - Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis
Other QB - Andrew Peasley
Last year the Jets carried just two QB’s but it seems very likely that the Jets will carry three this season considering they have their starter, their veteran backup and their developmental QB. Is there a world where the Jets try and sneak Jordan Travis through to the practice squad, sure, but I think that’s too risky and we’ll see the Jets carry their Florida State man.
The more I watch of Andrew Peasley the more I like. I wrote up a piece on him not that long ago. Could he do enough in camp to supplant Travis as the chosen developmental piece? It’s possible. Seeing a UDFA out-perform a 5th round pick wouldn’t be that crazy.
RB Locks - Breece Hall, Braelon Allen
Other RB - Israel Abanikanda, Nick Bawden, Isaiah Davis, Markese Stepp, Xazavian Valladay
A lot of people would probably put Abanikanda and Davis in the lock column, and I think there’s a very good chance that both make the final cut. But Izzy is a 5th-round pick who had 70 yards last season and Davis is a 5th round rookie. So while I believe they’ll make it and would put the percentage probability north of 75%, I’m not ready to put them both into the lock column.
Abanikanda apparently struggled with protections last season, but he’s still just 21 and all you need to do is take one quick peak at his Pittsburgh tape to see his talent. So while technically there are two available slots here behind Hall and Abanikanda, I think we’ll almost certainly run with four backs of Hall, Allen, Abanikanda and Davis. It would take something really special from Stepp or Valladay to disrupt that.
With the size of Allen and Davis, I just can’t see how Nick Bawden makes the team.
WR Locks - Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Malachi Corley
Other WR - Allen Lazard, Jason Brownlee, Irvin Charles, Xavier Gipson, Hamze El-Zayat, Tyler Harrell, Lance McCutcheon, Marcus Riley, Malik Taylor
Last year the Jets carried 7 wide receivers, and right now I only see 3 that are absolute locks for the final 53. Wilson, Williams and Corley could be one of the better receiving trios in football next season if they stay healthy and Corley is the guy we think he is.
Behind them you have Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson who are two guys likely to make the roster considering their camp last year, Gipson’s experience last year and the early reports that Brownlee is impressing yet again.
Lazard is almost a lock based on his salary alone. If the Jets want to cut Lazard they’d need to eat a significant amount of salary. Cut him pre June 1st it’s $18.6 million, cut him post June 1st and it’s $12.1 million in dead money. If they can find a taker in a trade then they can save $10 million, but I just don’t see it happening. Especially when you consider his ties to Rodgers and Hackett. Lazard will be here, but how much he plays is the mystery.
All of that leaves one real vacant spot that was occupied last year by Irvin Charles. Charles is now 27, and while he offers plenty on special teams, if someone like Tyler Harrell (UDFA this year) outplays him then I could see him being jumped on the depth chart.
TE Locks - Tyler Conklin
Other TE - Jeremy Ruckert, Zack Kuntz, Kenny Yeboah, Lincoln Sefcik, Kevin Foelsch
I think this position is up for grabs, and while we carried four last year I can see us carrying just 3 this year to open up that third QB spot to carry Jordan Travis.
I know some people won’t be happy that I don’t have Jeremy Ruckert on that lock list, but through 2 years in the league he has 17 catches for 159 yards and I would say that his blocking wasn’t anywhere near as good in 2024. While he’s had some injuries, that kind of production from a 3rd-round pick is disappointing. We can point to the musical statues at QB, but it’s rare you hear about Ruckert taking over a practice. He’s a Jets fan so everyone is pulling for him and while I think he makes the team, he’s not as big a lock as many think.
Which leaves a lot of players fighting for that 3rd spot. Zack Kuntz is the athletic freak who needs to learn to be a TE and Kenny Yeboah is the + special teamer who the Jets will like and re-signed this off-season. But could someone like Sefcik or Foelsch grab that third TE spot? Absolutely.
Offensive Line Locks - Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Morgan Moses, Olu Fashanu, Carter Warren, Wes Schweitzer
Other Offensive Line - Austin Deculus, Obinna Eze, Chris Glaser, Vitaliy Gurman, Jake Hanson, Brady Latham, Max Mitchell, Xavier Newman-Johnson, Willie Tyler.
This is a really interesting group to try and project. The starting five pick themselves and then you obviously have your first-round pick and your 4th-round pick last year. I also put Wes Schweitzer in that lock position as his experience and versatility make him a very valuable member.
That means that if the Jets carry the same amount of players this year on the line as they did last year, there are two slots up for grabs. Max Mitchell would have the inside track on one of those slots but he’s a 5th round pick who’s not performed overly well when given the opportunity. He allowed 6 sacks and 30 pressures in just 336 pass-blocking snaps last year which is a decline from year one.
I’m really not sure how much there is there to develop, but he’s certainly not a lock to make the team. I’m looking forward to seeing Brady Latham this pre-season and Jake Hanson did reasonably well in limited opportunities last year. We often see players brought in at the start of camp and through the first couple of weeks, so maybe the guy that makes the team as the 9th/10th OL isn’t even on this list.
Would it be possible that we put a moratorium on mentioning Hackett from articles and posts. He gets more attention than Taylor Swift going to Chief’s games.
Every story about him is the same continuous refrain.
As long as Rodgers stays healthy, Hackett becomes insignificant. Hopefully Rodgers has his healthiest season. Please no more Hackett, the Torch and Pitchfork Brigade can’t hack it any more. ( boy, was that terrible, suspend me for two weeks)
Some NFL team are very crafty in how they build their 53 man roster.
Could the Jets possibly hide Jordan Travis on the pup list to start the season.
Since I have no clue about salary cap machinations, could the Jets waive adios to Lazard if his training camp this year repeats last year’s disastrous results. I don’t think he plays special teams. He definitely cannot be on the hands team for onside kicks.
Last year he could drop passes with no repercussions, he won’t get away with it this year with Rodgers.
It would be a shame that his contract is the roadblock for a younger wr who has outplayed him.
The fact he was a former Lambeau Leaper shouldn’t protect his roster status.
Great idea for the column focus today, David. It will be interesting to see if the Jets keep 27 offensive players again or if that number drops.
I agree with most of your reasoning, but disagree on the number of locks at most of the positions. I totally agree with your lock choices at QB and the OL and your reasoning, and I think they will keep 3 QBs and 10 OL.
At RB, I don't see any way that Abanikanda and Davis won't make the team. I can't see Valladay, Stepp, or even Bawden beating even one of them out, much less beating out both Abanikanda and Davis. While the Jets could sign a camp cut or two, I don't think they'll do it at RB. I think that would be maybe DL, IOL or S.
At WR, I think it's possible that they only keep 6 WRs, but think they'll probably keep 7. I believe that Irvin Charles is a lock. With Hardee gone, I think Charles is the Jets' top gunner and STs player. Tyler Harrell has real problems even staying on the field, and while he's faster, he's smaller, and he may not be as good a tackler as Charles. The Jets could add a camp cut or sign a FA WR after 6/1, but I think that in addition to the 3 you mentioned, the 7 will include Charles, Brownlee, Gipson and Lazard.
At TE, I think Ruckert is a lock and they will only keep 3 TEs. Unless one of the UDFAs is a better blocker, Ruckert is the best blocker we have at TE. You minimized his injury his rookie season, plus ignored the fact that he was 3rd on the depth chart, in large part due to the injury. He just could not gain any traction to challenge Uzama for the #2 spot with his injury. I don't see any way that one Yeboah, Kuntz, Sefcik or Foelsch are gonna unseat Ruckert as the #2 TE. Even if one of them were to play out of his mind and move Ruckert down the depth chart to #3, there aren't going to be two of them who do that. Again, this is not a spot that the Jets are likely to bring in a camp cut, so imo Ruckert is firmly entrenched as the #2 TE. It's possible that Kuntz or one of the UDFAs could supplant Yeboah, but they'd have to be as good as he is on STs, and I think that gives him the edge.
I think that IOL is the most likely spot where they'll either sign Dalton Risner, Nate Herbig if he's a camp cut, or some other camp cut. If they keep 10 OL and assuming that they sign an IOL at some point before the season, that would make the one spot up for grabs between Latham, Hanson, Mitchell, and Newman.