Projecting the 53
Edition #163
š Good Morning.
I hope all the basketball fans out there enjoyed last nightās draft, Iām eagerly anticipating the release of the Knicks Film School newsletter which will explain what exactly happened last night. The salary cap and the exhibit 10ās and the mid-level exceptionsā¦I find it all a tad confusing, the NFL is so much simpler.
Today Iām going to spend some time taking a look at the roster and projecting the 53. A lot can change between now and cut-down day, and Iām sure the Jets will bring others into the fold, but hereās how I see it right now.
āļø The Jets announced that Micheal Clemons had signed his rookie deal meaning there are only two draft picks yet to sign (Breece Hall & Max Mitchell). The projection is a 4-year contract worth $4.4 million with a $764k signing bonus.
š The NFL announced the training camp dates for all teams yesterday. The Jets rookies will head to Florham Park on the 19th of July with the veterans arriving a week later on the 26th.
š TE University wraps up today. Zach Wilson was expected to be in attendance alongside teammates CJ Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, although Iāve only seen Conklin there in the images theyāve released on their social media accounts.
š Former Jets third-round pick Jachai Polite is set to make his season debut for the CFLās Toronto Argonauts this Saturday. Polite played 32 games for Florida, racking up 78 tackles, 26.5 TFL, 15 sacks, and eight forced fumblesā¦but failed to play a single snap for the Jets.
Quarterbacks (3) - Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco & Mike White
I thought about going two here and dropping White, but I think the organization really likes him and with Joe Flacco being 37 there is a little bit of a safety net here. Zach Wilson is the obvious starter with Flacco acting as the veteran backup, Saleh said at the end of last season that Flacco played a huge role after the midseason trade.
Running Backs (4) - Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson
This is a position group I love because you have a little bit of everything. You have some youth and some experience, physicality, elusiveness, hands out the backfield and willing blockers. Hall and Carter will get the majority of the carries next season, but if injury strikes the Jets have two good players in Coleman and Johnson to fill in.
Full Back (1) - Trevon Wesco
This is a complete toss-up between Wesco and Nick Bawden, Iām slotting Wesco in here because we only saw 33 snaps from Bawden last year and it was hard to get a read. The better blocker will get the nod, I have a feeling if I do this again mid-way through camp itāll be Bawden, but for now Iām going with Wesco.
Wide Receiver (6) - Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Garrett Wilson, Braxton Berrios, Jeff Smith, Denzel Mims
Iām still a believer in Mims, and now that heās finally healthy heāll have an opportunity to make this roster. The coaches have spoken about his good attitude and confidence this off-season. The first four guys on the list pick themselves and Jeff Smith had a good OTA run and contributes on special teams.
Tight End (3) - CJ Uzomah, Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert
How nice is it to look at the depth chart and see plenty of talent within the TE group! Itās been a long time since we had so much potential with this position and itās key to the offense we want to run. I wouldnāt be surprised if Conklin ended up being TE1 on here and Jeremy Ruckert the best-run blocker of the lot.
Offensive Line (9) - George Fant, Mekhi Becton, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Max Mitchell, Chuma Edoga, Dan Feeney, Nate Herbig.
I still donāt think weāre done adding to this group, but based on what we have in camp this is where my mind is at. I think Herbig could end up being a very nice pickup by Joe Douglas and I have Edoga beating out Connor McDermott, there isnāt a great deal to choose between them but Edoga is 4 years younger.
Defensive Line (9) - Quinnen Williams, Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, Sheldon Rankins, Micheal Clemons, Jacob Martin, Solomon Thomas, Nathan Shepherd
The Jets have too many defensive linemen and not enough places. I thought about cutting Rankins from this list and adding Huff, considering JFM and Clemons are likely to see time inside at defensive tackle, it would also save the Jets some serious money. But I think heāll make it which means Huff and Curry are the two on the outside looking in. Thereās also no room for 2021 draft pick Jonathan Marshall here.
Linebackers (4) - C.J Mosley, Quincy Williams, Hamsah Nasrildeen, Jamien Sherwood.
Itās a good job the Jets find themselves playing a lot of sub-packages with only 2 linebackers because this position group is a bit dodgy. I like C.J and I like Quincy, although both need to improve their coverage, but beyond them, itās a lot of unknown. Itās unclear when Sherwood will be good to go, but heās an MLB in training and Hamsah barely played last year. I wanted to get DQ Thomas in here, but Iām going a player short.
Cornerback (7) - D.J Reed, Sauce Gardner, Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, Javelin Guidry, Isaiah Dunn
Reed and Sauce are almost certainly starting outside and Michael Carter II had a fine rookie season as a slot corner, you then have outstanding depth with Hall and Echols (last years starters) acting as cover outside with Guidry MC IIās backup. You then have a battle for the final roster spot, Hardee may get it for his special teams but the Jets gave Dunn a big UDFA contract for a reason last year and theyāre still high on him.
Safety (4) - Jordan Whitehead, LaMarcus Joyner, Ashtyn Davis, Jason Pinnock
Iām really high on this group, the addition of Whitehead gives it an identity and Iām excited to see what Joyner can do in his more natural free safety position after missing 2021 through injury. Davis will stick around because the team loves his athleticism and Jason Pinnock is entering his first full season as a safety.
Specialists (3) - Greg Zuerlein (K), Braden Mann (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS)
Itās going to be a straight battle between Greg Zuerlein and Eddy Piniero who kicked well for the Jets last year, but Iām going to take the seasoned veteran. To be honest the only player on this list Iām 100% comfortable projecting is Hennessy. The Jets only have one punter on the roster at the moment but that could change through camp and I think Mann should need to win that job.
First of all, as a life long Knicks fan I have to agree 100% with your wtf opening? Forgive my word substitution please. Unbelievable! Stephen A.Smith went nuts today on his show. Now, as for the roster, I still think itās a little early to have clarity there as there will be some surprising coming. The Jets love Bryce Huff. But then the go out and bring in his clone from Houston? Two undersized guys that are strictly situational pass rushers? With Larson, J.J, JFM and Clemons I think thatās an interesting group. I did love our draft but JD did make some curious moves. With the upgrades at TE, I would have waited a round on that spot. There was a good chance Ruckert would be there coming off his injury. And there were other quality TEās picked later that would have been close. I thought the move there should have been LB. There were a bunch good ones available!
Larry Ogunjobi DT, signed with the Steelers for a reported 8 million. Jets were never in it. How is this relevant ? The biggest hole IMHO in this roster is swing OT. Itās late June. Larry ās contract shows that the market has not fallen apart for veteran players. The possibility of acquiring Eric Fisher or Riley Reif for under 5 million looks remote. The Jets were so lucky to get Morgan Moses last year for chump change, but the situation was unique, we were very lucky, itās not happening again. In the extreme minority, have delusional hope in a Chuma Edoga. Contract year, skill set is perfect for this Offensive System, Development has been hindered by minor injuries, but has shown small samplingās of competence. Chuma was not at OTAās, this training camp is huge for him and possibly the Jets.