The Chosen 53

Edition #210

☀️ Good Evening,

I originally wrote this post to be published tomorrow as usual, but I've decided to bring it forward with some cuts being leaked to the media.

Today represents one of the darkest days in the NFL calendar. Over 800 players will get a tap on the shoulder and asked to head in to see the coach, and don't forget to take your playbook.

Some will make it onto the practice squad, some will head to Canada, some will head to alternative leagues and some will need to find an alternative career path.

The Jets will need to make some difficult choices, and that hasn't always been the case. Recently we've struggled to find 53 NFL calibre players, now we have around 60-65 players who are in the conversation.

Today I'm going to give you my final 53 man projection. It'll come in two variations, the roster I'd pick and the roster I think the Jets will pick.

Quarterback (3)

Mine: Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco & Chris Streveler

Jets: Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco & Mike White

💥 This is going to be one of the most difficult decisions. The Jets love Mike White and they see him as the long-term backup to Zach Wilson, hence why I have them keeping him ahead of Streveler. Personally I'm keeping Chris Streveler, he's shown not only real ability to move an offense, but he's shown the knack for winning and producing in the biggest moments. I like White, but if Streveler can't make the roster after the pre-season he's had then I don't know how he ever will.

Cuts for me: Mike White

Running Back (4)

Mine: Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, Nick Bawden

Jets: Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Tevin Coleman, Nick Bawden

💥 You don't know much much I wanted to have Bam Knight in this 53, but I just don't see a way to keep him. You could not have a fullback but I just don't see the Jets doing that with the kind of system they run. You could have Wesco as the 4th TE and starting FB but then you have to drop Cager and I'm not sure I'm ready to do that. Hall and Carter pick themselves and Coleman tends to always product and has the trust of the coaching staff.

Cuts for me: Ty Johnson, Zonovan Knight, La’Mical Perine

Wide Receiver (6)

Mine: Corey Davis, Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, Braxton Berrios, Denzel Mims, Calvin Jackson Jr

Jets: Corey Davis, Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore, Braxton Berrios, Jeff Smith, Denzel Mims

💥 This completely depends on the Denzel Mims situation. I don't think the Jets will get the offer they want and I just don't think they are motivated to move him unless they get what that want. Calvin Jackson Jr has worked his way onto this roster and his game suits the way the Jets want to play. People talk about Jeff Smith's special teams ability and he is a good special teamer, but there is nothing to suggest Calvin can't be. I'm going with Calvin but I think the Jets go with Smith.

Cuts for me: Jeff Smith, Tarik Black, Irvin Charles,

Tight End (4)

Mine: Tyler Conklin, C.J Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, Lawrence Cager

Jets: Tyler Conklin, C.J Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, Lawrence Cager

💥 This one is as straight forward as it gets for me. Cager has been one of the better players through the entire pre-season and his transition to TE has been seemless considering he only made the more this year. I don't think he makes it through waivers and he's an instant mismatch, so I'm keeping him ahead of a few other guys. Most will have the Jets keeping 3 tight ends, but I'm going with four.

Cuts for me: Kenny Yeboah, Trevon Wesco

Offensive Line (9)

Mine: Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, George Fant, Nate Herbig, Dan Feeney, Chuma Edoga, Max Mitchell.

Jets: Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, George Fant, Nate Herbig, Dan Feeney, Chuma Edoga, Max Mitchell.

💥 People may think I'm a man short here, but there is cover across the line and I don't believe that any of the cuts on the offensive line would be picked up elsewhere. You have your starting five and rookie Mitchell and then you have Herbig who offers excellent depth inside and Feeney who has guard/center versatility, not to mention the best mullet in town. Round it off with Edoga and you have everything you need to start the season. You then stash a player like Hermanns on the practice squad for a rainy day.

Cuts for me: Chris Glaser, Grant Hermanns, Conor McDermott, Ross Piersbacher

Defensive Tackle (3/4)

Mine: Quinnen Williams, Solomon Thomas, Nathan Shepherd.

Jets: Quinnen Williams, Solomon Thomas, Nathan Shepherd, Jonathan Marshall.

💥 This is a little controversial as I only have three defensive tackles, but that's based purely on the fact that I think JFM and Clemons will get some good reps inside, so while it's three out and out defensive tackles, it's really five. In the end I do think the Jets will carry four ans it was a coin flip between Smart and Marshall, but in the end I had Joe keeping one of this draft picks from last season.

Cuts for me: Sheldon Rankins, Tanzel Smart

Defensive End (7/6)

Mine: Carl Lawson, John Franklin Myers, Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons, Jacob Martin, Bryce Huff, Bradley Anae

Jets: Carl Lawson, John Franklin Myers, Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons, Jacob Martin, Bradley Anae

💥 Here's why I only picked 3 out and out defensive tackles, the Jets deepest position group is defensive end and it's not even close. This way the Jets don't have to pick between Huff and Anae, with Aane being a standout performer from the pre-season. With the Jets actual prediction I have them taking Anae over Huff, that's just a hunch and I believe it would be a mistake but there you go.

Cuts for me: Jabari Zuniga, Vinny Curry

Linebackers (4)

Mine: C.J Mosley, Quincy Williams, Kwon Alexander, Jamie Sherwood.

Jets: C.J Mosley, Quincy Williams, Kwon Alexander, Jamie Sherwood.

💥 This is the easiest position group to call. The four basically pick themselves, the Jets absolutely love Sherwood and this time next year I expect us to be talking about him replacing Mosley in the lineup.

Cuts for me: Marcell Harris, Hamsah Nasrildeen, Del’Shawn Phillips, DQ Thomas

Cornerbacks (6)

Mine: Sauce Gardner, D.J Reed, Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall, Brandon Echols, Justin Hardee

Jets: Sauce Gardner, D.J Reed, Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall, Brandon Echols, Justin Hardee.

💥 I've heard a bit of chatter about Hall getting cut, but that makes absolutely no sense to me. Sure he's been replaced this year in the starting lineup but he had 14 pass defenses last year, a lot of teams would love to have that kind of production from a corner slated to be #3 on their depth chart outside.

Cuts for me: Isaiah Dunn, Javelin Guidry, Rachad Wildgoose

Safety (4)

Mine: Jordan Whitehead, LaMarcus Joyner, Will Parks, Jason Pinnock.

Jets: Jordan Whitehead, LaMarcus Joyner, Ashtyn Davis, Jason Pinnock.

💥 I'm ready to be disappointed. In my mind Will Parks has clearly outplayed Ashtyn Davis, but then Davis seems to be one of those players who the staff really like and the fans don't understand why. That's the only difference between what I'd do and what I expect the Jets to do.

Cuts for me: Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis

Specialist (3)

Mine: Braden Mann, Greg Zuerlein, Thomas Hennessy

Jets: Braden Mann, Greg Zuerlein, Thomas Hennessy

💥 This one picks itself.