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Analyzing Jets' Roster, Position By Position, Before Cuts Are Made

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- That was a rough one to watch. Usually, there’s something to fixate on in the preseason -- a young quarterback, splashy plays. None of that was very present in the Jets’ 19-17 loss to the Eagles in Friday's exhibition finale. Actually, this might have been the least eventful preseason finale since 2019.

That year, the Jets beat the Eagles 6-0. That’s it. No touchdowns. Two field goals. Davis Webb, Luke Falk and Trevor Siemian played quarterback that night. Parry Nickerson, a sixth-round pick of Mike Maccagnan in 2018, had three tackles on defense. That same Parry Nickerson had two tackles and an interception on Thursday. That's right! Nickerson is still playing!

With so little to take away from this one, I figured it would be a good time to assess the state of the Jets roster going into roster cut day, with a thought on every position.

Away we go …

Quarterback

Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez, Brady Cook

It would have been interesting to see the Jets quarterback situation had Taylor not injured his knee. He might be the most talented thrower on the Jets roster. Fields left quite a bit to be desired throughout the summer. There’s no denying his physical ability -- he’s an athletic freak. He struggled mightily throughout camp in those third-and-long situations. Basically, the Jets had problems when they had to throw.

As long as the Jets are in third-and-manageable situations, they should be fine. Fields is that good at running the ball. You wonder how sustainable that is, considering the difficulty of the Jets' schedule early on.

Running back

Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Donovan Edwards, Kene Nwangwu, Lawrance Toafili, Andrew Beck (FB)

The Jets might lead the league in rushing attempts this year.

They had a drive in the preseason against the Giants where they attempted just one pass on a 12-play possession. They had a 14-play drive in the final practice of training camp, where they ran it nine times. They know their strength and rely quite a bit on it.

Hall might be the Jets starter, but he’s not the bell cow. Look for coordinator Tanner Engstrand to rely heavily on Allen and Davis, too. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a 45-45-10 split between the three.

Receiver

Garrett Wilson, Josh Reynolds, Tyler Johnson, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Irv Charles, Malachi Corley, Dymere Miller, Jamaal Pritchett, Quentin Skinner, Arian Smith, Brandon Smith, Ontaria Miller

Wilson is a star. There’s promise with Smith. Outside of that, though, there isn’t very much.

The Jets will likely look to add to this room via trade or waiver claim because the No. 2 receiver spot is a problem. You need someone to take some attention away from Wilson. That player is not on the roster right now.

Tight end

Mason Taylor, Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smartt, Neal Johnson, Zack Kuntz

Taylor’s high-ankle sprain didn’t slow him much. He returned inside two weeks and looked as if he hadn’t missed a beat. He’ll take some lumps as a rookie, but his talent is undeniable. He could end up being the third-most targeted player in the passing game behind Wilson and Hall. It’s been a while since the Jets had a talent at the position like Taylor.

Offensive line

Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Armand Membou, Josh Meyers, Liam Fornadel, Marquis Hayes, Kohl Levao, Xavier Newman, Leander Wiegand, Samuel Jackson, Max Mitchell, Chukwuma Okorafor, Carter Warren

The Jets have invested so many top-end resources in their offensive line that it should be a strength. It will, though, take some time for all to mesh.

The biggest concern right now is Membou, who might take some lumps in pass protection. That’s not overly concerning. He’s a rookie. It’s going to take time. When it clicks for him, though, this group has a chance to be one of the league’s best.

Dec 1, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV (99) reacts after a defensive stop during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Defensive line

Jermaine Johnson, Kyle Phillips, Quinnen Williams, Will McDonald, Braiden McGregor, Eric Watts, Ja’Markis Weston, Jowon Briggs, Byron Cowart, Fatorma Mulbah, Derrick Nnadi, Payton Page, Harrison Phillips, Leonard Taylor, Jay Tufele

The Jets had a major concern on the interior defensive line a week ago. Quinnen Williams is a star, but the position next to him creates a major liability in run stuffing. GM Darren Mougey changed that when he traded for Phillips. The Jets might not be the best run defense in the league, but it’s far from the issue it was before.

Johnson, off the PUP list, had a dominant final two practices in training camp. McDonald had maybe the best summer of any defensive lineman. The Jets have the chance to attack some teams if they can play with a lead.

Linebackers

Jamien Sherwood, Quincy Williams, Jamin Davis, Zaire Barnes, Francisco Mauigoa, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Jackson Sirmon, Boog Smith

It’s been a while since the Jets readied for a season without C.J. Mosley. Sherwood, who’s stepped into that role, looks more than capable of filling his shoes.

Cornerbacks

Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens, Michael Carter, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Jordan Clark, Mario Goodrich, Isaiah Oliver, Qwan’tez Stiggers, AZ Thomas

Gardner is among the best cornerbacks in the NFL. His success over the last couple of years was amplified, though, because he had D.J. Reed on the other side. The two were a tremendous pairing.

Reed signed with the Lions in free agency. The Jets replaced him with Stephens. The former Raven has had a very impressive summer and earned rave reviews from coaches. The Jets' secondary should be more than fine as long as they stay healthy.

Safeties

Tony Adams, Andre Cisco, Dean Clark, Tanner McCalister, Jarius Monroe, Malachi Moore

There are some concerns here. Adams, Cisco struggled at times in the preseason and training camp. It might not be long before Moore takes over as a starter. The rookie from Alabama had a strong summer and preseason, especially in the finale against the Eagles. Moore had six tackles, one for a loss, an interception and pass breakup.