flgreen Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 Jets roster breakdown: Locks, long shots, players on bubble entering OTAs Posted May 17, 2018 at 05:00 AM | Updated May 17, 2018 at 07:08 AM 2shares 0 Comment By Darryl Slater | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Jets begin spring practices Tuesday, when they start organized team activities. They have 13 spring practices (10 OTAs and three mandatory minicamp sessions) before training camp begins in late July. So let's analyze and break down their roster. Who are the long shots, bubble guys, and locks? AP Photo Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan will have some interesting decisions to make when he trims the Jets' roster to the final 53 at the end of training camp. LONG SHOTS (13) These guys are currently on the 90-man roster, but they face an uphill battle to make the final 53. CB Terrell Sinkfield The journeyman 27-year-old spent last season on the Jets' practice squad. CB Xavier Coleman Joined the Jets as an undrafted rookie last year. He began last season on the practice squad, and probably will do the same again this year. DL Mychealon Thomas He landed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent this year. Another practice squad candidate. K Taylor Bertolet Earned a spot on the 90-man roster after impressing at a rookie minicamp tryout, but don't expect him to beat out Cairo Santos. He entered the NFL in 2016 and still has yet to appear in a regular season game. LB Anthony Wint Another guy who signed after a rookie minicamp tryout. He is probably just a camp body, ultimately. LB Frankie Luvu Signed with the Jets this spring after going undrafted. Just too many linebackers ahead of him, though. LB Kacy Rodgers II The son of Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers is a nice story, but he is a long shot nonetheless, as he transitions from the CFL. OG Ben Braden The Jets' offensive line backups are basically set, and Braden is not going to be one of them. OG Dakoda Shepley Practice squad candidate, for depth on the offensive line, after he just signed with the Jets as an undrafted rookie from the University of British Columbia. OL Austin Golson He might have an edge over other undrafted rookie offensive linemen, because he can play multiple positions on the line. Could help his chances of making the practice squad. OT Darius James Like Golson, James played at Auburn before going undrafted this year and signing with the Jets. And like Golson, he is ultimately a practice squad candidate. TE Bucky Hodges Sixth-round draft pick last year, but he wasn't able to stick with the Vikings or Panthers. Too many guys ahead of him in the Jets' tight end room. WR Tre McBride A seventh-round pick in 2015, McBride has 10 catches in 17 career games. ON ROSTER BUBBLE (31) These guys will be involved in position battles during training camp, or fighting for roles as backups. C Travis Swanson He will compete with Jonotthan Harrison for the backup center job. The Jets could keep both Swanson and Harrison, because Harrison can be a swing backup and play guard. C Jonotthan Harrison He was the Jets' backup center last season, but this summer he'll have to fight for that role. It helps that he can play guard. CB Rashard Robinson Last season, the Jets sent a fifth-round draft pick to the 49ers for him, and it looks like a bust of a trade so far. He did little for the Jets last season, and was arrested for possession of edible marijuana. CB Juston Burris He probably has a better chance of making the roster than Robinson, but the Jets have a crowded cornerback group, and some tough decisions are coming. Burris was a fourth-round pick in 2016, but he lost his No. 3 corner job almost immediately last season. Big training camp coming for him. CB Jeremy Clark He played in one game last year after the Jets drafted him in Round 6, because he was still recovering from a knee injury. But the Jets just drafted another sixth-round corner, Parry Nickerson. CB Darryl Roberts Of all the roster bubble corners, he probably has the best shot of making it. He took over for Burris last season as the No. 3 corner. CB Derrick Jones Like Clark, the Jets drafted him in Round 6 last year. He played in just three games last season. DL Foley Fatukasi He'll probably make the roster as a rotational defensive end, but maybe the Jets can try to sneak the sixth-round rookie onto their practice squad. DL Claude Pelon He has been with the Jets since they signed him as an undrafted rookie in 2016. He has played in one game, last season, and has spent most of his time with the organization on the practice squad. DL Deon Simon Mike Pennel re-signing means Simon will have stiff competition in the battle to back up Steve McLendon at nose tackle. Simon, a seventh-round pick in 2015, has played in 16 career games, all in 2016. He was on the practice squad last season. FB Lawrence Thomas Will the Jets keep a fullback? Well, if they do, they're not going to keep two. Thomas, a converted defensive lineman, will compete against undrafted rookie Dimitri Flowers for the starting job. FB Dimitri Flowers Probably the Jets' highest-profile undrafted free agent signing. Flowers has a chance to make the Jets' roster as their lone fullback. He is much more experienced at the position than Thomas is. LB Lorenzo Mauldin Time might be up with the Jets for the ineffective former third-round pick. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He missed all of last season with a back injury. In his first two seasons combined, he had just 6.5 sacks. Not good enough. LB Freddie Bishop He hasn't been able to consistently stick on the Jets' active roster since they signed him in 2016 out of the CFL. He has mostly been a practice squad player. He played in four games in 2016 and five last year. LB Neville Hewitt A depth signing for the Jets this offseason. He has just seven career starts (38 games played). The Jets gave him a modest one-year contract ($705,000) with no guaranteed money, so they didn't invest a ton in him. LB Brandon Copeland Another linebacker depth signing this offseason. He is a 26-year-old journeyman with one career start. The only guaranteed money in his one-year contract — a $100,000 signing bonus. LB Obum Gwacham He debuted with the Jets last season and played in five games. They signed him off the Cardinals' practice squad. OT Antonio Garcia An interesting waiver claim for the Jets this offseason, from the Patriots. He was a third-round pick last season, but didn't play, while dealing with blood clots in his lungs. Let's see how he rebounds from that. QB Teddy Bridgewater There are no guarantees that his knee will be up to par in training camp. The Jets are going to keep Josh McCown and Sam Darnold at quarterback. But who will be the third-stringer? QB Christian Hackenberg If Bridgewater's knee is healthy, Hackenberg is a goner. Hackenberg still might be a goner, if the Jets want to cut him and Bridgwater, and sign a lower-profile, third-string quarterback. RB Trenton Cannon The sixth-round rookie will compete against Andre Roberts and Lucky Whitehead for the return jobs. If he doesn't impress enough, could the Jets stash him on their practice squad? RB Thomas Rawls Yes, the Jets signed him this offseason. But he isn't a lock to make the roster. Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell are the Jets' top two running backs. Eli McGuire did some good things as a rookie last year, too. And then there is Cannon. There is no guaranteed money in Rawls' one-year contract. S Doug Middleton Presuming the Jets keep four safeties, Middleton will battle Rontez Miles for the fourth spot. It looks like Terrence Brooks has the inside track to the No. 3 safety job. S Rontez Miles The fact that he performs well on special teams could give him a leg up on Middleton in the battle for that No. 4 safety spot. TE Neal Sterling Sterling got squeezed by the Jets drafting tight end Chris Herndon. The likeliest option at tight end for the Jets — keeping Herndon, Jordan Leggett, and blocking tight end Eric Tomlinson. But that No. 3 tight spot could be up for grabs. TE Clive Walford The Jets claimed him off waivers from the Raiders this offseason. A low-risk move. Like Sterling, he will compete for that No. 3 tight end job with Tomlinson. WR Andre Roberts The 30-year-old journeyman will need to show he is a better returner option than Cannon or Whitehead. WR Charles Johnson Another low-profile veteran wide receiver who signed with the Jets this offseason. The Jets didn't make large enough investments in these guys to keep them off the roster bubble. WR Lucky Whitehead He had the inside track last summer to be the Jets' return man, but a fractured foot sidelined him. He wound up not playing in any games. Can he beat out Cannon and Roberts this summer? The Jets claimed him off waivers from the Cowboys last year. WR Charone Peake An ankle injury limited the former seventh-round pick to three games last season, in his second year. With just 20 career catches, he'll have a lot to prove in training camp. WR Devin Smith Yet another second-round draft pick bust for the Jets. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Largely because of injuries, he has played in just 14 games and has 10 catches. GOOD CHANCE TO MAKE ROSTER (12) These players aren't locks to make the final roster, but they are in good position right now. CB Parry Nickerson The sixth-round rookie has a chance to be Buster Skrine's backup at slot corner. We considered putting him on the roster bubble, but he has prodigious speed (4.32-second 40-yard dash) and might not pass through waivers in order to land on the practice squad. DL Henry Anderson The Jets traded a seventh-round pick for him, and they like what he can offer as a rotational pass rusher, provided he can stay healthy. DL Xavier Cooper The Jets re-signed him this offseason, but gave him no guaranteed money. Still, they liked him enough last season as a backup to play him in eight games after they signed him in late October. K Cairo Santos Not a lock, but we'd be surprised if he lost the kicking battle to Bertolet in training camp. The Jets got Santos cheap — one-year contract with a non-guaranteed $1.5 million salary and $500,000 signing bonus. LB Kevin Minter The 27-year-old veteran has the experience (44 career starts in Arizona and Cleveland) to be a reliable backup inside linebacker. The Jets got him on a one-year deal that includes just $90,000 in guaranteed money — his signing bonus. LB Josh Martin With Mauldin sidelined last season, Martin started nine games opposite Jordan Jenkins at outside linebacker and had 1.5 sacks. LB David Bass The Jets signed him in late September last year, and he wound up having 3.5 sacks for them as a reserve. The Jets brought him back on a one-year contract. If he keeps playing like he did last year, he will stick. LB Dylan Donahue Two DUI arrests in less than a year. But if the Jets were going to cut him, they would've done it by now. They're sticking by the second-year pro, a fifth-round pick last year. Can he be a legit situational pass rusher? An elbow injury limited him to four games last season. OG Dakota Dozier He isn't starter material, but he very well could stick as a backup. And he probably will. But maybe he could be squeezed out if the Jets opt to retain both Swanson and Harrison. RB Eli McGuire Some interesting decisions for the Jets at running back. Will they keep a fullback? Will Cannon stick as the return man? The Jets signing Crowell perhaps squeezes McGuire a bit. He ran for 315 yards and one touchdown as a sixth-round rookie last year. S Terrence Brooks He almost certainly will be the No. 3 safety, after the Jets re-signed him this offseason. The real battle at safety is for that No. 4 spot between Miles and Middleton. TE Eric Tomlinson We like him right now as the Jets' No. 3 tight end, because his blocking skills differentiate him from Leggett and Herndon. But could Walford or Sterling snatch the job away from him? LOCKS TO MAKE ROSTER (34) It would be a surprise if the following players are cut. They're either starters or important backups. C Spencer Long He is entering his first season as the Jets' starting center, coming off quadriceps surgery. CB Trumaine Johnson Can he be the No. 1 lockdown corner the Jets expect him to be? The Jets gave him $34 million guaranteed up front. He was their biggest free agent signing of the offseason. CB Morris Claiborne The presence of Johnson should take some pressure off Claiborne, who had to defend No. 1 receivers last season. CB Buster Skrine The arrival of Johnson bumps Skrine out of an outside corner role, but he has always been better in the slot. DL Leonard Williams Time for Williams, in Year 4, to turn all those quarterback hits (65 in his career) into more sacks (just 12 so far). DL Nathan Shepherd The Jets are going to slot him into Mo Wilkerson's former 3-4 defensive end role. Can he produce like Wilkerson did from 2013-15? DL Steve McLendon At 32, he is one of the Jets' elder statesmen. But he played well last season and is entering an important contract year in 2018. DL Mike Pennel The leading contender to be McLendon's backup at nose tackle. The Jets re-signed him this offseason and gave him $3.5 million guaranteed, including his entire 2018 salary ($1.5 million). So he will make the team. He did well while debuting with the Jets last season. LB Darron Lee The former first-round pick has done fine in his career so far, but can he elevate himself to a Pro Bowl level? LB Avery Williamson He is three years younger the Demario Davis (the Jets' middle linebacker last year), so can Williamson be an upgrade at the position? LB Jordan Jenkins He is strong enough against the run, but hasn't turned into a legit edge rusher. Just 5.5 sacks through two seasons. LB Kevin Pierre-Louis An interesting offseason signing. He should provide the Jets depth at outside linebacker. And he is going to make the team in 2018 because his $1.5 million salary is fully guaranteed (plus a $1 million signing bonus). LS Thomas Hennessy He looked fine while debuting last season as the Jets' long snapper. He will have that role again this year, barring injury. OG James Carpenter The left guard is entering the final year of his contract, and he needs to play well if he wants to be retained. OG Brian Winters He battled through a torn abdomen muscle last season. Expect him to be a much more effective right guard in 2018 now that he is healthy. OT Kelvin Beachum The final year of his contract isn't until 2019, but the Jets can move on from him after this season if he isn't performing. OT Brent Qvale It would be a surprise if he isn't the Jets' backup right guard, behind Brandon Shell, in Week 1. OT Ben Ijalana He is a valuable backup, because he can play both tackle spots. OT Brandon Shell This will be his second year as the Jets' starting right tackle, and he needs to show signs of progress. P Lachlan Edwards Strong second season for him in 2017, as he ranked 10th in the NFL in yards per punt. QB Josh McCown Will he or Darnold be the Jets' Week 1 starting quarterback? QB Sam Darnold It'll be fascinating to watch the 21-year-old Darnold compete with the 39-year-old McCown this summer. RB Bilal Powell Entering the final year of his contract and going on 30 years old. But Powell can still be effective when healthy. RB Isaiah Crowell He essentially got a one-year contract from the Jets this offseason (technically a three-year deal). But the Jets gave him $4 million fully guaranteed, so they aren't going to cut him. S Marcus Maye He and Jamal Adams could be a productive safety duo for years to come. S Jamal Adams Solid rookie season for Adams, but he needs to cash in more interception opportunities. He had no picks as a rookie. TE Jordan Leggett He and Herndon will compete for the starting tight end job, with Austin Seferian-Jenkins having signed with the Jaguars. Leggett in 2017 missed his entire rookie season (knee). TE Chris Herndon Maccagnan said after the draft that Herndon could be an athleticism and pass-catching upgrade from the Jets' current tight ends, so don't be surprised if he is the Week 1 starter. WR Terrelle Pryor Could be a big-bodied red-zone target for the Jets. He got a one-year contract, but $2 million of the deal's $4.5 million maximum value is guaranteed, so it's not like he will be cut. WR Jermaine Kearse He played well last season, after coming to the Jets in the Sheldon Richardson trade. But as he enters the final year of his contract, he is in prove-it mode, with Quincy Enunwa coming back. WR Quincy Enunwa Another contract year receiver, just like Pryor and Kearse. Enunwa showed No. 1 receiver potential in 2016, but he missed all of last year with a neck injury. He will play 2018 on a one-year restricted free agent contract. WR ArDarius Stewart Can the former third-round pick be effective in the slot? And with Enunwa coming back and perhaps taking some of those slot snaps, where exactly would Stewart fit in? WR Robby Anderson Now that his legal issues are mostly behind him, he can focus on perhaps being the Jets' No. 1 receiver again in 2018. Not a contract year for him, because he is scheduled to be a restricted free agent next offseason. WR Chad Hansen The Jets drafted Hansen in Round 4 last year and Stewart in Round 3. Neither impressed as a rookie, but we'd be surprised if the Jets bail on either this quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge4Tide Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 A remarkably cogent analysis from Slater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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