New York Jets: Early 53-Man Roster Projection

Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey have been on the job for 4 months, remaking and reshaping the New York Jets roster and culture. With OTAs entering Phase 3, it’s time to take an early crack at predicting the Jets 53-man roster that will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the home/season opener on Sunday, September 7^th at 1p, at Met Life Stadium

QUARTERBACK

1. Justin Fields (26)
2. Tyrod Taylor (35)

Fields and Taylor are locked in. Holdover and former UFL star Adrian Martinez will battle undrafted Missouri rookie Brady Cook this summer to either make the team as the Number 3 QB, or the practice squad. Considering Fields is likely to run a lot, and Taylor is injury-prone, we are projecting the Jets will attempt to keep both QBs on the practice squad.

ICYMI “New York Jets Top QB Options for the 2025 NFL Season”

RUNNING BACK

1. Breece Hall (23)
2. Braelon Allen (21)
3. Isaiah Davis (23)
4. Donovan Edwards (22)

Edwards, undrafted out of Michigan, received early buzz from rookie camp and would seemingly be in a strong position to land a spot on the 53. Veteran FB Andrew Beck and return specialist Kene Nwangwu will be his chief competition.

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Garrett Wilson (24)
2. Allen Lazard (29)
3. Josh Reynolds (30)
4. Arian Smith (23)
5. Malachi Corley (23)
6. Tyler Johnson (26)

Despite having a legitimate #1 in Wilson, this remains the Jets weakest position on paper. Specialist Irv Charles is coming off a knee injury and will likely start the year on IR. Xavier Gipson, coming off a disappointing sophomore season, doesn’t make our initial list. That could change if he stands out as a returner, or if Lazard is traded as has been rumored.

TIGHT END

1. Mason Taylor (21)
2. Jeremy Ruckert (24)
3. Stone Smartt (26)

The new regime drafted Taylor with hopes of him coming in and immediately starting. The room has potential, but all three guys need to prove it on the field.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

1. Olu Fashanu (22)
2. Arman Membou (21)
3. Chukwuma Okorafor (27)
4. Carter Warren (26)

It’s been 47 years since the Jets used back-to-back first round draft picks on offensive tackles, selecting Marvin Powell in 1977 and Chris Ward in 1978. They anchored the Jets line for six seasons. For the record, 5 of the Jets Top 19 all-time rushing leaders (Freeman McNeil, Johnny Hector, Scott Dierking, Kevin Long and Bruce Harper) ran behind them for at least one of those years. The Jets are hoping for similar success with Fashanu and Membou.

GUARDS

1. John Simpson (27)
2. Alijah Vera-Tucker (25)
3. Max Mitchell (25) (G/T)
4. Xavier Newman (25)

For the first time in 4 years, Vera-Tucker is not spending his summer rehabbing. Simpson is coming off his best season and combined with Tippmann, the Jets interior OL heads into the summer as a strength.

CENTER

1. Joe Tippmann (24)
2. Josh Meyer (26) (C/G)

Meyer played college ball at Ohio State with Fields, Wilson and Ruckert. He enters camp as the Jets top backup at all three interior line positions.

EDGE

1. Jermaine Johnson (26)
2. Will McDonald IV (25)
3. Tyler Barron (23)
4. Eric Watts (24)
5. Braiden McGregor (23)
6. Michael Clemons (27)

The hope is Johnson recovers fully from his torn Achilles and McDonald, who established himself as a pass rusher last season, takes a step forward against the run. The Jets still have not recovered from losing John Franklin-Myers, Bryce Huff, and Carl Lawson last off-season and are banking on someone emerging. We have Clemons beating out fellow veteran Rashad Weaver though we wouldn’t be surprised if GM Darren Mougey looks to add here before the season starts.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

1. Quinnen Williams (27)
2. Derrick Nnadi (29)
3. Leonard Taylor III (22)
4. Byron Cowart (29)
5. Jay Tufele (25)

Williams is a former All-Pro, and Nnadi is a good run-stopper, but the interior defensive line also lacks proven depth.

LINEBACKER

1. Quincy Williams (28)
2. Jamien Sherwood (25)
3. Zaire Barnes (25)
4. Francisco Mauigoa (22)

Bringing Sherwood back keeps this as a Jets strength heading into the summer. Jamin Davis will also have an opportunity to make the team (probably at the expense of a defensive lineman).

CORNERBACK

1. Sauce Garner (24)
2. Brandon Stephens (27)
3. Michael Carter II (26)
4. Azareye’h Thomas (20)
5. Jarrick Bernard-Converse (25) (CB/S)
6. Isaiah Oliver (28) (CB/S)

If Gardner (tackling issues) and Carter (injuries) return to form this will remain a Jets strength. It will be interesting to see how Stephens responds to signing as a free agent with the pressure of Thomas, the Jets third round draft choice, pushing him. We kept Bernard-Converse and Oliver over former CFL star Qwan’tez Stiggers due to their versatility. Stiggers will have a chance to stick on the practice squad though one might expect Atlanta (DC Jeff Ulbrich) and San Francisco (DC Robert Saleh) to make a run for him.

SAFETY

1. Andre Cisco (25)
2. Tony Adams (26)
3. Malachi Moore (23)
4. Tre Swilling (26)

This group is younger and more athletic than in 2024. Moore will be given a chance to fight for a starting job as a rookie.

SPECIALISTS

1. Caden Davis (24)
2. Austin McNamara (24)
3. Thomas Hennessy (30)

The kicker and punter positions are wide-open with the Jets sure to be pushing their internal candidates by bringing in others as they are cut around the league. Hennessy remains a staple.

ICYMI “Final 2025 NFL Draft Grades for Giants & Jets”