Roster Cheat Sheet for the New York Jets’ New Regime

THE JETS NEW ERA
Ten days ago, the New York Jets introduced their new regime to New York media and their fans. General Manager Darren Mougey arrived via Denver, where he was the Broncos’ Assistant General Manager. Head Coach Aaron Glenn arrived via Detroit, where he was the Lions’ Defensive Coordinator, though we were also reminded that Glenn was raised in the Jets family as a first-round draft pick in 1994, then as a Pro Bowl cornerback, and eventually as a scout upon his retirement.

Mougey and Glenn have hit the ground running filling out Glenn’s coaching staff including bringing in Offensive Coordinator Tanner Engstrand from Detroit where he was the Lions’ passing game coordinator and Special Teams Coordinator Chris Banjo from Denver where he was the Broncos’ assistant special teams coach. Perhaps the most important hire was Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks, who will not only call the defensive plays to free Glenn up to the be the actual Head Coach, but Wilks also has head coaching experience that Glenn will be able to lean on.

Let’s not forget that in addition to this, Mougey and Glenn need to move their families to New Jersey, memorize the names of all their co-workers at One Jets Drive and start to familiarize themselves with all the players currently on the Jets roster.

That’s where we come in! As diehard fans, we were forced to watch, I mean, willingly watched all 17 Jets games during the most overhyped, disappointing season in the franchise’s history. This gives us the ability to save Mougey and Glenn time by sharing our thoughts.

ROSTER CHEAT SHEET
What follows is a position-by-position roster analysis. If we are advocating for a player under contract to be retained, they will appear under their position. The TBDs represent the important positions that Mougey and Glenn need to fill as they build out the roster. Plus, we present them with suggestions that they should ignore at their own risk!

QUARTERBACK

1. TBD
2. Tyrod Taylor
3. Jordan Travis
4. Adrian Martinez (Practice Squad)

Rostered of Note
Aaron Rodgers

Our Suggestions
There is no “New York Jets” if Rodgers returns. It’ll be year 3 of “Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets”. As we said here, the Jets tried, Rogers tried, it didn’t work, time for both parties to move on.

There’s always a chance that Mougey and Glenn fall in love with a QB during the draft process, however, our advice is punt on trying to find their “franchise QB” until next year. Eliminate the temptation of force-feeding a young QB, and concentrate on implementing their systems, their philosophies and trying to win football games with the massive amount of talent they are inheriting. Our suggestion to replace the “TBD” would be Pittsburgh Steelers pending free agent Justin Fields if he makes it to market. He would give the Jets a dual-threat QB to team with a room of dual-threat QB’s including the veteran Taylor, rehabbing former FSU star Travis and former UFL star Martinez. Fields is still unproven as a passer, but he is elite as a runner which would fit into the Jets current strengths.

RUNNING BACK

1. Breece Hall
2. Braelon Allen
3. Isaiah Davis
4. TBD

Our Suggestions
There is no need for Mougey and Glenn to lose sleep over this position. Hall, in a contract year, will get an opportunity to get back on track for stardom. Meanwhile, the Jets were very happy with what they saw in Allen and Davis in their rookie years. The Jets can fill out the position with low profile professional or undrafted free agents.

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Garrett Wilson
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. Xavier Gipson (KR/PR)
5. Irv Charles (Special Teams)
6. Malachi Corley

Rostered of Note
Davante Adams
Allen Lazard

Free Agents
Irvin Charles
Malik Taylor

Our Suggestions
This is the trickiest position for the new regime to navigate. As illustrated above, they have a full allotment of quality receivers on the roster. The problem is they come with questions marks. Do Adams and Lazard want to play without Rodgers? Will Adams and Lazard rework their contracts? Does Wilson see Adams as a threat or an ally to the big money contract he seeks. No answers here, just questions. We’ll leave this up to Mougey to figure out.

TIGHT END

1. TBD
2. Jeremy Ruckert
3. TBD

Rostered of Note
Zack Kuntz

Free Agents
Tyler Conklin
Kenny Yeboah

Our Suggestions
A big unknown is what role that the TE will play in Engstrand’s offense. If the Jets are looking for a TE to be the 3^rd option behind Wilson and Hall, then that person was not on last year’s roster. If that’s not the case, and they are primarily looking for a blocking TE who could be a 4^th or 5^th option, then we could see the Jets bringing back Conklin and/or Yeboah (who really flashed at the end of the season).

OFFENSIVE LINE

1. Olu Fashanu (LT)
2. John Simpson (LG)
3. Joe Tippmann (C)
4. Alijah Vera-Tucker (RG)
5. TBD (RT)
6. Max Mitchell (T Reserve)
7. Carter Warren (T Reserve)
8. TBD (G Reserve)
9. TBD (G Reserve)
10. TBD (C Reserve)

Free Agents
Jake Hanson (G)
Morgan Moses (T)
Xavier Newman-Johnson (G)
Wes Schweitzer (C/G)
Tyron Smith (T)

Our Suggestions
80% of the starting offensive line is set, leaving the Jets with a hole at RT. Now that Vera-Tucker is healthy the Jets could find the best available RG or RT in the draft or free agency and flip Vera-Tucker to the other position. Moses is still a possibility as a stopgap while they try and develop a draft pick. When healthy he was very good in both of his stints with the Jets, and supposedly very influential with the young players.

DEFENSIVE LINE

1. Jermaine Johnson (Edge)
2. Quinnen Williams (DT)
3. TBD (DT)
4. Will McDonald (Edge)
5. TBD (Edge Reserve)
6. TBD (Edge Reserve)
7. Leonard Taylor (DT Reserve)
8. TBD (DT Reserve)
9. Michael Clemons (DL Reserve)

Free Agents
Bruce Hector (DT)
Javon Kinlaw (DT)
Haason Reddick (Edge)
Solomon Thomas (Edge)

Our Suggestions
WR may be the biggest headache for Mougey and Glenn, but the defensive line may be the most vital for the Jets to get back into the post-season. Johnson, Williams and McDonald are a great start, but the Jets don’t have anywhere near the depth they had in 2022-23. We would expect the Jets to bulk up here both in free agency and using a premium (rounds 1, 2 or 3) draft pick on the DL.

LINEBACKER

1. Quincy Williams (LB)
2. TBD (LB)
3. Zaire Barnes (Reserve)
4. TBD (Reserve)
5. TBD (Reserve)

Rostered of Note
C.J. Mosley

Free Agents
Jamien Sherwood
Chaz Surratt

Our Suggestions
This may be the easiest advice ever, sign Jamien Sherwood. The former safety earned his playing time and was a revelation as CJ Mosley’s replacement last season. The Jets have a habit of losing quality linebackers due to regime changes (Jonathan Vilma, Demario Davis, Blake Cashman), we advise to not add Sherwood to that list. Beyond Sherwood, depth can be added in free agency and the later rounds of the draft.

CORNERBACK

1. Sauce Garner (CB)
2. TBD (CB)
3. Michael Carter II (Slot)
4. Jarrick Bernard-Converse (CB/S)
5. Qwan’tez Stiggers (Reserve)
6. TBD (Reserve)

Free Agents
Brandin Echols
Isaiah Oliver
D.J. Reed

Our Suggestions
Unfortunately, it’s time for DJ Reed to get paid and the Jets won’t be able to accommodate him. The good news for the Jets is that they can expect bounceback years from Sauce and Carter (who was playing hurt the entire season). Echols should be available at a reasonable dollar figure; our suggestion is to bring him back to alleviate the pressure of finding a starting CB in free agency or the draft. The previous administration was high on both Bernard-Converse and Stiggers. Having said that, this position is Glenn’s specialty. We expect him to get this right!

SAFTEY

1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. TBD

Free Agents
Tony Adams
Ashtyn Davis
Chuck Clark
Jalen Mills (CB/S)

Our Suggestions
To recap, WR is the biggest headache, DL is the most important, but there’s literally no returning safeties under contract! It’s a clean canvas for the new regime and one would expect them to use free agency, the draft and undrafted free agents to fill out the roster. I wouldn’t rule out them bringing someone back either. Mills, 30, has bounced around but was especially noticeable in the second half of the season and can play anywhere in the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS

1. TBD (K)
2. Thomas Morstead (P)
3. Thomas Hennessy (LS)

Rostered
Greg Zuerlein
Anders Carlson

Our Suggestions
Mougey and Glenn shouldn’t overthink this area. I would bring back all three veterans (Zuerlein, Morstead and Hennessy) but bring in stiff competition for Zuerlein who was outkicked last training camp in a harbinger of things to come.

(Darren/Aaron, if you have any questions feel free to email me at [email protected])