Roster building is never over in the NFL. The Jets will make plenty of moves before the season arrives and even more during the season.
The heavy lifting is over, though. With the NFL Draft behind us, we now have a good idea of what the Jets roster will look like when the season arrives. It feels like a good time to take stock position-by-position and see where the club is stronger and where it is weaker than last year.
Since the roster is evolving, we took the initial 53-man group from last September to compare to this year’s personnel. That means we also chose the exact same number of players at each position as were on the roster last year.
This is not an attempt to predict this season’s 53-man roster; the actual numbers will fluctuate. But it felt easier to judge one against the other with the same numbers.
Here’s a look:
Quarterback
2022: Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White
2023: Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle
You may have heard that the Jets have a new QB1. The addition of Rodgers automatically makes this group much better. The Jets are hoping Rodgers can recapture the form he had two seasons ago when he won the second of his back-to-back MVPs. But even if he plays at a slightly lower level, he will be better than what the Jets had at starting quarterback last year.
I do think the Jets are weaker at the backup position here. Flacco and White were able to do some good things. The Jets want Wilson to have a redshirt year. If he has to play, that could be tough for the Jets.
Even with a slight markdown at backup, Rodgers puts the 2023 group way ahead.
Verdict: 2023 is BETTER
Running back
2022: Michael Carter, Breece Hall, Zonovan Knight, Ty Johnson
2023: Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, Israel Abanikanda
This is a tough one because so much hinges on Hall’s health. If Hall can return to how he looked in the first seven weeks of last season, the Jets will be flying. But he is coming off a torn ACL suffered in late October. It is hard to imagine him being all the way back early this season and maybe not at all in 2023.
Carter still has great potential, but he is coming off a disappointing 2022. Knight showed potential last year, but slowed down when he had to carry the load. The Jets were excited to land Abanikanda in the fifth round, but he is an unknown at this point.
Verdict: 2023 is…WORSE
Wide receiver
2022: Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Braxton Berrios, Garrett Wilson, Jeff Smith, Denzel Mims
2023: Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, Randall Cobb, Denzel Mims
The Jets made some major changes to this room with the additions of Lazard, Hardman and Cobb in free agency. Those are definite upgrades, and the expectation that Wilson will be better in Year 2 makes the group look even stronger. Cobb generated a lot of jokes when the Jets signed him, but he is a better receiving option than Berrios or Smith were.
I have some questions, though, about how this group will look when it comes to roster construction. Outside of Hardman, I don’t see anyone who can contribute on special teams. But that is an issue for another day.
In terms of a pure receiving corps, this difference with this group is clear.
Verdict: 2023 is…BETTER
Tight end
2022: Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, Lawrence Cager
2023: Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, Zach Kuntz
This group is largely unchanged. We’ll see if Kuntz, the seventh-round pick from Old Dominion, can even make the team. Kenny Yeboah may end up being the fourth tight end. The top of the depth chart looks the same.
Verdict: 2023 is…THE SAME
Offensive line
2022: Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, George Fant, Max Mitchell, Dan Feeney, Nate Herbig
2023: Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mekhi Becton, Max Mitchell, Joe Tippmann, Billy Turner
I have no idea how this group is going to shake out. It will be fascinating to see whether Becton can stay healthy and take the left tackle spot. If he does, what happens to Brown? Can the rookie Tippmann win the starting center job? Who will the backups be?
I had a tough time narrowing this group to eight players. Fourth-round pick Carter Warren is not on here, but I am sure he will make the team. There will be training camp injuries that help sort things out, too. Either way, this group is not that much better on paper than last year’s.
Again, Becton is the wild card. If he can play and look as dominant as he did at times as a rookie, this unit is better. At the moment, however, I’m not sure the Jets did enough here.
Verdict: 2023 is…THE SAME
Defensive line
2022: Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas, Nathan Shepherd, Jermaine Johnson, Jacob Martin, Bryce Huff, Micheal Clemons, Vinny Curry
2023: Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams, Al Woods, John Franklin-Myers, Will McDonald, Jermaine Johnson, Solomon Thomas, Micheal Clemons, Quinton Jefferson, Bryce Huff, Tanzel Smart
The Jets just keep adding at this position. McDonald gives the Jets another edge rusher to add to the mix. You can argue whether the Jets should have gone a different way with their first-round pick, but now that he is on the roster, the Jets’ edge group is even more impressive.
The Jets also added the run-stuffing Woods to team up with Williams, giving them some beef in the middle of the line.
This group should be one of the best in the NFL.
Verdict: 2023 is…BETTER
Linebacker
2022: C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Kwon Alexander, Jamien Sherwood
2023: C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes
The question of whether the Jets will bring back Alexander hangs over this group. Alexander gave the team energy and a nice early-season jolt last year. It feels as if they still need him, but they have not made the move in free agency to bring him back.
The Jets may want to give Sherwood, a 2021 draft pick, the chance to play more. He has only played defense in short spurts in his first two seasons. Barnes, a sixth-round pick, figures to be more of a special-teams player as a rookie.
Without Alexander, though, this group is lacking.
Verdict: 2023 is…WORSE
Cornerback
2022: Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, Justin Hardee
2023: Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols, Bryce Hall, Justin Hardee
This is literally the same group. Why do I think they can be even better than in an outstanding 2022? Gardner should take another step forward, and he and Reed should play even better together in their second year in Jeff Ulbrich’s system.
Gardner had one of the best rookie seasons a Jet has ever had. It is possible he will take a step back, but I would not bet against Gardner. He is very mature and is extremely driven.
Verdict: 2023 is…BETTER
Safety
2022: Jordan Whitehead, Lamarcus Joyner, Ashtyn Davis, Tony Adams
2023: Chuck Clark, Jordan Whitehead, Tony Adams, Ashtyn Davis
The trade for Clark might get lost when thinking about this offseason, but he is a huge addition. The Jets expect better things from Whitehead in Year 2 with the team. He struggled at times last year. But with a rebound, he and Clark give them a nice duo.
Adams flashed potential last year as a backup. Davis may be fighting for his roster spot this summer.
Verdict: 2023 is…BETTER
Special teams
2022: Greg Zuerlein, Braden Mann, Thomas Hennessy
2023: Greg Zuerlein, Thomas Morstead, Thomas Hennessy
The difference here is Morstead at punter. The truth is the Jets should have stuck with him in 2021. He was better than Mann when he was first with the team, but the Jets gave the job back to Mann once he recovered from an injury. Morstead should be a more consistent force for them in the punting game. Zuerlein solidified the kicking job last year after years of inconsistency there.
The Jets will be looking for a new kick/punt returner now with Berrios gone. Hardman is a candidate, and we’ll see who else emerges.
Verdict: 2023 is…BETTER
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System upgrade
Since the Rex Ryan days, the Jets’ defense predominantly has been built to stop the run. The Jets always seemed to draft big, run-stuffing defensive linemen and never really focused on edge rushers. Ryan and his successor, Todd Bowles, were big believers in blitzing to create pressure, but neither one ever landed a player who could create pressure on his own.
But the Jets finally seem to be embracing that the NFL is a passing league and stopping the other team’s quarterback is paramount. The selection of McDonald with the No. 15 overall pick is further evidence.
The Jets now have a really strong group of edge rushers, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who can generate pressure inside, and two strong cornerbacks on the outside to give the pass rushers more time to get to the quarterback.
It’s a defense built for the modern-day NFL. After years of being maybe overly run-oriented, it’s refreshing to see.
Stat’s so
The Jets are hoping Aaron Rodgers can jump-start their offense, which has been dormant for many years. You have to go back to the last time the Jets had a former Packers legend come in at quarterback to find their last top 10 finish in scoring offense.
Yep, in 2008 the Jets finished ninth in scoring offense. They have not been in the top 10 since. Here’s a look at where they have finished:
2008: 25.3 ppg (NFL rank: 9)
2009: 21.8 ppg (17)
2010: 22.9 ppg (13)
2011: 23.6 ppg (13)
2012: 17.6 ppg (28)
2013: 18.1 ppg (29)
2014: 17.7 ppg (28)
2015: 24.1 ppg (11)
2016: 17.2 ppg (30)
2017: 18.6 ppg (24)
2018: 20.8 ppg (23)
2019: 17.3 ppg (31)
2020: 15.2 ppg (32)
2021: 18.2 ppg (28)
2022: 17.4 ppg (29)
Source: Pro Football Reference
