They don't play the games in April, but if they did, the New York Jets would feature a 53-man roster with plenty to prove.
The Jets officially added seven rookies in the 2025 NFL draft and unofficially 12 from college free agency. More roster moves will come in time, and the unpredictability of training camp will reshape the landscape even more. Until then, let's take a crack at what the Jets' roster will look like when Week 1 rolls around.
Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2025 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2025 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
IN: Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor
OUT: Jordan Travis, Adrian Martinez, Brady Cook**
The skinny: It’s the Justin Fields show for 2025 and Tyrod is the one of the league’s best back up QBs. Jordan Travis has a lot of work to do to show a new regime he is healthy enough to be a factor before anyone can take him seriously as a QB (and he needs to stop blaming the Jets for the way his rehab has gone).
Running back (4)
IN: Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu
OUT: Zach Evans, Donovan Edwards **
The skinny: A position where the Jets are overflowing with talent. And they will need it as I expect the Jets to be top five this season in rush attempts. Donovan Edwards is a hard name to put on the “out” list but there is simply too much talent ahead of him. Kene was just resigned by the team and is one of the best kick returners in the game.
Wide receiver (7)
IN: Garrett Wilson, Jonathan Tyler, Josh Reynolds, Arian Smith*, Allen Lazard, Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson,
OUT: Brandon Smith, Marcus Riley, Ontaria Wilson, Easop Winston, Quentin Skinner**, Jamaal Pritchett**, Dymere Miller **
INJURED: Irv Charles
The skinny: A sad bunch to say the least after Wilson. The Jets will be looking for anyone to step up and become the team’s number two, or even number three receiver. The easy money is on Lazard, but any Jets fan will tell you he is unreliable at best. Gipson never took the next step they thought he would after becoming the team’s starting slot receiver as an UDFA. Reynolds and Tyler are simply looking for another chance to be relevant in the league. Arian Smith is the wild card in the bunch as the speedy rookie looks to overcome drop issues and expand his limited route-tree.
Irv Charles is a special teams staple but he tore his ACL in December and will likely not be ready for the start of the season.
Tight end (3)
IN: Mason Taylor*, Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smartt
OUT: Zack Kuntz, Neal Johnson
The skinny: The Jets needed to overhaul the TE position after Tyler Conklin left in free agency and they used their second-round pick on Taylor and signed Smartt as a free agent in an underrated move. Ruckert has one last chance to show he can be a productive player with his former college QB at the helm.
Offensive line (9)
IN: Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Armand Membou*, Josh Myers, Carter Warren, Xavier Newman, Max Mitchell
OUT: Chukwuma Okorafor, Zack Bailey, Obinna Eze, Kohl Lebao, Gus Hartwig**, Leander Weigand**
The skinny: There you have it. What should be the best offensive line in the game considering the cost to acquire each player. Newman, Myers, Mitchell and Warren all hang on in back up roles. Okorafor has too much good will to make up in the NFL before he makes a squad after quitting on his team last season in the middle of his first game. Not the kind of guy you want to put in a backup role.
Defensive line (10)
IN: Quinnen Williams, Derrick Nnandi, Byron Cowart, Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, Micheal Clemons, Tyler Baron*, Leonard Taylor III, Eric Watts, Rashad Weaver
OUT: Braiden McGregor, Phidarian Mathis, Ja’Markis Weston**, Fatorma Mulbah**
The skinny: Apart from the return of Jermaine Johnson, I’m not sure this group will be much better than it was last season. Clemons returns to a rotational role instead of being relied on as a starter. I would hope for a big step up for Leonard Taylor who showed some flashes last year.
Weaver got $200k gaurnteed so he should have a good shot to make the team. McGregor and Watts both made the squad last year as UDFA, but a new regime will be looking for different things. I can’t imagine both make the team this year.
Linebacker (4)
IN: Jamien Sherwood, Quincy Williams, Jamin Davis, Francisco Mauigoa*,
OUT: Zaire Barnes, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Jimmy Ciarlo, Aaron Smith**, Jared Bartlett**
The skinny: One of my final roster spots came down Davis vs. Barnes. I think this new regime is going to clear out some of the old and Davis is a former first round pick and is till only 26 years old. This is a thin group of linebackers and the Jets could be in some trouble if Sherwood or Williams misses an extended period with an injury. Look for them to be shopping for some linebacker help as we get into training camp.
Cornerback (7)
IN: Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens, Michael Carter II, Azareye’h Thomas*, Isaiah Oliver, Qwan’Tez Stiggers, Kris Boyd
OUT: Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Tre Swilling, Jordan Clark**
The skinny: A very top-heavy group with Sauce and MCII, but after that, its anyone’s guess. I am adamant about how bad Stephens is, but the Jets paid him starter money and he will have every opportunity to win the job. I think the final roster spot might come down to Stiggers, Boyd and JBC, but the latter hasn’t shown nearly enough in two seasons to hang around with a regime that has no ties to him.
Safety (4)
IN: Andre Cisco, Tony Adams, Malachi Moore*, Dean Clark**
OUT: Jaylin Simpson, Jarius Monroe
The skinny: If the Jets consider Oliver a safety he’d be the fourth here, but if not UDFA Dean Clark is a favorite of mine that received $160,000 guaranteed. “The Beast” had him ranked as the 26th-best safety in this class and wrote that he “is a rangy, physical defender with an interchangeable skill set who can provide depth at multiple spots and shine on special teams.”
Specialists (3)
IN: Caden Davis**, Thomas Morstead, Thomas Hennessy
OUT: Greg Zuerlein, Anders Carlson, Austin McNamara
The skinny: Apart from the return of Jermaine Johnson, I’m not sure this group will be much better than it was last season. Clemons returns to a rotational role instead of being relied on as a starter. I would hope for a big step up for Leonard Taylor who showed some flashes last year.
Weaver got $200k gaurnteed so he should have a good shot to make the team. McGregor and Watts both made the squad last year as UDFA, but a new regime will be looking for different things. I can’t imagine both make the team this year.
Linebacker (4)
IN: Jamien Sherwood, Quincy Williams, Jamin Davis, Francisco Mauigoa*,
OUT: Zaire Barnes, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Jimmy Ciarlo, Aaron Smith**, Jared Bartlett**
The skinny: One of my final roster spots came down Davis vs. Barnes. I think this new regime is going to clear out some of the old and Davis is a former first round pick and is till only 26 years old. This is a thin group of linebackers and the Jets could be in some trouble if Sherwood or Williams misses an extended period with an injury. Look for them to be shopping for some linebacker help as we get into training camp.
Cornerback (7)
IN: Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens, Michael Carter II, Azareye’h Thomas*, Isaiah Oliver, Qwan’Tez Stiggers, Kris Boyd
OUT: Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Tre Swilling, Jordan Clark**
The skinny: A very top-heavy group with Sauce and MCII, but after that, its anyone’s guess. I am adamant about how bad Stephens is, but the Jets paid him starter money and he will have every opportunity to win the job. I think the final roster spot might come down to Stiggers, Boyd and JBC, but the latter hasn’t shown nearly enough in two seasons to hang around with a regime that has no ties to him.
Safety (4)
IN: Andre Cisco, Tony Adams, Malachi Moore*, Dean Clark**
OUT: Jaylin Simpson, Jarius Monroe
The skinny: If the Jets consider Oliver a safety he’d be the fourth here, but if not UDFA Dean Clark is a favorite of mine that received $160,000 guaranteed. “The Beast” had him ranked as the 26th-best safety in this class and wrote that he “is a rangy, physical defender with an interchangeable skill set who can provide depth at multiple spots and shine on special teams.”
Specialists (3)
IN: Caden Davis**, Thomas Morstead, Thomas Hennessy
OUT: Greg Zuerlein, Anders Carlson, Austin McNamara
The skinny: Our lone UDFA gets the job in training camp. That isn’t an indication of how I feel about Davis, but more of how I feel about Zuerlein and Carlson. I don’t trust them any more than I trust Davis, so why not go for the rookie? Morestead has a relationship with Chris Banjo and is still one of the best in the game.
Final Word
The Jets are in a state of flux as Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn try to build a team with some talent on it in the way they see fit. I imagine there will be a learning period as the team adjusts to its new reality.
Look for the Jets to be active in the LB and WR market as we get closer to training camps as those appear to be the weakest areas for the team. I wouldn't rule out a trade of one of the talented running backs if the return was worth it, but Glenn is going to demand they run the ball and will need the horses to do it.
