NY Jets position-by-position: Evaluating the roster after the 2018 draft

Now that the draft is over, finally, we're starting to get an idea of what the Jets roster will look like for the 2018 season.

There is still a long way to go. Training camp doesn't start for three months. Final roster cuts are four months away. But this is a good time to take stock of the Jets' roster and project what they'll be working with opening day in Detroit.

The story continues below the gallery.

Quarterback

Sam Darnold, Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater, Christian Hackenberg, Bryce Petty: With Darnold, the Jets finally have a ton of hope at this position. And the priority will be his development above all else. Expect Petty to be gone well before training camp -- he's not a part of the Jets' future quarterback plans and shouldn't take a single rep over Darnold. The same can be said for Hackenberg, but the Jets may hold onto the 2016 second-round pick, who still hasn't played, to see if he can show some value before final cuts. Darnold, McCown and Bridgewater will all likely be on the roster to start camp, but the Jets could trade Bridgewater before then if he looks healthy this spring.

Running Back

Isaiah Crowell, Bilal Powell, Eli McGuire, Trenton Cannon, Akeem Judd, Thomas Rawls, Lawrence Thomas: The Jets are stronger at this position than a year ago, with Crowell replacing the retired Matt Forte. Crowell and Powell are locks to make the team if they stay healthy, and they'll likely split reps in the backfield. The Jets could keep four running backs, but there's a good chance they'll decide between McGuire and Cannon for one final spot. McGuire showed promise as a rookie, Cannon could have an advantage as a return specialist. Thomas, a defensive lineman turned full back, will compete with with Oklahoma undrafted free agent Dmitiri Flowers, who is expected to sign.

Wide Receiver

Terrelle Pryor, Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse, Quincy Enunwa, Chad Hansen, ArDarius Stewart, Lucky Whitehead, Devin Smith, Andre Roberts, Charone Peake, Tre McBride, Charles Johnson: If Pryor stays healthy he could be the dynamic No. 1 receiver the Jets haven't had the last two seasons. Anderson, Kearse and Enunwa are all proven quantities and Hansen showed promise as a rookie in 2017. ArDarius Stewart, a 2017 third-round, struggled as a rookie but the Jets won't move on from such a high pic so soon. It's likely time to say goodbye to 2015 second-round pick, who suffered two ACL tears in his first three seasons.

Tight End

Jordan Leggett, Chris Herndon, Eric Tomlinson, Neal Sterling, Clive Walford, Bucky Hodges: This position is weaker with Austin Seferian-Jenkins gone. None of these tight ends caught more than eight passes last season. And two guys who have never played a snap in the NFL, Leggett (2017 sixth-round pick) and Herndon (this year's fourth-rounder) will likely battle it out for the starting job.

Offensive line

Brian Winters, James Carpenter, Kelvin Beachum, Brandon Shell, Travis Swanson, Spencer Long, Ben Ijalana, Jonotthan Harrisson, Dakota Dozier, Ben Braden, Brent Qvale: They brought in some help by signing Swanson and Long, who could both start at center and are versatile enough to play other positions. But the offensive line will be a major question mark after a lackluster 2017. Winters being fully healthy should be a big help, however.

Defensive line

Leonard Williams, Steve McLendon, Nathan Shepherd, Foley Fatukasi, Mike Pennel, Deon Simon, Claude Pelon, Xavier Cooper, Henry Anderson: This will be an intriguing position, with a lot of question marks. Can Williams become a perennial star? Can Shepherd (this year's third-round pick) contribute right away? The Jets need him to. And can Xavier Cooper continue his impressive play from the end of last year? It all starts with Williams and McLendon, though.

Linebackers

Avery Williamson, Darron Lee, Jordan Jenkins, Dylan Donahue, Josh Martin, Freddie Bishop, Lorenzo Mauldin, Kevin Minter, Brandon Copeland, Obum Gwacham, Neville Hewitt, Kevin Pierre-Louis: They moved on from Demario Davis, despite his breakthrough season, because the Jets think Williamson is younger and just as good. We'll see about the latter. Lee and Jenkins must continue to progress in their third season, if they do, the linebacking corps could be impressive. If Mauldin, a 2015 third-round pick, doesn't show something in training camp he could be gone.

Secondary

Trumaine Johnson, Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Morris Claiborne, Buster Skrine, Rontez Miles, Parry Nickerson, Doug Middleton, Terrence Brooks, Rashard Robinson, Darryl Roberts, Xavier Coleman, Derrick Jones, Jeremy Clark, Juston Burris, Bryson Keeton, Kacy Rodgers II, Terrell Sinkfield: The secondary is the strength of the defense, led by Johnson, Adams, Maye and Claiborne who can all play at an elite level. Cornerback is one of the most interesting positions on the roster. Jones and Clark, two late-round picks last year, need to play well during the offseason and camp to justify keeping them. Nickerson is an intriguing prospect and could earn his way into the rotation with a strong offseason and camp. Trading a fifth-rounder to San Francisco for Robinson looks like a mistake now, but maybe he changes that.

Special teams

Lachlan Edwards, Cairo Santos, Nick Rose, Thomas Hennessey: Edwards (punter) and Hennessey (long snapper) will certainly retain their starting jobs. Santos is the favorite to win the kicking job, but will battle it out with Rose in camp and the preseason.

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com

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