Joe Caporoso projects the New York Jets 53 man roster, entirely too early in May in this week’s Turn On The Jets 12 Pack

In this week’s Turn On The Jets 12 Pack, we break out an entirely too early 53 man roster projection. Tell us where we went wrong down in the comment section and make sure to check out last week’s Podcast and this week’s Jets UK Chronicles. Let’s get into it…

1. Quarterback (3) – Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bryce Petty: Smith is the most talented quarterback on the roster and favorite to start week 1, despite being despised by large swaths of the fan-base. The new regime traded a 7th round pick (smartly) for Ryan Fitzpatrick and used a fourth round pick for Bryce Petty, so neither are going anywhere. Bad news for Matt Simms and Jake Heaps. We will always have this though…

2. Running Back (4) – Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, Stevan Ridley, Zac Stacy: The Jets will avoid carrying a fullback, instead delegating the needed blocking to tight ends. Powell will function as the third down back, while Ivory and Ridley will battle for early down snaps with Stacy providing depth for two players with an extensive injury history. If the Jets do keep a fullback, JC Copeland has a better chance of sticking than Tommy Bohanon.

3. Wide Receiver (6) – Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, Devin Smith, Quincy Enunwa, Chris Owusu: The first four are locks. Enunwa has too much physical talent to discard and has impressed around the building so far as a sophomore. Owusu flashed in week 17 last year and may be able to stick as a kick returner, special team gunner and situational deep threat.

4. Tight End (3) – Jace Amaro, Kellen Davis, Zach Sudfeld: Amaro played a comically low number of reps last season while Jeff Cumberland was miscast as a every down blocking tight end. Davis is a much better blocker than Amaro, Cumberland or Sudfeld and can stick because of that skill set. Amaro will fit nicely in Chan Gailey’s offense as a movable chess piece at H-Back, while Sudfeld offers equal upside to Cumberland long term at less of a cost. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see UDFA Wes Saxton stick on the practice squad.

5. Offensive Line (9) – D’Brickashaw Ferguson, James Carpenter, Nick Mangold, Oday Aboushi, Breno Giacomini, Dakota Dozier, Jarvis Harrison, James Brewer, Brian Winters: Aboushi will win a crowded battle for the other guard spot opposite James Carpenter, making Willie Colon expendable as Dozier and rookie Harrison fill as the top backups. Brewer is a versatile backup with tackle experience. Winters has been working behind Nick Mangold at center and will find a way to stick. Do not be surprised if the Jets add another veteran tackle this summer.

6. Defensive Line (7) – Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison, Leonard Williams, Kevin Vickerson, Leger Douzable, TJ Barnes: The Jets most talented and deepest position. Williams will be a versatile backup to both Wilkerson and Richardson and see time in four man fronts, while Douzable and Vickerson provide further depth and flexibility. Barnes will beat out this year’s seventh round pick Deon Simon as Harrison’s backup and heir apparent. Simon could be stashed on the practice squad.

7. Linebacker (8) – David Harris, Demario Davis, Calvin Pace, Quinton Coples, Lorenzo Mauldin, Joe Mays, Jamari Lattimore, IK Enemkpali: There are going to be a few veterans cut here. I’ll go with Lattimore sticking because of his special teams ability. Enemkpali has more long term upside than Jason Babin and offers special teams value. Mays will beat out Erin Henderson for a depth inside linebacker spot. Trevor Reilly will also be an odd man out here.

8. Cornerback (6) – Darrelle Revis (!), Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, Dee Milliner, Dexter McDougle, Marcus Williams: It is nice to type Darrelle Revis again here, no? Milliner is going to start a game or two at some point this year on the outside for Cromartie (I worry about that hip). McDougle and Williams provide nice depth and be learning from the best. This will be a fun group to watch.

9. Safety (4) – Calvin Pryor, Marcus Gilchrist, Antonio Allen, Jaiquawn Jarrett: A group with plenty to prove. I expect rioting for leaving Rontez Miles off here. It isn’t out of the question that he could stick, particularly because of special teams but as of now, he is off.

10. Specials (3) – Nick Folk, Tanner Purdum, Ryan Quigley – Expect veteran competition to be brought in for Quigley. For now, enjoy this Purdum GIF. With snaps like this, who needs to waste a 5th rounder on a guy who may never be able to snap in the NFL (take THAT, Patriots).

11. Notable Cuts: Jason Babin, Trevor Reilly, Darrin Walls, Rontez Miles, Shaq Evans, Saalim Hakim, TJ Graham, Tommy Bohanon, Ben Ijalana, Walter Powell, Matt Simms, Deon Simon, Willie Colon, Dalton Freeman, Wesley Johnson, Daryl Richardson, Jeff Cumberland

12. Practice Squad Candidates: Taiwan Jones, Jake Heaps, Deon Simon, Shaq Evans, Wes Saxton, Daryl Eskridge, Davon Walls

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