If you're expecting a magical playoff run from the Jets this year ... well ... why are you expecting a magical playoff run from the Jets this year?

Following an offseason roster purge which claimed veterans like a plague, the Jets are left with quite an interesting squad. Gone are well-known guys like Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis and David Harris. In their place? Robby Anderson, Juston Burris and Darron Lee.

The Jets are in Stage 1 of a full-on rebuild. They're using this season to develop the young guys on the roster. They hope for a better tomorrow, even if it comes at the expense of today.

With that said, there are still a few interesting games on the schedule that you should circle. Which ones? Here are three:

WEEK 5 -- Browns vs. Jets, Oct. 8: Maccagnan didn't select a quarterback in this year's draft for the first time in his reign as general manager. Surprising? Maybe not. None of these guys were supposed to be any good. But Cleveland felt confident enough in second-round pick DeShone Kizer to name him the starter. He beat out last year's third-round pick Cody Kessler, and veteran Brock Osewiler. Maccagnan's second-round pick from last year -- Christian Hackenberg -- is still buried on the depth chart behind Josh McCown and Bryce Petty. Will Kizer light up the Jets? Will Maccagnan regret passing on him twice -- at No. 6 and No. 39? It's worth monitoring.

WEEK 12 -- Jets vs. Panthers, Nov. 26: This could be Hackenberg's first game as the Jets' starter. Assuming the season goes as many expect -- it will -- the Jets will eventually relieve McCown as to get an evaluation on Hackenberg and Petty. They need to see if they have a franchise quarterback before investing a high draft pick this April on Josh Rosen (UCLA), Sam Darnold (USC) or Josh Allen (Wyoming). This week makes the most sense for Hackenberg. The Jets are coming off a bye (Week 11), which gives Hackenberg two full weeks to prepare for a home game against Carolina, then another at MetLife Stadium against the Chiefs.

WEEK 17 -- Jets vs. Patriots, Dec. 31: Just picture this for a second: The Jets head into the final game of the season a loss away from locking up a top-three pick in the draft. The Patriots already have the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and are readying for another Super Bowl run. A win for New England means nothing. But if they were to lose... it could knock the Jets out of position to draft Rosen, Darnold or Allen. Would New England coach Bill Belichick do the unthinkable? Start a team of reserves with no intention of winning? Hand the game to the Jets, and ruin New York's opportunity of landing their first franchise quarterback since Joe Namath? That would be very Jets-like, wouldn't it?

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.