5 New York Jets Veterans Now on Roster Bubble Following Draft

The only constant in the NFL is change.

As coaches change, schemes change; as schemes change, depth charts change, as does the status of the players on those depth charts. Veterans who were once considered valuable players in the organization are quickly considered a burden due to either financial reasons or how their presence impacts the ability of younger players to make an impact.

The New York Jets have made the change at head coach, and while the scheme won't change much on defense, the other dominoes are starting to fall into place with regard to the Jets moving in a new direction at several positions.

Which veterans need to be looking over their shoulder in hopes that a younger player doesn't usurp them for their roster spot?

T.J. Graham

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Did you ever think you'd call the wide receiver spot a strength for the Jets? Probably not. The Jets certainly didn't think so when they signed T.J. Graham to their roster last year, but now that they've reinforced the depth chart at the position, it may be time to part ways with the undersized vet.

One thing Graham has working in his favor is his familiarity with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who played a hand in drafting Graham during his time with the Buffalo Bills. That being said, the Bills were not nearly as talented in the receiving corps back then as they are now, and they also weren't nearly as talented at wide receiver as the Jets are right now. 

Another thing: Graham has some experience fielding kicks and punts. That experience is minimal (seven career kickoff returns), but speed has always been Graham's best asset (4.41-second 40-yard dash at the 2012 scouting combine), so if he's going to make the roster, he'll have to find a way to put that speed on display. 

That being said, special teams may not be enough. With Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall, Jeremy Kerley, Devin Smith and DeVier Posey, the Jets already have five wide receivers who will figure into the lineup in a big way. 

Bilal Powell

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How many between-the-tackles running backs do the Jets think they can fit onto their roster? The answer to that question could ultimately decide the fate of running back Bilal Powell in the Jets' backfield.

With Chris Ivory, Stevan Ridley and Zac Stacy all included in the battle for playing time, Powell may find it difficult to set himself apart from the group. All three backs have been productive at the NFL level. The Jets have spent some time developing Powell from a college cornerback-turned-running back into a formidable back for their rotation, but Powell was a product of the previous regime. 

Forget for a minute—actually, don't forget—that Powell is set to count $2 million against the salary cap this year, and according to Over The Cap, the Jets can recoup all of that money by cutting him. Powell could be worth the money, but only if he rounds out his game. 

If Powell wants to make the roster, his best bet may be to carve out a niche role on passing downs. According to Pro Football Focus, Powell went out for a pass or was kept in the backfield in pass protection on 187 of his 242 snaps last season. Yet with all that time on the field, Powell still only managed 11 receptions in 2014. The Jets will need better production than that out of their backs, particularly in the passing game.

If Powell can give it to them, he could find himself on the roster. If not, he could be on the outside looking in. 

Willie Colon

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Brian Winters. Oday Aboushi. Jarvis Harrison.

Between them, the Jets' three young guards have a combined three years of experience in the NFL: Winters has two, Aboushi has one and Harrison was just drafted out of Texas A&M this past weekend. 

Willie Colon has been in the league nine years—three times as long as those three individuals combined—and has started all 16 games for the Jets in each of the past two years. Yet the Jets still don't seem to want to show any confidence in the longtime veteran who has battled knee injuries throughout his career.

The Jets signed Colon to a one-year deal worth $950,000. This marks the third straight year in which the Jets have neglected to give Colon a deal of longer than one year. They clearly do not view him as more than a stopgap and are hoping to hitch the wagon to a younger option as soon as possible.

With three younger options in the fold, the Jets could be gearing up to part ways with the 32-year-old veteran. 

Calvin Pace

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

The sooner Calvin Pace is no longer chasing down quarterbacks for the Jets, the better off they will be.

Don't be fooled by Pace's 15 sacks over the past two years. Yes, that's a tie for the most sacks he's posted in a two-year span in his career (15 from 2008-09), but he got many of those sacks by going unblocked thanks to the presence of the likes of Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Quinton Coples and Damon Harrison, who all command attention from blockers.

And now that the Jets have added Louisville linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, Pace's presence on the edge could be even less important. Sure, the Jets could take it as an opportunity to bring Mauldin along slowly; after all, he's not a pass-rushing maven himself.

That being said, his skill set closely approximates what Pace brings to the table. Mauldin measures in at 6'4" and 259 pounds, while Pace comes in at 6'4" and 265. Neither one is considered particularly explosive off the edge, but both can hold their own at the point of attack. 

Is there room for two players like that on the roster? Especially when one of them is counting $2.25 million against the salary cap, according to Over The Cap? Probably not. 

Leger Douzable

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Jets head coach Todd Bowles loves versatile defenders in the front seven who allow him to run his game plan-style of defense that shifts between different schemes based on their opponent. For the past two seasons, Leger Douzable was one of those kinds of defenders for Rex Ryan in a similar style of defense.

Douzable played 242 snaps in 2013 and 322 snaps in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, proof that the Jets value his ability to line up at multiple spots in multiple fronts and execute the game plan accordingly and effectively. 

But with so much depth on the defensive line, though, how much room will the Jets have on the roster? Between Sheldon Richardson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, Leonard Williams, Quinton Coples and Deon Simon, the Jets may have to trim a valuable defensive lineman to make room at other positions.

The Jets could save $1.2 million on their salary cap if they move on from Douzable, according to Over The Cap, which could make him a little more than expendable given the size of his role on their team.