Breaking Down the New York Jets Roster After 2015 NFL Draft
It has been a few days since the 2015 NFL draft, and it's time to evaluate how the draft classes fit in with each team's roster.
The New York Jets put together a solid draft, despite only possessing six selections over the entire weekend. They found a terrific balance between value and need, and they are undoubtedly a better team today than they were a week ago.
With significant additions in free agency and the draft, as well as a different general manager and head coach, New York looks nothing like the team that won just four games a season ago.
The Jets look like a dangerous team on paper, even though they still have some significant question marks at several key positions.
Let's break down Gang Green's roster heading into the summer.
Quarterback
1 of 8
Starter: Geno Smith
Backups: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty
Player(s) Likely to Be Cut: Matt Simms
Jets' fans may not want to admit it, but Geno Smith is still the odds-on favorite to start under center in 2015.
Mike Maccagnan and Co. added a quarterback via trade and another one in the draft, but neither is as equipped to man the starting job as well as the West Virginia product.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a smart veteran who performed well with the Texans and Bills in the last few seasons, and he has a realistic chance to beat out Smith in an open competition this summer, but he hardly possesses the arm talent and upside of the third-year quarterback.
Bryce Petty is a serious contender for Smith's spot down the line, but he will take a couple of years to develop into a starting-caliber quarterback. He needs to learn complex NFL schemes and coverages while also fixing some holes in his game.
Longtime third-stringer Matt Simms looks to be on the outside looking in after the selection of Petty, and he will have to impress in minicamp and training camp in order to stick around.
Running Back
2 of 8
Starter: Chris Ivory
Backups: Stevan Ridley, Zac Stacy, Bilal Powell
Players Likely to Be Cut: Daryl Richardson, Tommy Bohanon
New York's backfield looks much different than it did a year ago, but it's yet to be seen whether it is a better one.
Chris Ivory is the de facto lead back, but the team will run a committee with him, Stevan Ridley and Zac Stacy.
Ivory, Ridley and Stacy are all talented runners, but they are similar backs. All three boast physical running styles that are a load for opposing defenses, but they also lack breakaway speed and pass-catching ability.
At the end of the day, they should still be successful in 2015. New York got Stevan Ridley, a former 1,200-yard rusher, and Zac Stacy, a guy who looked like a top-15 back a couple of years ago, for basically nothing. If the duo can regain the form they had with the Patriots and Rams, respectively, Gang Green could boast a dangerous rushing attack once again.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
3 of 8
Starters: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, Jace Amaro
Backups: Devin Smith, Shaq Evans, DeVier Posey, Jeff Cumberland
Players Likely to Be Cut: TJ Graham, Chris Owusu, Walter Powell, Quincy Enunwa, Saalim Hakim, Zach Sudfeld, Kellen Davis, Chris Pantale
There won't be many excuses if Geno Smith struggles again this season, as Mike Maccagnan and Co. added some dangerous weapons to the equation this offseason.
Brandon Marshall didn't make much of an impact with the Bears a year ago, and he is getting up there in age at 31 years old, but he still remains one of the best possession receivers in the game when healthy.
He should be a huge part of New York's passing attack this season and form a productive one-two combo with Eric Decker on the outside.
Second-round selection Devin Smith is a speedster who gives the team a potent deep threat who can blow the top off defenses. However, his lack of polish in route running limits his first-year potential. He should take a back seat to Jeremy Kerley in 2015, who needs a solid year after a disappointing one a season ago.
New York should be expecting big things from second-year tight end Jace Amaro. He has the physical tools to be a top-tier tight end at the NFL level, and another full offseason under his belt should be big. Expect him to be a real factor in the red zone, as well as a checkdown option between the 20s.
It will also be interesting to see how Shaq Evans and DeVier Posey fit in, as both are big guys who can be potential mismatches for opposing defenses.
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Offensive Line
4 of 8
Starters: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Willie Colon, Nick Mangold, James Carpenter, Breno Giacomini
Backups: Corey Hilliard, Brian Winters, Oday Aboushi, Dakota Dozier, Jarvis Harrison, Dalton Freeman
Players Likely to be Cut: James Brewer, Ben Ijalana, Brent Qvale, Wesley Johnson, Sean Hooey
Offensive line remains a concern for New York heading into 2015, as the team didn't do much to upgrade the unit this offseason.
D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold only have a few years left as starters, but they are still the anchor of this line. If the duo can have another solid season, Gang Green could be surprisingly solid in the trenches.
The Jets need a better year from right tackle Breno Giacomini, who was too often penalized and beaten in his first year in green and white. It was sort of surprising to see Gang Green fail to draft a tackle in the draft, so the team has limited options if Giacomini struggles.
The real question marks are at guard, however. Free-agent addition James Carpenter should man one starting spot, but he has struggled with injuries and inconsistency thus far in his career. The other spot is a toss-up, but you would have to give the edge to veteran Willie Colon, despite his poor play a year ago.
Oday Aboushi and Brian Winters were awful in the starting job in 2014, and Dakota Dozier and fifth-round selection Jarvis Harrison are probably a couple of years away from competing for the spot.
Defensive Line
5 of 8
Starters: Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison
Backups: Leonard Williams, Kevin Vickerson, Stephen Bowen, Leger Douzable
Players Likely to Be Cut: Deon Simon, Ronald Talley, TJ Barnes
Defensive line has been the Jets' strongest positional unit over the last two seasons, and it should be even better in 2015.
The Sons of Anarchy should continue to start up front, and there is no reason why they each can't continue to improve. Sheldon Richardson took a huge step forward a season ago, but Muhammad Wilkerson's contract situation is increasingly becoming a concern for New York.
However, the Jets now have Leonard Williams in the fold, which certainly helps their leverage. He was the best talent in this year's draft class, and it's a shock he fell to No. 6 overall. He should make a significant impact in his rookie year and has the ability to line up anywhere up front. Todd Bowles will find ways to use the 20-year-old.
Moreover, the team now has substantial depth as well. Leger Douzable, Kevin Vickerson and Stephen Bowen can be key presences in limited snaps, but they have their work cut out for them in beating the likes of seventh-round pick Deon Simon, Ronald Talley and TJ Barnes for a roster spot.
Linebacker
6 of 8
Starters: Quinton Coples, Demario Davis, David Harris, Calvin Pace
Backups: Lorenzo Mauldin, Jason Babin, Erin Henderson, IK Enemkpali
Players Likely to Be Cut: Jamari Lattimore, Joe Mays, Mario Harvey, Chris Young, Trevor Reilly
The Jets added some guys to the linebacker equation this offseason, but they didn't bring in anyone who can step in and immediately man a starting spot.
Third-round selection Lorenzo Mauldin is a high-effort guy with a terrific motor and football character, but it might be asking too much to expect him to beat out Calvin Pace for a starting job in his rookie season. However, he should be a key contributor, especially in pass-rushing situations.
Gang Green needs former first-round pick Quinton Coples to make a big step forward. He has shown flashes the last two seasons, and he has the talent to be an impact player. However, he is out of position at outside linebacker and has yet to look comfortable in the spot.
IK Enemkpali should be a bigger contributor in his second season, but he may have trouble separating himself from a more talented pack in the middle of the defense. Erin Henderson is a guy to watch, as the 28-year-old recorded over 200 tackles and seven sacks in 2012 and 2013 before legal issues derailed his career.
Demario Davis and David Harris should remain the bloodline of the middle part of the defense, as the latter signed a contract extension this offseason that should put him in Gotham for the rest of his career.
Secondary
7 of 8
Starters: Darrelle Revis, Marcus Gilchrist, Calvin Pryor, Antonio Cromartie
Backups: Jaiquawn Jarrett, Dee Milliner, Antonio Allen, Buster Skrine, Dexter McDougle
Players Likely to Be Cut: Marcus Williams, Rontez Miles, Curtis Brown, Keith Lewis, Dashaun Phillips
The defensive backfield was an absolute horror show for the Jets last season, but the new regime made it a priority to fix it in a big way this offseason. Now, the secondary looks like one of the team's strongest units.
Gang Green dished out huge contracts to Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine, who should man the top three corner spots on the depth chart. Revis and Cromartie should provide shutdown coverage on the outside, while Skrine is an athletic guy who should thrive lining up in the slot.
Recent draft picks Dee Milliner and Dexter McDougle will take a back seat to the trio, as both are coming off ACL injuries. However, they both possess the talent to make an impact.
Safety is a bit more of a concern, as the Jets will likely have 2014 first-round pick Calvin Pryor and free-agent addition Marcus Gilchrist manning the outside. Both guys are physical and can make big plays, but they have also had their fair share of struggles in man-to-man coverage.
However, the presence of Antonio Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett should help in that regard.
Special Teams
8 of 8
Starters: Nick Folk, Ryan Quigley, Tanner Purdum
Backups: None
Players Likely to Be Cut: Andrew Furney, Jake Schum
The Jets will look exactly the same on special teams as they did a year ago.
Nick Folk has emerged as one of the more clutch and reliable kickers in the league in the past two seasons. The 30-year-old should once again have his hands full in 2015, as the Jets are expected to be in a lot of low-scoring, tight affairs.
Gang Green has to be hoping Ryan Quigley is a little less active than he was a year ago, but he still gives the team a solid option at punter.
Meanwhile, Tanner Purdum should remain a staple at long snapper.
The Jets could go a variety of ways at returner, although Jeremy Kerley and Dee Milliner seem like likely candidates. Rookie Devin Smith should be the team's top option at gunner, as he was fantastic in that role at Ohio State.
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