New York Jets 53-man Week 1 roster projection

Running Back (4)

1. Isaiah Crowell (HB)
2. Bilal Powell (HB)
3. Trenton Cannon (HB)
4. Lawrence Thomas (FB)

Some onlookers believe Trenton Cannon is now suddenly in danger of missing the cut. I don’t buy it.

While it’s true Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell will receive the bulk of the workload to get going, Cannon’s abilities bring a nice wild-card-like addition to the backfield. He’s by far the most explosive of the three yet also, by far, the worst in terms of professional vision (which is a huge asset within the one-cut zone scheme).

With Elijah McGuire hurt, Cannon has no worries here.

When young Dimitri Flowers was signed as an undrafted free agent, most in Jets land thought he’d be the fullback on the roster this season.

It simply didn’t happen. He’s failed to beat out veteran Lawrence Thomas.

• CUT: Thomas Rawls (HB)
• PRACTICE SQUAD: George Atkinson, Dimitri Flowers (FB)
• INJURED RESERVE: Elijah McGuire (HB)

Wide Receiver (7)

1. Robby Anderson
2. Quincy Enunwa
3. Jermaine Kearse
4. Terrelle Pryor
5. Tre McBride
6. Chad Hansen
7. Andre Roberts

Charles Johnson or Chad Hansen? This will be the question of the day when the coaches and the front office come together to discuss the final 53.

Veteran Andre Roberts has to make the team. With Lucky Whitehead now gone, only Roberts and Cannon remain to return kicks. Roberts might be the only legit punt return man with Cannon experiencing catching issues.

Though Charles Johnson has outplayed Hansen and remains ahead of him on the depth chart, we’ll go with the semi-upset that is the Mike Maccagnan fourth-round choice beating out the 29-year-old veteran—for that reason (age) alone.

• CUT: Charles Johnson
• PRACTICE SQUAD: Charone Peake
• RESERVE/SUSPENDED: ArDarius Stewart

Tight End (3)

1. Eric Tomlinson
2. Jordan Leggett
3. Chris Herndon

Why only three tight ends? Wel, it comes down to Quincy Enunwa actually representing a tight end on the majority of spread looks. Placing Enunwa at the Y provides greater matchup opportunities, thus playing an actual tight end will come more natural in base, two tight and goalline looks.

• CUT: Neal Sterling, Clive Walford

Offensive Line (8)

1. Kelvin Beachum (T)
2. James Carpenter (G)
3. Spencer Long (C)
4. Brian Winters (G)
5. Brandon Shell (T)
6. Brent Qvale (T/G)
7. Jonotthan Harrison (C/G)
8. Dakota Dozier (G)

A year ago, the Jets kept nine offensive linemen to begin the year. This season, we’ll hedge our bets on eight.

Jonotthan Harrison beats out Travis Swanson while Dakota Dozier snags the last slot over the up-and-coming Dakoda Shepley.

• CUT: Antonio Garcia (T), Alex Balducci (G), Travis Swanson (C), Gino Gradkowski (G), Darius James (T)
• PRACTICE SQUAD: Ben Braden (T), Dakoda Shepley (G)
• INJURED RESERVE: Ben Ijalana (T)