The New York Jets opened training camp on Tuesday at their Atlantic Health training center in Florham Park, New Jersey. They're coming off a 2-14 season, a last-place finish in the AFC East, and their 10th consecutive year out of the playoffs, the longest active drought in the NFL. The Jets, who drafted a rookie quarterback with the No. 2 overall draft pick in April, are starting over with a new coach, Robert Saleh, and new systems on both sides of the ball. Saleh's coordinators are Mike LaFleur (offense), Jeff Ulbrich (defense) and Brant Boyer (special teams). Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Zach Wilson, James Morgan
This is the most inexperienced duo in the league. We're talking about zero -- repeat, zero -- regular-season snaps between them. The last time a team went into a season with no game experience at quarterback was 2013 (the Jets and Buffalo Bills). Wilson, drafted second overall, will be the focal point for the entire season. If he shows promise, the franchise has hope. If he stinks it up ... well, let's not go there. Mike White still is in the mix, but he can be stashed on the practice squad. He, too, has no regular-season experience. The Jets have to add a veteran at some point, don't they?
RUNNING BACK (4): Michael Carter, La'Mical Perine, Ty Johnson, Tevin Coleman
There are people in the organization who believe Carter, a fourth-round pick, will emerge from the crowd to become the leader of the "committee." This isn't a distinguished group of backs. They have combined for five 100-yard rushing days -- four by Coleman, one by Johnson. The coaches are looking for speed and home-run ability, which points to Carter. Josh Adams will push for the fourth spot.
FULLBACK (1): Trevon Wesco
LaFleur will run the San Francisco 49ers' offense, which uses more two-back sets than any team. Too bad they don't have Kyle Juszczyk. (Actually, the Jets wanted to sign him). Wesco, a tight-end hybrid, will have to do. His skill set allows them to shift easily from 21 personnel (two backs, one tight end) to 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends).
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Jamison Crowder, Keelan Cole, Denzel Mims, Braxton Berrios
A year ago, the plan was to start Mims from Day 1, but his cranky hamstring didn't oblige. Now he's no better than fifth in the pecking order, which illustrates how much they've improved. They could have a legit WR1 in Davis, who left the Tennessee Titans for big money, but the story could be Moore. The 2021 second-round pick blew away team officials in the spring. He can play outside, not just the slot. Berrios is their top punt returner as well as an underrated slot receiver. Crowder, who took a big pay cut, could be trade bait at some point. Vyncint Smith could be on the wrong side of the bubble.
TIGHT END (3): Tyler Kroft, Chris Herndon, Daniel Brown
This is a tough one to call. Herndon is "a talented dude," according to LaFleur, but he hasn't done much since 2018. When does the scholarship expire? In the end, the new staff will try to get out of him what former coach Adam Gase couldn't. Our odd-man out is Ryan Griffin, who has the highest salary-cap charge ($3.3 million) of the group. Kroft, coming off an injury-plagued season with the Bills, had a strong spring. Brown is one of their best special-teamers.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Mekhi Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Connor McGovern, Greg Van Roten, Morgan Moses, George Fant, Dan Feeney, Cameron Clark, Alex Lewis
The additions of Moses and Vera-Tucker, a 2021 first-round pick, will make a big difference for the line, which struggled in 2020. The organization is so high on Vera-Tucker that you half-expect songs to be written about him. The key is having a healthy (and in shape) Becton, who has the ability to dominate. The Jets haven't had this much depth in years; their sixth, seventh and eighth linemen will be veterans with starting experience -- Fant, Feeney and Lewis. Chuma Edoga, a disappointing 2019 draft pick by the previous regime, doesn't make the cut. Conor McDermott is on the bubble.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Quinnen Williams, Carl Lawson, Sheldon Rankins, John Franklin-Myers, Folorunso Fatukasi, Nathan Shepherd, Vinny Curry, Jonathan Marshall, Bryce Huff
In Saleh's 4-3 scheme, it's all about the defensive line. The name of the game is pressure, pressure, pressure. The addition of Lawson, a big-ticket free agent, gives them a legitimate edge rusher. He could do some damage working in tandem with Williams. Rankins, another newcomer, will bolster the interior rush if he can beat his recent injury issues. There will be plenty of competition for spots four through nine. Saleh is a huge fan of recent pick-up Ronald Blair III, but he hasn't played since November 2019, because of knee issues. He's our odd-man out.
LINEBACKER (5): C.J. Mosley, Jarrad Davis, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Jamien Sherwood, Blake Cashman
Help! Beyond Mosley and Davis, it's anybody's guess. Sherwood and Nasirildeen -- fifth- and sixth-round picks, respectively -- will battle for the weakside position. Cashman, seemingly always hurt, needs to stay on the field or else he will be out of a roster spot. Mosley and Davis project as the only every-down players. They have a lot of confidence in Davis, who was a disappointment with the Detroit Lions. The Jets' front office needs to add depth.
CORNERBACK (7): Bryce Hall, Blessuan Austin, Javelin Guidry, Michael Carter II, Jason Pinnock, Brandin Echols, Justin Hardee
Saleh says he's not afraid to play young players. That philosophy will be put to the test at corner. Carter, Pinnock and Echols are rookies; Hall, Austin and Guidry aren't exactly grizzled vets. Hardee is listed as a corner, but he will earn his keep on special teams. Saleh can protect the corners with his zone-based system. The 49ers were 30th in man-coverage rate in 2019, their Super Bowl season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. But that team had a terrific pass rush. The onus will be on the Jets' defensive line to save these young pups from getting toasted.
SAFETY (4): Marcus Maye, Lamarcus Joyner, Ashtyn Davis, J.T. Hassell
Maye, Joyner and Davis are natural free safeties, so it will be interesting to see how Saleh deploys them. Joyner, picked up from the Las Vegas Raiders, is the most likely to pair with Maye, but the team has plans for Davis. He had an underwhelming rookie season and didn't practice in the spring due to a lingering foot injury, but the organization likes his versatility. You could see three-safety looks, with Joyner involved in man-to-man coverage.
SPECIALISTS (3): Sam Ficken, Braden Mann, Thomas Hennessy
Ficken will be challenged by rookie Chris Naggar -- and every other available kicker, for that matter. Translation: He's replaceable.