FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets open the 2024 NFL regular season on the road against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9 at Levi's Stadium, and they are set to begin this win-now-or-else season with arguably their best roster in more than a decade.
The roster includes two future Hall of Famers (quarterback Aaron Rodgers and tackle Tyron Smith), four All-Pros and Pro Bowlers on defense and young playmakers on offense.
There's a limited window with Rodgers, 40, so general manager Joe Douglas won't hesitate to make a move if he believes it will maximize their chances. Douglas and coach Robert Saleh -- who have a record of 18-33 together -- are under intense pressure to snap the franchise's 13-year playoff drought, so there's no point in putting off anything.
The starting lineup is pretty much set, but there are backup battles at running back, wide receiver and offensive line. Douglas loves to make trades, but he doesn't have any major bargaining chips. Wide receiver Allen Lazard would be a candidate, but his $10 million salary (guaranteed) makes him virtually untradeable. A storyline to watch: If the Jets need help at receiver, and the Las Vegas Raiders are out of it by the midseason trading deadline, the Davante Adams rumors surely will intensify.
Rodgers fueled speculation recently -- before Adams' agents released a statement calling trade rumors "baseless" -- of his former Green Bay Packers teammate by saying, "I love Davante. Can't wait to play with him -- again."
Here is the 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis
Rodgers will be one of the most compelling players in the league as he attempts to stage a comeback for the ages. He hasn't played Rodgers-level ball since 2021, his last MVP season, but he's highly motivated after last season's Achilles nightmare.
If Rodgers goes down again, the Jets feel better about their backup situation than last year. Taylor is a big upgrade over Zach Wilson, but let's not sugarcoat the reality: They need Rodgers for the long haul. The hope for Travis, coming off a horrific leg injury at Florida State in November, is to get him on the field in camp to begin what amounts to a red-shirt year. He was placed on the non-football injury list last week. He can be activated at any time, but there's no guarantee that he will start the season on the 53-man roster.
RUNNING BACKS (5): Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Israel Abanikanda, Nick Bawden
Hall, coming off a season in which is produced 1,585 yards from scrimmage, will be the workhorse and should emerge as one of the best backs in the league. The depth is young and untested, which can be a bit scary. Allen and Davis -- fourth- and fifth-round picks, respectively -- will fight for the RB2 job. Allen was fantastic in the spring, surprisingly adept at catching passes. Abanikanda, a non-factor as a rookie, needs to be more physical and improve his pass protection or he could be out of a job. Bawden sticks as the fullback.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Xavier Gipson, Allen Lazard, Malachi Corley, Irvin Charles
The basic question: Who starts opposite Wilson, who is bidding for his third straight 1,000-yard season? Williams will be that guy once he returns from ACL surgery. He was placed on the PUP list, but he figures to return at some point in August. In the meantime, Lazard will be on the outside, with Gipson in the slot. Lazard needs to step it up in a big way after a disappointing first season in New York. Corley, a third-round pick, will have a learning curve as he masters an NFL route tree, but he should get manufactured touches -- screens, jet sweeps, etc. Charles sticks because of special teams. Jason Brownlee can crack this group with a strong camp.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah
No one in this group scored a touchdown last season. Then again, there weren't a lot of touchdowns for anyone, as the Jets produced a league-low 18 on offense. Conklin, coming off a 61-catch year, can be a short/intermediate option for Rodgers. This is a big year for Ruckert, who has the TE2 job after two non-descript seasons. Zack Kuntz (6-foot-8) has plenty of size, but he's short of experience. He needs a ton of work and can be stashed again on the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Morgan Moses, Olu Fashanu, Carter Warren, Wes Schweitzer, Xavier Newman
The first five are locked in as starters, assuming Vera-Tucker (Achilles) and Moses (pectoral muscle) are ready to go. Training camp will be all about building chemistry and creating contingencies in case ... well, you know the history. Year after year, the Jets' offensive line has been crushed by injuries. The big question: Does Fashanu, their first-round pick, have to wait for an injury to crack the lineup? Max Mitchell (12 career starts) will be challenged to make the roster because of the improvement at tackle.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Jermaine Johnson, Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw, Haason Reddick, Will McDonald IV, Solomon Thomas, Micheal Clemons, Leki Fotu, Jalyn Holmes, Leonard Taylor III
Gone are some good players, mostly notably Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers, but this is still a talented group. The first order of business is resolving Reddick's contract situation. If Reddick can produce like he did with the Philadelphia Eagles, they will have three players with double-digit sack potential. The others are Johnson and Williams. Keys to camp: Figuring out the interior rotation and making sure McDonald, their 2023 first rounder, takes a big step.
LINEBACKERS (4): C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Chazz Surratt
They have a terrific 1-2 punch in Mosley and Williams, who made first-team All-Pro in a breakthrough season. Mosley, 32, is the heart and soul of the defense and the signal caller. The Jets can't afford an injury to either player because the depth is suspect. Sam Eguavoen and Zaire Barnes are in the mix.
CORNERBACKS (5): Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols, Qwan'tez Stiggers
Gardner, a two-time All-Pro, leads one of the best groups in the NFL. The Gardner-Reed-Carter troika will be together for the third straight year -- rare continuity. Stiggers, a fifth-round pick from the CFL, impressed in the spring and could push for the CB4 job. Jarrick Bernard-Converse, a safety/corner hybrid who worked at corner in the spring, is on the bubble. A note about the future: Reed, Carter and Echols will be free agents.
SAFETIES (5): Tony Adams, Chuck Clark, Ashtyn Davis, Isaiah Oliver, Jaylen Key
No, this group isn't going to turn heads. Make no mistake, the cornerbacks are the stars in this secondary. The spotlight player is Clark, a former Baltimore Ravens starter who missed 2023 because of knee surgery. He's a cerebral player and a consistent tackler, not a ballhawk. Davis will get plenty of work as the No. 3 safety. Oliver's versatility -- he can play safety and the slot -- is a big plus. And, of course, we can't forget about Mr. Irrelevant, Jaylen Key, the last pick in April's draft.
SPECIALISTS (3): Greg Zuerlein (K), Thomas Morstead (P) and Thomas Hennessy (LS)
Steady and seasoned -- that's the best way to describe this trio. All three are coming off very good years.