Roster changes are inevitable every year for every team. Free-agent signings, trades and draft picks can force teams to make tough decisions across the roster with players they've brought in over the years.
The Jets are no different, especially considering they've been active in free agency, brought in seven new draft picks and limited cap space heading into offseason workouts. New York general manager Joe Douglas will need to trim the roster down throughout the summer before he hits his 53-man squad for the 2024 season.
With Aaron Rodgers back in the fold, the team will likely lean heavily into supporting him on offense. It's what New York did in 2023 before his Achilles injury, which in and of itself proved the Jets didn't do enough to keep him upright. The Jets drafted mostly offensive players as well following the signings of Tyron Smith, John Simpson and Mike Williams during free agency.
This will leave some players on the wrong end of the depth chart in August when final cutdowns happen. There will also be salary cap implications to worry about with a few players. The Jets have a relatively easier schedule in 2024 than in 2023 despite drawing the NFC West and AFC South.
Here are six potential cuts the Jets could make at some point this offseason.
6 Jets who could be cut this offseason
RB Izzy Abanikanda
Abanikanda is the most obvious cut candidate following the draft. The Jets used two of their seven picks on running backs — Braelon Allen in the fourth round and Isaiah Davis in the fifth — which leaves Abanikanda's roster spot in doubt. Now, Allen and Davis aren't the same type of runner as Abanikanda — power vs. speed — and Abanikanda offers special teams appeal. But the Jets may not want to carry four running backs on their 53-man roster and might lean on the rookies to spell Breece Hall during the season.
WR Allen Lazard
Based on production alone, Lazard deserves to be cut. He was so unplayable in 2023 that the team benched him for multiple games. The Jets have two quality receivers ahead of him now with Mike Williams and Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson is a lock to make the team as a return specialist and Jason Brownlee is gaining momentum heading into the summer. The issue with cutting Lazard is his awful contract. The Jets would only save $6.5 million in cap space and eat $18.7 million in dead cap hit.
DB Brandin Echols
It wouldn't be wise for New York to move on from Echols given the lack of depth at cornerback, but he would be the first choice if the Jets decided to cut a player from this positional group. Echols' production has declined since his rookie year — partly because he was relegated to the bench after the additions of Sauce Gardner and D.J Reed — and he allowed almost 80% of targets thrown his way to be caught. He's expendable, too, after the signing of Isaiah Oliver and the drafting of Qwan'tez Stiggers.
OL Max Mitchell
The Jets have too many offensive linemen on the roster. Someone will be the odd man out after the additions of Smith, Moses, Simpson and first-rounder draft pick Olu Fashanu this offseason. Mitchell is the most likely candidate despite his starting experience. He wasn't consistent this past season and New York may rather see what they have in 2023 fourth-rounder Carter Warren first rather than keep him behind Mitchell in 2024.
TE Tyler Conklin
Conklin is perhaps the least likely player on this list to be cut, simply because he is the team's No. 1 tight end at the moment after the Jets passed on Brock Bowers in the first round. But Conklin could be a cap casualty during the camp if the Jets like what they see from Jeremy Ruckert as a potential starter. New York would also save $5 million in cap space and incur $4.28 million in dead cap hit with Conklin's release. It would be unideal, but not impossible for this scenario to unfold.
FB Nick Bawden
This will all depend on how training camp shakes out and the Jets' expected usage for Bawden. He played in a career-high 127 snaps in 2023 but didn't see consistent action until late in the season. With a fully healthy Rodgers and a cavalcade of offensive weapons, New York could opt to go with more running backs and receivers than keep a fullback on the roster in 2024.
