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.
On paper, this could be the Jets' most talented roster since 2010, their last playoff season. Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, it's a veteran-laden team with legitimate stars on both sides of the ball. The biggest question is whether Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick -- a training camp holdout who requested a trade -- will be on the opening-day roster. The Jets traded for Reddick and his $14.25 million salary, so they obviously have big plans for him. A trade seems unlikely. His situation probably won't be resolved by cutdown day, so they can leave him on the "reserve/did not report" list with the hope of ending the stalemate by the first game. This will create a roster spot for another player.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is the 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (2): Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor.
Welcome to the NFL's oldest quarterback room. Rodgers, 40, whose surgically repaired Achilles held up nicely in training camp, is trying to join Tom Brady as the only 40-and-older starters to win a Super Bowl. Taylor, 35, is a significant upgrade over Zach Wilson, last year's backup. Rookie Jordan Travis, still recovering from a devastating college injury, is expected to begin the season on one of the injury lists.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Israel Abanikanda.
Ranging in age from 20 to 23, this running back corps is the youngest in the league. Hall, 23, the so-called elder statesman, appears poised for a big year. Rookies Allen and Davis outplayed Israel Abanikanda, a 2023 draft pick who got a minimal amount of reps in camp, but Abanikanda earned his keep with a 45-yard touchdown run on Saturday night. Allen, at 235 pounds, could be their short-yardage back
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Irvin Charles, Jason Brownlee.
Wilson is the undisputed WR1. The plan is to move him around the formation, which could mean more snaps from the slot position than last year. Williams, Lazard, Gipson and Corley are roster locks, but each one carries a question mark into the season. Charles earns a spot because of his value on special teams. Brownlee had a strong finish to camp.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah.
This isn't the flashiest group around, but Conklin could have another 60-catch season. Ruckert has a role in two-tight end packages. Yeboah and Zack Kuntz, a 2023 draft pick, are battling for the third spot. Keeping four isn't out of the question.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Morgan Moses, Olu Fashanu, Wes Schweitzer, Carter Warren, Max Mitchell, Xavier Newman.
After last season, general manager Joe Douglas second-guessed himself for starting the season with nine linemen, not 10. It's probably a good idea to keep 10 this time, considering Smith and Vera-Tucker are injury-prone. This will be a much-improved unit if the starting five stays healthy. It's a tackle-heavy group, with shaky interior depth.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Quinnen Williams, Jermaine Johnson, Javon Kinlaw, Will McDonald IV, Solomon Thomas, Micheal Clemons, Leki Fotu, Takkarist McKinley, Leonard Taylor III.
The defense relies heavily on an eight-man rotation up front, which keeps everyone fresh and allows them to attack in waves. Without Reddick, the top edge players will be Johnson, Clemons and McDonald, their 2023 first-round pick who can contribute as a situational rusher. McKinley, a former Falcons first-round pick, was one of the surprises in camp and could work his way into the rotation. Kinlaw was one of the unsung stars in camp; he could draw blocking schemes away from Williams. Taylor sticks as a rookie undrafted free agent.
LINEBACKERS (5): C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Zaire Barnes, Chazz Surratt.
Mosley and Williams, coming off an All-Pro season, are one of the best tandems in the league. Sherwood, who plays only in the base, is one of the team's most improved players. Barnes showed improvement after a nondescript rookie year.
CORNERBACKS (6): Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Brandin Echols, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Qwan'tez Stiggers.
The Jets will put this group up against any in the league. Gardner, a two-time All-Pro, leads a talented and deep group that might have to play more man-to-man coverage if they resort to blitzing to compensate for Reddick's potential absence. Bernard-Converse, a 2023 pick, was a pleasant surprise in camp.
SAFETIES (4): Tony Adams, Chuck Clark, Ashtyn Davis, Isaiah Oliver.
Adams, in his second season as a starter, could be a breakout star. The rest of the group is middling. Clark is the other starter, but Davis will see time in three-safety packages. Jaylen Key, Mr. Irrelevant, could start his NFL journey on the practice squad.
SPECIALISTS (3): Greg Zuerlein (K), Thomas Morstead (P) and Thomas Hennessy (LS).
This trio has 34 years of combined experience, and they're rock solid. The Jets brought in Austin Seibert to save some wear-and-tear on Zuerlein's leg in camp, and he responded with an excellent preseason. Maybe they can trade him on the final cutdown if a team is desperate for a kicker.