Projection of the New York Jets’ 53-man roster for 2024

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets open the 2024 NFL regular season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9 at Levi’s Stadium. They enter this now-or-later season with perhaps their best roster in more than a decade.

The roster features 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 thinks it maximizes their chances. Douglas and coach Robert Saleh — who have a combined 18-33 record — are under a lot of pressure to break the franchise’s 13-year playoff drought, so there’s no sense in holding off.

The starting lineup is mostly set, but there are backup battles at running back, wide receiver and offensive line. Douglas is a trade-happy, but he doesn’t have any major negotiating cards. Wide receiver Allen Lazard is rumored to be a candidate, but his $10 million (guaranteed) salary makes him virtually untradeable. One storyline to watch: If the Jets need help at receiver and the Las Vegas Raiders are out before the midseason trading deadline, the Davante Adams rumors are sure to intensify. Rodgers recently fueled speculation — before Adams’ agents released a statement calling the trade rumors “unfounded” — about his former Green Bay Packers teammate by saying, “I love Davante. I can’t wait to play with him again.”

This is the forecast for the selection of 53 players:

QUARTERBACKS (3): Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis

Rodgers will be one of the league’s most compelling players as he attempts to make a comeback for the ages. He hasn’t played at Rodgers’ level since 2021, his last MVP season, but he’s highly motivated after last season’s Achilles nightmare.

If Rodgers goes down again, the Jets will feel better about their backup situation than they did last year. Taylor is a vast improvement over Zach Wilson, but let’s face it: They need Rodgers for the long haul. The hope for Travis, who suffered a horrific leg injury at Florida State in November, is to get him on the field in training camp to begin what will essentially be a redshirt year. He was placed on the non-football injured list last week. He can be activated at any time, but there’s no guarantee he’ll start the season on the 53-man roster.

RUNNINGBACKS (5): Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Jesaja Davis, Israel Abanikanda, Nick Bawden

Hall, coming off a season in which he 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 inexperienced, which could be a little scary. Allen and Davis — fourth- and fifth-round picks, respectively — will be battling for the RB2 job. Allen was fantastic in the spring, surprisingly adept at catching passes. Abanikanda, a nonfactor as a rookie, needs to be more physical and improve his pass protection or he could lose his job. Bawden remains at 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 is expected to return sometime in August. In the meantime, Lazard will sit out of the fold, with Gipson in the slot. Lazard will need to step up his game after a disappointing first season in New York. Corley, a third-round pick, will have a learning curve as he learns an NFL route tree, but he should get manufactured touches — screens, jet sweeps, etc. Charles stays for special teams. Jason Brownlee could 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 many touchdowns for anyone, as the Jets produced a league-low 18 on offense. Conklin, coming off a 61-catch season, could be a short/intermediate option for Rodgers. This is a big year for Ruckert, who has the TE2 job after two nondescript seasons. Zack Kuntz (6-foot-8) has plenty of length but lacks experience. He needs a lot of work and could be slotted back 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 starting five are locked in as starters, assuming Vera Tucker (Achilles) and Moses (pecs) are good to go. Training camp will be all about building chemistry and creating contingency plans in case … well, you know the story. Year after year, the Jets’ offensive line has been pummeled by injuries. The big question: Will Fashanu, their first-round pick, have to wait out an injury to get into the lineup? Max Mitchell (12 career starts) will be challenged to make the roster because of his 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

Some good players are gone, most notably Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers, but this is still a talented group. The first priority is to resolve Reddick’s contractual situation. If Reddick can perform like he did with the Philadelphia Eagles, they’ll have three players with double-digit sack potential. The others are Johnson and Williams. The keys to camp: figuring out the internal rotation and getting McDonald, their 2023 first-round pick, to make a big move.

LINEBACKERS (4): CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Chazz Surratt

They have a big 1-2 punch in Mosley and Williams, who made first-team All-Pro in a breakout season. Mosley, 32, is the heart and soul of the defense and the signal-caller. The Jets can’t afford to injure either player because depth is suspect. Sam Eguavoen and Zaire Barnes are in the mix.

CORNER FIGHTERS (5): Sauce Gardner, DJ 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 out of the CFL, impressed in the spring and could push for the CB4 job. Jarrick Bernard-Converse, a safety/corner hybrid who spent the spring as a corner, is on the verge. A note on the future: Reed, Carter and Echols are set to be free agents.

SAFETY (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 of this secondary. The spotlight player is Clark, a former Baltimore Ravens starter who missed 2023 with 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 slot — is a big plus. And of course, let’s not forget Mr. Irrelevant, Jaylen Key, the last pick in April’s draft.

SPECIALISTS (3): Greg Zuerlein (K), Thomas Morstead (P) and Thomas Hennessy (LS)

Stable and experienced — that’s the best way to describe this trio. All three come from very good years.