Cimini has an article after the Giants game. It is behind a paywall. So I am copying it here. Feel free to click on the link for the full article. https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/in...on-2022-gm-joe-douglas-first-draft-microscope New York Jets final 53-man roster projection for 2022: Joe Douglas' first draft under the microscope The New York Jets open the 2022 NFL regular season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 11 at MetLife Stadium. A perennial doormat in the AFC East -- five last-place finishes in the last six years -- the Jets face plenty of tough roster decisions. That's a positive; it suggests the talent base has improved. The final cuts are a referendum on general manager Joe Douglas' first draft (2020), which includes a handful of players on the bubble. The biggest name is wide receiver Denzel Mims, a second-round pick who has requested a trade because he's unhappy with his role as a backup. Mims wasn't drafted by this coaching staff, setting the stage for a potential organizational debate on his roster worthiness. Douglas could probably get a late-round draft pick if he decides to cut bait via trade. Other 2020 draft picks in danger are safety Ashtyn Davis (third round), defensive end Jabari Zuniga (third) and running back La'Mical Perine (fourth). The Jets have a surplus of defensive linemen, which creates the possibility of a trade. They have 17 linemen on the roster, most of whom are roster worthy. One name who would attract interest is pass-rusher Bryce Huff, one of six defensive ends on our initial 53. Some of the castoffs should attract interest on the waiver wire. The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection: QUARTERBACK (3): Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White The Jets were leaning toward three quarterbacks before Wilson's knee injury; now it's an absolute must. The 37-year-old Flacco will start until Wilson is ready to return, which probably won't be until two or three weeks into the regular season. They're taking an ultra-cautious approach with Wilson, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 16. White, who achieved folk-hero status last season, ended the preseason with a strong performance after a lackluster camp. Journeyman Chris Streveler has gone from afterthought to practice-squad candidate. RUNNING BACK (3): Michael Carter, Breece Hall, Ty Johnson It's the Carter and Hall show; the trick is determining the supporting players. To accomplish that, it could take some roster gymnastics. It might mean cutting Tevin Coleman and bringing him back. As a vested vet, he won't be exposed to waivers. The real odd-man out is Perine, whose reps have been limited. He isn't a great fit in the wide-zone running scheme. Rookie Zonovan Knight, an undrafted free agent, has flashed at times and could land on the practice squad. WIDE RECEIVER (6): Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Garrett Wilson, Braxton Berrios, Jeff Smith, Denzel Mims The top four are set, so it really comes down to Smith (excellent on special teams), Mims (not-so-excellent on special teams) and the question of whether they carry five or more. Mims has improved as a receiver, no question, but he's still down in the pecking order. If they keep him, he might not dress on game day and he's already frustrated. It's a fascinating decision for the organization, especially after a big game on Sunday (seven catches, 102 yards, one TD). Douglas won't cut him and won't give him away for pennies on the dollar. Rookie Calvin Jackson, undrafted, impressed in camp and could land a role on the practice squad. TIGHT END (4): C.J. Uzomah, Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Trevon Wesco This is the most improved position group on offense; there's no excuse for the Jets to finish 31st in tight-end receptions, which happened in 2021. Uzomah, Conklin and Ruckert are roster locks. Ruckert isn't ready for a role on offense, so they need to keep Wesco, who fills a hybrid role as a tight end/fullback. OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, George Fant, Max Mitchell, Dan Feeney, Chuma Edoga, Conor McDermott Mekhi Becton's season-ending injury, coupled with Brown's late arrival, puts this group in serious catch-up mode. The starting five had no game reps together until Sunday's preseason finale against the New York Giants, which is concerning. Another issue is the depth. The only backup assured a roster spot is Mitchell, and that's because he's a fourth-round pick. They have to carry tackle McDermott (ankle) on the initial 53 to put him on regular-season injured reserve (minimum of four games). DEFENSIVE LINE (10): Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, Sheldon Rankins, Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons, Jacob Martin, Solomon Thomas, Jonathan Marshall, Bryce Huff Ten defensive linemen? That's a lot, even for a 4-3 defense, but the Jets believe this is the strength of the team and we all know how they like to rotate eight players every week. If the salary cap drives decisions, the most vulnerable are Nathan Shepherd, Marshall, Huff and Thomas, none of whom would have a large cap hit. Our guess is they release Shepherd, a vested vet, and bring him back. Vinny Curry is an agonizing decision. He's a revered leader in the locker room, but his age (34) and injury (hamstring) are working against him. They could keep him on injured reserve or the practice squad. LINEBACKER (5): C.J. Mosley, Quincy Williams, Kwon Alexander, Jamien Sherwood, Hamsah Nasirildeen Alexander was a terrific late addition. He's a sparkplug who could join Mosley in the nickel package, replacing Williams, who plays out of control at times. Sherwood, who backs up Mosley in the middle, has made nice strides in his second year. CORNERBACK (6): Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Bryce Hall, Brandin Echols, Javelin Guidry This is the most improved area on defense, thanks to the additions of Reed and Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in 2022. Hall and Echols, last year's starters, are relegated to backup duty. Hall's stock has dipped, but would they release a young corner with starting experience? Doubt it, especially since Reed has been dealing with a hamstring issue. Carter and Guidry are the slot guys. SAFETY (4): Jordan Whitehead, Lamarcus Joyner, Jason Pinnock, Ashtyn Davis It's Whitehead and a lot of question marks. Pinnock is intriguing. The converted cornerback has exciting potential, but he's still learning his position. That's why they have to keep Joyner as a hold-the-fort guy. Well-traveled vet Will Parks has outplayed Davis, but do you really think Douglas will dump all his 2020 draft picks? SPECIALIST (3): Greg Zuerlein (K), Braden Mann (P), Thomas Hennessy (LS) Zuerlein won the kicking competition, beating out Eddy Pineiro. Hardee has big value on special teams, but doesn't play defense. Can they afford to carry a specialist like Justin Hardee with so many other needs? Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer will stand on the table for Hardee, a terrific special-teamer. Maybe they can bring him back after the initial cutdown.
Too many Defensive linemen here, not enough RBs, wrong #4 TE, wrong #4 S, scary thin at LB. What will be really interesting is who clears waivers and gets signed to the practice squad. I'd like to see Cager/ Knight/ Streveler on the practice squad.
Supposedly with their defensive schemes it’s rare they would have more than 2 LB. but I’m still thinking along the same lines as you.
The three most obvious cuts for me are.... LaMichael Perrine, Chuma Edoga, Trevor Wesco. The Jets don't need Wesco anymore. They'll keep Nick Bawden to fill FB role. There's a chance Edoga sticks only if the Jets can't add a last second cut as a swing tackle. Edoga is terrible and he's only lasted this long due to a lack of better options. I want to say Zonovan Knight could make the team over Ty Johnson but it's hard to Guage. Both are good st players but Knight is younger with more untapped potential....
Makes sense. Few points that stand out to me: Hard to imagine Ty Johnson over Coleman or Knight. And harder to imagine Trevon Wesco a 4th TE, especially over Cager. OL depth prediction is odd. I've read Herbig has played well and cutting him would leave Feeney as the lone IOL backup. And keeping 3 backup OTs without IOL versatility is nuts especially because 2 of them suck. Max 2 backups. Has Chuma played well enough to make it? I really hope JD cuts Ashytn Davis. He's shown absolutely nothing this offseason whereas Will Parks has. Parks would get claimed immediately and contribute wherever he goes. Elijah Riley would have been a better keep over Davis. Him making the 53 man roster would be an indictment on JD.
I’m so confused as to how Wesco has made it this long in the NFL. He must be the designated driver or something. On a little bit of an unrelated note, I saw that Michael Carter is still #1 on the depth chart. If Hall isn’t getting 20+ touches a game by the middle of the season, the Jets are doing it wrong. You don’t draft a runningback in the second round and ease him in. You run him into the ground and get as much out of him as quickly as possible.
- I don’t see Cager not making the team, he’s the 4th. Wesco has done nothing to warrant making this team. - Think they bring Tevin as the vet of the group. Ty gets cut along with Perine. knight to PS. - Herbig makes the team, McDermott likely hits the IR. Edoga barely makes it but they may grab a vet off waivers. - No way ASHTYN makes it over Parks. I feel Riley has a better shot then Davis at this point. - 5 LB’s seem right for now. Kwon probably gonna steal some time away from Quincy. Sherwood def looks good in limited time. - 10 DL seems excessive, I think maybe 9 actually make it, just not sure who doesn’t make it. I’d guess Thomas or Rankins don’t.
It’s like Cimini didn’t change his projection from day 1 of training camp there are people that earned spots in camp. He will be quite wrong
Wesco is likely competing with Bawden, Knight as well as other positions of need like DL, OT for a roster spot. Bawden has been hurt which lowers his odds. Jnight should fit well on the PS. But, I disagree with Cimini's reasoning on Wesco to a degree. Yes with Bawden gone a hybrid TE/FB might make sense but the Jets do not need Wesco as a TE as what he offers is very redundant to what they already have. CJ, Conklin and Ruckert are all fine blockers having Wesco adds nothing except a FB role and special teams play. Seeing Wesco has been phased out of his FB role he only offers a ST role. The Jets will be fine having Cager and Yeboah on the PS as TE insurance and Bawden as well for FB. No need to keep Wesco. Roster spots are at a premium. Zach's injury as well as McDermott's injury causes tighter issues on the 53. Forcing the Jets to have to carry 3 QBs and keep MW and likely keep McDermott before possibly putting him on IR Tuesday afternoon. With Smart, Anae, Marshall and Zuniga all competing for 1-2 spots of 10 and possibly 11 on the DL it will make it might mean one gets cut. the same for Hardee. Maybe as well for Nasrildeen, Hardee or Parks as we might be forced to go 3 safeties or 4 LBs. Trading Mimms would be very nice as it would open that extra roster spot. But, getting that done by Tuesday seems pretty wishful thinking.
Looks like Cimini was pretty much right on target. He was only off on seven guys and none of them were special.
not really, 7 is quite a lot. Any one of us coulda gotten it within that many. You consider that like 45 of the 53 were locks anyway
It would be very hard to do worse than 7 wrong as the first 46 should have been known but it would also be hard to do much better than 7 wrong as the last players on the roster were all surprising in Adams, Davis, Cager, Knight, Johnson, Curry and Shepherd. 7 wrong is the worst anyone could really do but it is also close to the best anyone could do. So really nothing to be excited about by 7 wrong either way.
For the most part I agree but you know Cimini has been at practice every day, seems like he coulda dropped something like "dont be surprised if Adams makes the team." And he had Wesco making it over Cager. Even casual observers could see the writing on the wall there by Wesco's body language and Cager's success in the preseason games
I have been critical of Cimini's Wesco love but I also think Cager was a complete unknown to everyone. We had no idea how the CS felt about his blocking other than that is where he needed to develop. Some beat writers have speculated and said no one knows where he is in development. If you look at the pre-season plays by Cager almost every pass was on crease routes where he was wide open crossing the middle against the grain similar to the TD route run by Ruckert in game one of the PS. He got open by the scheme of the play but he showed really nice speed and acceleration with the ball. They don't need a blocking TE with the 1st 3 TEs being very good blockers so maybe Cager's blocking is less important. The question I have is will Cager stick or go to the PS. Was being placed on the roster a reward for hard work the last year or will he be here all year? I still think there is a good chance he goes to the PS.
Good point about the PS…I do think this is not the final roster that we’ll go into week one with…there are always moves made after cut down as the dust settles. In particular we have too many DL and not enough OT. We have no FB/Hybrid which has been a role in this O, we have too few LBs I think. Not really sure we need 4 TEs, and I think we could use another CB. So I expect some more moves…
Yalll keep forgetting Cager can line up at WR. Is he better than our bottom two WRs right now prob yes. But Mims made it bc he’s a 2nd round pick who might be traded and Jeff Smith more for his speed and special teams. I see Cager staying on and making an impact maybe small but still. I really like this kid even over Yeboah
Meh. The ones he got wrong were bottom feeders anyway and a couple were points of contention by staying for many here, particularly Davis.
