FanPost

2015 New York Jets Roster Predictions


This is my version of the 53 man roster for week 1.

Quarterbacks:

  1. Ryan Fitzpatrick
  2. Geno Smith
  3. Bryce Petty
I think that Fitz will beat out Geno for the starting role purely because Fitz has worked under Chan Gailey before. Geno will secure the backup role, but don't be surprised if he gets promoted to starter sometime through the year. Expect Petty to beat out Simms and Heaps for the 3rd QB spot. I think we will re-sign Heaps onto our practice squad

Running Backs:

  1. Chris Ivory
  2. Zac Stacy
  3. Bilal Powell
  4. Tommy Bohanon FB

Chris Ivory will again start at HB for the Jets and he will continue to get better. It was tough to cut Ridley, but I put Stacy over him mainly because Stacy is more consistent and has better ball security. Powell will see a lot of time on the field. Bohanon will again be our FB, he'll continue to grow in the role.

Wide Receivers:

  1. Brandon Marshall
  2. Eric Decker
  3. Jeremy Kerley
  4. Devin Smith
  5. DeVier Posey
  6. Shaq Evans
  7. Chris Owusu
  8. TJ Graham

This roster will be stacked at WR as Chan Gailey loves to load the field with receivers to create mismatches on the field. The obvious starters are Marshall, Decker and Kerley in the slot. Smith is a good option at four and his speed should come in handy in the return game as well. Posey, Evans, Owusu and Graham will all rotate through the field in the year. Owusu will do some time on the return game as well as Graham too.

Tight End:

  1. Jace Amaro
  2. Jeff Cumberland
  3. Zach Sudfeld

Amaro will continue to grow into the starting role in his second year. Cumberland will be very handy on the blocking game and he'll continue to be a reliable receiving option. Many people dispute Sudfeld, but I think he will win the number 3 spot and his blocking game will get a lot better. Sudfeld also led the team on special teams tackles last year so expect him to be big on that side of the game once again.

Offensive Line:

  1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson
  2. James Carpenter
  3. Nick Mangold
  4. Oday Aboushi
  5. Breno Giacomini
  6. Jarvis Harrison
  7. Dakota Dozier
  8. Brian Winters

The O-Line will be set by training camp. The main four are already set and I see Aboushi beating out the likes of Harrison, Winters and Colon for the job at RG. The backup roles were hard to decide as we have some good depth at the O-Line. I went with three young guys. Harrison will be able to take over a guard role eventually and I think Dozier and Winters will provide good depth at their positions.

Defensive Line:

  1. Muhammad Wilkerson
  2. Damon Harrison
  3. Sheldon Richardson
  4. Leonard Williams
  5. Leger Douzable
  6. Ronald Talley

The D-Line is going to monstrous. The Jets have the best D-Line and with the addition of Williams lining up alongside Richardson and Wilkerson, I'd hate to be an O-Lineman for the other team this season. I have Douzable and Talley as the other depth players. Douzable did really well when Mo was out and he should be rewarded. I have Talley beating out the other veterans and young guys as he is familiar with Todd Bowles' work and I think he still has the most to give.

Linebackers:

  1. Quinton Coples
  2. David Harris
  3. Demario Davis
  4. Lorenzo Mauldin
  5. IK Enemkpali
  6. Jamari Lattimore
  7. Taiwan Jones
  8. Calvin Pace

Coples, Harris and Davis in the starting roles are no-brainers. It was tough to decide whether to go with Pace or Mauldin, ultimately I went with Mauldin purely because he can stuff the run and his youth will make it tougher for him to be stopped. Don't get me wrong though, Pace is still doing great for a 34 year old. IK will be the other depth OLB, he did well on the few snaps he got given last year. Lattimore and Jones are my back up MLB's. I think Jones has a lot of upside and he'll be a monster on special teams.

Cornerbacks:

  1. Darrelle Revis
  2. Antonio Cromartie
  3. Buster Skrine
  4. Dee Milliner
  5. Dexter McDougle
  6. Marcus Williams

The first three corners are choices that can't be disputed. Revis and Cro are still guns even as they have hit 30. Skrine is an excellent nickel corner and he loves to break up passes right in front of the receivers. I'm not ready to call Milliner a bust yet as an Achilles injury is pretty unlucky, he'll rebound. McDougle was unlucky with his injury and he'll have his time to show his worth on the field and special teams. Williams was sensational last year and now we have solid CB's he can ease off his workload and play a more well-suited role as a rotational player.

Safeties:

  1. Calvin Pryor
  2. Marcus Gilchrist
  3. Jaiquawn Jarrett
  4. Durell Eskridge

Pryor and Gilchrist will complete our excellent secondary for this year and with the Louisville Slugger returning to his natural position this year, he'll finally showcase that talent that made him a first rounder. Jarrett was excellent last season and despite him losing the starting role, he'll be used frequently in nickel safety formations. I have Eskridge winning the backup FS role. I really loved him at Syracuse and I think Allen has had more than enough chances to prove himself.

Special Teams:

  1. Nick Folk
  2. Ryan Quigley
  3. Tanner Purdum

Both Folk and Quigley will face the tough competition of Furney and Schum again this year. I think Folk will be less protected unlike last year, Furney did will last year and I think he will ultimately lose the job, but not by much. Schum and Quigley on the other hand will be even fiercer than last year. Schum almost won last year and Quigley knew it bad. Quigley stepped up this year and it led to him being chosen as the P for the All AFC-East Team. Quigley will again step up and win the role, but it won't be an easy job. Purdum again will be reliable under center.

So there you have it, my 53 man roster for the opening week. The New York Jets will do a lot better than last year. Our defense will carry the team a lot, but the offense will really step up heaps. We finally have a true number 1 receiver and Geno if he wins the starting role, will continue to grow. We have a good O-Line now and I think with our revamped secondary and destructive front seven, the Jets will do very well this season. I say the Jets go 8-8 with the possibility of sneaking up to 9-7. We won't make playoffs unless we go 9-7 with a victory in the final week and snag the final wild card spot.

Feel free to comment and give feedback on the roster!

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