This week I want to take a look at the players on the last year of their deal and who are UFA’s at the end of the season. Who’s poised to earn a new deal, who’s a gonner after the season and who might not even make it to opening day
George Fant: He’s poised to be the starter at LT with Mekhi’s status currently unknown. He played better as LT than RT last season another strong season would show he’s worth an extension. He is 30 but has a lot more tread on his tires than most starters at his position at the same age. I would expect him back next year and beyond unless his play falls off the map.
Connor McGovern: He’s gone for sure, honestly he’s lucky he’s still here. He’s a slightly better than average centre but thats about it. If Joe Douglas could have upgraded he would have but was fine rolling back with McGovern for one more season if an upgrade wasn’t available at the price he wanted to pay. So he’ll ride out on the last year of the deal, unless a clear upgrade shakes loose somehow and he ends up being cut.
Sheldon Rankins: He’s part of the rotation at IDL, he’s got pass rush skills but has been inconsistent. I highly doubt he gets cut during camp but his production on the field this year will determine if he’s brought back, allowed to walk or plays for a bigger deal than the Jets want to pay. My money would be on him being passed on after the season because the production just isn’t there this year.
Joe Flacco: He’s the backup as long as he wants to be till there is a better option available. Odds are he retires after the season but I would have said the same thing after last season. There is a chance he gets beat out by another QB or just decides he doesn’t want to go through another grind of a season before opening day but I still think he’ll be the backup QB for one more year.
Dan Feeney: He’s a backup IOL, and the staff likes him. He’s the definition of a toss up to me. Could make the team, could be extended after the season. All depends how he and other IOL depth players perform in camp.
Greg Zuerlin: This is the veteran kicker in camp. I doubt he wins the battle for the job but if he does he’s a bridge to get the team by till they can look for a kicker next season.
LaMarcus Joyner: He’s a bridge starter, there is no way he’s here next year. He’s only here because neither Ashtyn Davis or Jason Pinnock are ready to be full time starters. Either one may have taken the job by the end of the season as well but as long as Joyner is healthy he’s on the team all season.
Mike White: The other backup QB, his spot is not secure at all. I expect him to see plenty of time in camp and in the fake games. The better he performs the more likely he is to get flipped, the worse he performs the more likely they can stash him on the practice squad. The only way he’s on the starting roster is if Flacco calls it quits before the first game.
Nate Herbig: The other backup IOL, he’s younger than Feeney but is he better? If so he takes Feeney’s spot on the team for sure.
Eddy Pinero: The other kicker in camp, he kicked well enough last season but I never had much confidence in him and neither does Brant Boyer either, otherwise Zuerlin wouldn’t be in camp. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is yet another kicker added to the roster before opening day because none of the guys on the team are good enough.
Solomon Thomas: He’s here for a reason, he’s a rotational player on the DL mostly there for run defence. He’s young enough that he could be back after the season if Saleh and Ulbrich are happy with his production, he was brought in to improve run defense so that better be what happens.
Connor McDermott: A backup tackle who saw more time last season than anyone would have liked. He’s a decent enough swing tackle and should last the season but i wouldn’t expect him to get re-signed, at least not before free agency starts next year.
Tevin Coleman: The old man running back. He showed he still has legs last season and unless someone beats him out in camp should be RB3 going into the season. I doubt he sticks on the team after this season though.
Marcell Harris: Judging from the fact I barely remembered he was on the team, I doubt he makes the team to start the season. There are too many players ahead of him on the depth chart unless there is a rash of injuries.
Vinny Curry: I’m shocked he is able to come back, but if he’s healthy enough to play he should be a solid member of the rotation at edge. I think they’d bring him back as depth after the season if he wants to come back and he shows he can still contribute at his age.
Nathan Shepherd: Depth IDL for sure. He’s shown that he has just enough skills to be useful but not enough discipline to be reliable. I hate to say this about my fellow Canadian but I doubt he sees opening day if there is a roster crunch on the DL, and if he does it will probably be his last year as a Jet.
Tanzel Smart: Also depth IDL. I think he’s a sure cut unless hey outperforms both Shepherd and Johathan Marshall.
Will Parks: Depth at safety, he showed some ability in limited time last season but he’s at best the 4th or 5th safety so unless Joyner gets hurt and doesn’t make it though camp I think Parks doesn’t make the opening day roster.
Chuma Edoga: Another backup OT, he’s probably at the bottom of the tackle depth chart. It seems like he’s a long shot to make the opening day roster, unless a lot of dominos fall his way. It would probably take Mekhi missing time to start the season and Joe Douglas being unable to sign a veteran backup ala Morgan Moses last season.
Quincy Williams: One of the linebackers, and potential starter. This is probably the most interesting player outside of Fant. He’s got a chance to show himself as a reliable starter and earn himself a fresh new deal or even succeed at depth and a slightly shorter less valuable new deal. He’s making the roster no doubt and I think he comes back next year the question is just for how long and how much.
Trevon Wesco: One of the FB on the roster, he was drafted and played at TE as well. He’s always been just a blocker and Nick Bawden was brought in and played over him last season. Like his fellow draftee from 2019 Edoga he seems unlikely to make the opening day roster.
Ty Johnson: Another RB in a crowded backfield. At the start of last season he looked like he was going to be RB2 but he couldn’t capitalize on his snaps and lost them to Tevin Coleman as the season went on. His spot is not very secure even if the team carries 4 running backs. His production during training camp and the pre season games is going to have to be great.
So thats it for the UFA’s next week I’ll take a look at which RFA’s will be worth brining back and which should be let go.
