The 2020 JetsFix 53-man Roster Relay: Second Leg
As we did last year, we're going to mark preseason with a series of fan-sourced roster projections. The usual idea is that as players make their case in each preseason game this will be reflected in the next leg of the relay, along with other developments such as injuries. However, with no games to react to this time, everyone will be flying blind.
After Disgruntled Jets Fan ran a blistering first leg, he hands off the baton to the custodian of the Butt Dungeon, Jet_UP ...
Welcome to the worlds okayest roster prediction that has ever been put together while watching an episode of Top Chef. I can confidently say that every single choice I have made here is totally accurate, and I am sure that Joe Douglas is reading this and is getting ready to offer me a job any minute now. In the meantime, enjoy…
ST (3) – Thomas Hennessy (LS), Braden Mann (P), Brett Maher (K)
Piss Missile and Hennessy are locks for the roster and while I think that Maher will initially beat out Ficken, I do think that we end up claiming another kicker at roster cut downs.
(Editor's note: No change from the previous leg)
Offense (25)
QB (3) – Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco, James Morgan
No surprises here as I cannot see us exposing Morgan to waivers after using a 4th round selection on him and we will be sure to keep Flacco as a viable backup after the disaster that was last year, even though he probably won’t be healthy for the first few weeks of the season. Let’s just hope Sam doesn’t come down with any other childhood diseases this year.
(Editor's note: No change from the previous leg)
RB (3) – Le’Veon Bell, Frank Gore, La’Mical Perine
Again, nothing here that is unexpected as we keep Bell, Gore, and Perine. Perine is mostly there so that the eternal Gore can have a young source of life energy to consume, else he would turn to dust.
(Editor's note: No change from the previous leg)
WR (6) – Jamison Crowder, Breshad Perriman, Denzel Mims, Lawrence Cager, Braxton Berrios, Vyncint Smith
The one “surprise” here is that Cager plays his way onto the roster using his mixture of size and speed to snatch the #4 WR position, and make us all forget about the last undrafted WR to make the opening day roster (Robbyie who?) Vyncint Smith and Berrios are both retained for their special team abilities while the top 3 slots are locked in.
(Editor's note: Changes since the last leg - Cager in, TBD out)
TE/FB (4) – Chris Herndon, Ryan Griffin, Trevon Wesco, Daniel Brown
It is possible, nay a fact, that the only things that will survive the inevitable nuclear winter are Twinkies, cockroaches, and Daniel Brown, as he once again survives cutdowns and remains a member of the Jets for another year. Wesco will be mostly playing FB, but will also come in as a key blocker in short yardage situations.
(Editor's note: Changes since the last leg - Brown in)
OL (9) – Starters from left to right –
Mekhi Becton, Greg Van Roten, Connor McGovern, Alex Lewis, George Fant
Backups – Conor McDermott, Chuma Edoga, Cameron Clark, Josh Andrews
JD follows through with his promise to Darnold’s parents by eliminating nearly every 2019 starter from the roster with his cut of Jonotthan Harrison, with Lewis as the last remaining survivor. Clark and Andrews will show enough during training camp to cover for all IOL positions, making Harrison expendable (which to be honest he already was).
(Editor's note: Changes since the last leg - Harrison out)
Defense (25)
Corner (6) – Pierre Desir, Bless Austin, Brian Poole, Bryce Hall, Quincy Wilson, Arthur Maulet
Bless continues to show off his remarkable physique and plays well enough to get out of Gregg’s doghouse to earn the #2 corner role, with Wilson and Maulet staying on the roster as solid depth. The continued switch to a zone-heavy scheme will jettison Hairston off the roster.
(Editor's note: No change from the previous leg)
Safety (4) – Bradley McDougald, Marcus Maye, Ashtyn Davis, Shyheim Carter
After upgrading one safety spot in late July, we have another surprise addition to the team as our second UDFA makes the opening day roster, Shyheim Carter. Joe Douglas will value Carter’s leadership and flexibility as he can play safety as well as slot corner, allowing us to shore up depth behind Poole, filling two roles with one player. Carter will also prove effective at the gunner position. Matthias Farley sadly doesn’t have a home on the roster after Carter’s strong showing in training camp leading to his cut.
(Editor's note: Changes since the previous leg - Carter in, Farley out)
DL (5) – Folorunso Fatukasi, Quinnen Williams, Steve McLendon, Nathan Shepherd, Henry Anderson
This group is led by our Polynesian Prince, our Kenyan King, our Somalian Swashbuckler, Folorunso Fatukasi as both he and Quinnen continue their ascension into the upper tier of linemen. Goose is kept due to his flexibility to play DL as well as Edge, while Shepherd keeps his spot and will continue to show flashes similar to how he ended the 2019 campaign.
(Editor's note: Changes since the previous leg - Shepherd in)
Edge (5) – Jordan Jenkins, Kyle Phillips, Jabari Zuniga, Tarell Basham, Bryce Huff
Another UDFA?!?! Yep! Huff will show some his ability to bend on his way to kicking Harvey Langi and Frankie Luvu off the roster. Phillips and Jenkins will keep their roles as edges on early downs while Zuniga and Huff come in to be our designated pass rush specialists to start their careers.
(Editor's note: Changes since the previous leg - Willis out)
OBLB (5) – Avery Williamson, Patrick Onwuasor, Blake Cashman, Neville Hewitt, James Burgess
After Mosley’s opt out, keeping flexibility and numbers at the OBLB position will be key, as we hang onto both Hewitt and Burgess. I could see Burgess replaced by a waiver claim later on, but he developed and grew as the season went on and I think the team was excited by his potential to become a solid contributor.
(Editor's note: No change from the previous leg)
Practice Squad
Joe will elect to keep 8 offensive and 8 defensive players, with 3 of these players being added from other team roster cuts. Targeting positions of need (WR, RB, CB, and Edge) allows us flexibility and coverage for any inevitable COVID-19 breakouts.
Mike White (QB)
Kenneth Dixon (RB)
PTBNL (RB)
George Campbell (WR)
Jehu Chesson (WR)
Jeff Smith (WR)
Corbin Kaufusi (OL)
Brad Lundblade (OL)
Javelin Guidry (CB)
Lamar Jackson (CB)
Anthony Cioffi (S)
Sterling Johnson (DL)
John Franklin-Myers (Edge)
PTBNL (Edge)
B.J. Bello (LB)
PTBNL (LB)
(Editor's note: Changes since the previous leg - White, Campbell, Smith, Kaufusi, Jackson, Cioffi, Bello in, Travis, Hilbers, Davis out)
Would you like to take the baton for the a lap of the track? Volunteer in the comments section below...