The new-look New York Jets laid out their process in this year's edition of HBO's "Hard Knocks", allowing NFL fans a glimpse into newfound life with Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has already influenced the build of this year's roster, from recruiting receivers like Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb to attracting big-name frree agents like Dalvin Cook. If the Jets are destined for a Super Bowl run, they'll need the optimal roster to do so. It will be a challenge after coming to know the players through "Hard Knocks", but today marks the day when those difficult roster cuts take place.
Nothing is certain with 53-man roster projections, but there are observations from training camp and preseason play that offer a preview into how the elimination process may take place. Linebacker Chazz Surratt may not have finished his preseason in strong enough fashion to earn a starting role, or perhaps he's shown Jets head coach Robert Saleh everything he needs to see.
As Jets fans eagerly await the finalized roster, here are three potential adds and a projected cut based on a heated Jets preseason.
Add: Xavier Gipson (WR)
The Jets are replete with wide receivers at the moment, with most roster predictions putting the team with six wideouts in 2023.
Some of the names on competing lists remain constant: Garrett Wilson is making the 53-man roster, as are Allen Lazard and Randal Cobb, both of whom Aaron Rodgers recruited from Green Bay. Mecole Hardman is another certainty, but beyond that, the future is less clear. Like Jason Brownlee, Malik Taylor has been listed as a potential cut and an add. Time will tell which of these receivers ends up making the cut, but for now, Jets fans can focus on the find that is undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson.
Gipson earned praise from Rodgers on the last day of OTAs, and considering Rodgers' less-than-flattering commentary about his former rookie receivers in Green Bay, the quarterback's comments on Gipson go a long way.
"I though 82 [Gipson] really took a big step forward in his attempt to make the team," Rodgers said. "He had multiple plays where he's short of the sticks on catches and he made guys miss. Obviously, he's done a good job returning [kicks and punts]."
If Rodgers sees a place for Gipson on the team, it's likely that Jets brass sees the same, especially considering his special teams capabilities. In a crowded wide receiver room, Gipson managed to stand out and catch the eye of Rodgers, which can only mean good things as the rookie builds on a promising start.
Add: Chazz Surratt (LB)
Another name floating around on projected roster lists, linebacker Chazz Surratt is expected to be a close call when it comes to the final 53-man roster. The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt has Surratt as "the last cut" on his linebacker list, noting that Jets head coach Robert Saleh clearly appreciated Surratt on "Hard Knocks."
Rosenblatt notes that Surratt has been injured throughout August and hasn't shone much since the first preseason game, but Saleh's fondness for Surratt could indicate that his time on the practice squad has come to an end. A third-round draft pick in 2021, Surratt played backup on the Minnesota Vikings roster as he gained experience on special teams. After losing the inside linebacker job to Brian Asamoah, the Vikings no longer saw a role for Surratt in the team's updated defensive scheme, cutting him from last season's 53-man roster. That's when the Jets saw an opportunity for Surratt, signing him on September 1, 2022.
It's possible that Surratt will miss the roster once again, but it's also possible that the Jets will hold onto him and rotate him into the lineup.
Add: Israel Abanikanda
When Dalvin Cook joined the running back room, there was already Breece Hall and Michael Carter, but NFL teams are known to roll deep at the running back position. Any fantasy football player can attest to the fact that running through a wall of players leaves halfbacks uniquely susceptible to injury, which makes the current devaluation of NFL running backs even more puzzling.
One running back who isn't being devalued is Jets rookie Israel Abanikanda, who has dazzled in preseason play and is expected to become the Jets' No. 4 running back. Abanikanda was widely praised for his preseason performance until he went down with a concerning injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fortunately, the injury turned out to be a thigh contusion that will only have him sidelined for a few weeks, meaning Abanikanda is expected to return by Week 1.
The injury outlook changed Abanikanda's trajectory, and knowing he'll be healed up soon means that the impressive rookie has a much better chance of making the 53-man roster.
Cut: Zack Kuntz (TE)
Jets fans have high hopes for Zach Kuntz, the Jets' seventh-round pick who ranked as the most athletic tight end in the history of Kent Lee Platte's Relative Athletic Score database.
Still, the Jets' tight end room is already filled with experience and talent. Tyler Conklin, who ended last year as the Jets' second-leading receiver, and free agent acquisition C.J. Uzomah are entrenched as starters. The coaching staff has also heaped praise on Kenny Yeboah, who played a key role on special teams last season. In the first two preseason games, Yeboah played 37 special teams snaps, more than any other Jets player. The Jets are also unlikely to give up on Jeremy Ruckert, who they drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft.
Kuntz didn't help his case for a roster spot with a rough preseason, either. While he caught six passes for 41 yards and a touchdown, the rookie tight end also made his fair share of blunders.
In the second preseason game, Kuntz committed two holding penalties on consecutive possessions in the second half. The second infraction came on a 2nd-and-1 play, which pushed the Jets offense out of the red zone and ultimately forced them to settle for a field goal.
While Kuntz possesses a rare combination of size and athleticism, he's a raw talent who needs time to develop. He may not make it through waivers to land onto the practice squad, but he's not polished enough for the Jets to keep him on the 53-man roster.
