Quarterbacks

Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow were the obvious locks. Sanchez will begin the season as the starter and Tebow will serve in a more limited kind of swiss army knife role, but Tebow could eventually get the starting job this season. Because of how shaky both looked in the preseason, the Jets kept Greg McElroy as their 3^rd string quarterback. McElroy was actually the only one of the 3 to lead a touchdown drive all preseason, but he’ll need both Sanchez and Tebow to try and fail as regular season starters to get a start.

Running backs

The Jets decided to keep only 3 running backs even though they are going run heavy because the Jets like Tebow’s running ability and they, for whatever reason, believe in Shonn Greene as a feature back on a run heavy team. Former 4^th round picks Bilal Powell (2011) and Joe McKnight (2010) could push him during the season, but both really struggled last year. Powell won the primary backup job in Training Camp and the preseason and will see action on passing downs.

McKnight will have a limited role on offense, if he has one at all, but he’s the team’s starting kick returner. John Conner returns as the starting fullback. Terrance Ganaway, a hybrid running back/fullback who scored the Jets’ only touchdown this offseason, was waived, though they were unable to put the 6^th round rookie on the practice squad because the Rams claimed him.

Receiving Corps

Santonio Holmes, by virtue of his guaranteed salary, and Stephen Hill, by virtue of his status as a 2012 2^nd round draft pick, were locks in the receiving corps, as was tight end Dustin Keller, their leading receiver last year. The Jets also kept 2011 5^th round pick Jeremy Kerley, who saw some time in the slot last season and Chaz Schilens, an injury prone free agent acquisition. 7^th round rookie Jordan White was waived and added to the practice squad, but Patrick Turner, a bust of a 2009 3^rd round pick in Miami, made the roster.

Turner saw some action for the Jets last year, but they obviously hope the guys above him on the depth chart on do their jobs so he doesn’t have to see action. The Jets also signed another Dolphins bust, 2011 4^th round pick Clyde Gates. Gates was a final cut of the Dolphins with a new regime coming in, obviously not a good sign for his career, but the Jets took a flier on his speed. It’s worth mentioning that offensive coordinator Tony Sparano drafted Gates as Head Coach of the Dolphins last year. He’ll often be a gameday inactive most likely.

Having lost Matthew Mulligan this offseason to the Rams and Josh Baker on IR, 2010 undrafted free agent Jeff Cumberland will be the #2 tight end and serve as primarily a blocker. The Jets also kept Konrad Reuland over Hayden Smith and Dedrick Epps at tight end, making Smith and Epps final cuts and signing Reuland after the 49ers made him a final cut. He’ll likely be a gameday inactive frequently unless he can carve out a role on special teams.

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Offensive Line

Starters D’Brickashaw Ferguson (left tackle), Nick Mangold (center) and Brandon Moore (right guard) were locks, as were Matt Slauson and Jason Smith, whose salaries were fully guaranteed. Slauson will start at left guard, while Smith will be a reserve at right tackle and a swing tackle if he can stay healthy. He could also beat out starter Austin Howard, another roster lock, eventually once the recent acquisition learns the playbook and the timing with the offensive line. Vladimir Ducaase was also a roster lock because of his draft status as a 2010 2^nd round pick.

That left 2 or 3 spots open on the line, depending on how many linemen the Jets kept. The Jets kept 9, meaning there were 2 spots left, likely one outside and one inside. Those spots went to Dennis Landholt (left tackle) and Caleb Schlauderaff (center) as they beat out Paul Cornick (added to the practice squad), Matt Kroul, and Fred Koloto. The Jets probably will only have 7 offensive lineman active on gameday so neither Landholt nor Schlauderaff figure to see much action unless either can beat out Ducaase for that 7^th spot, not unrealistic seeing as the 2010 2^nd round pick bust is in the Jets’ doghouse. He needs a good year to stay on the roster in 2013.

Defensive Line

Starters Mike DeVito, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Sione Pouha were locks, as was Quinton Coples, a 1^st round rookie who figures to have a big situational role this year. Kenrick Ellis, a 2011 3^rd round pick, was also a lock because of his draft status. The Jets didn’t have a lot of spots open for true defensive lineman as they use a lot of defensive fronts and linebackers like Bryan Thomas, Aaron Maybin, and Calvin Pace could also see time on the defensive line.

In the end, the Jets kept 7 defensive linemen, the 5 mentioned and 2 others. Undrafted free agent Damon Harrison was kept as the 3^rd string nose tackle. He can also play defensive tackle when they go a 4-3 or a 46 scheme, but he’ll probably be a frequent gameday inactive as a rookie. The Jets are probably just keeping him to develop him and because they didn’t want to risk another team grabbing the William Penn University prospect, which would have made them unable to put him on their practice squad.

They also signed Isaako Aaitui, a 2011 undrafted free agent who was a final cut of the Dolphins’ this season. They snatched him up, maybe at Tony Sparano’s urging, and cut Marcus Dixon, who played poorly in significant snaps last season. He became pretty useless when the Jets drafted Quinton Coples to play his role and more. The Jets seem to have preferred to try and see what an outsider had over going with a proven failure insider.

Linebackers

The Jets figured to keep a bunch of linebackers with their hybrid scheme and 3 linebackers, Pace, Thomas, and Maybin also likely to see time on the defensive line. Those 3 were locks, as were Bart Scott and David Thomas, starters at middle linebacker, and Demario Davis, a 3^rd round rookie. The Jets kept 3 others, giving them 9 linebackers, 16 front 7 players in all.

Nick Bellore and Josh Mauga remained on the team as reserve inside linebackers, beating out undrafted rookie Marcus Dowtin, who was added to the practice squad, as Davis will begin the year as their 5^th inside linebacker as a developmental prospect. The other decision that needed to be made for the Jets was veteran Garrett McIntyre or project Ricky Sapp on the outside. McIntye won out and will be their 4^th rush linebacker, while 2010 5^th round pick Sapp, formerly of the Eagles, was added to the practice squad.

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Secondary

Starting cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie were locks, as was 2010 1^st round pick Kyle Wilson, a borderline bust who was expected to be their nickel cornerback. At safety, starters Yeremiah Bell and LaRon Landry were locks, as was top backup Eric Smith, with no other real options. The Jets returned Ellis Lankster and Isaiah Trufant at cornerback, both of whom were on the roster last season. Despite their struggles at safety, the Jets opted to keep just 4 and only one of their rookies at safety. 6^th rounder Josh Bush beat out 7^th rounder Antonio Allen, who was cut to make room for Clyde Gates. Allen could still be added to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

Specialists

Joe McKnight will serve as the primary kick return man, with Jeremy Kerley as the primary punt return man. Kyle Wilson will also backup up both positions. Nick Foles and TJ Conley return at place kicker and punter respectively and will be their only two kickers. Tanner Purdum will also return as the long snapper.

Practice Squad

OT Paul Cornick

MLB Marcus Dowtin

CB Donnie Fletcher

WR Royce Pollard

RLB Ricky Sapp

TE Hayden Smith

WR Jordan White

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