The NY Jets have added an influx of new talent this offseason to help bolster a roster that needed some tweaking following an injury-riddled disappointment of a 2023 season.
The result is a roster that, if healthy, should legitimately be able to compete for a Super Bowl in 2024. The 2024 NFL Draft brought a few new players into the fold, further solidifying this as one of the best Jets rosters in recent memory.
But the introduction of new players isn’t always good news for certain members of the roster. Increased competition may be good for the team, but it’s not necessarily in the best interest of individual players.
Let’s take a look at five Jets players whose jobs might be in jeopardy following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft.
5. Jarrick Bernard-Converse, S, NY Jets
The Jets used a sixth-round pick on LSU defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse in last year’s draft. Unfortunately, a foot injury forced Bernard-Converse to miss half of his rookie season, as he went on to appear in just eight games, playing almost exclusively on special teams.
The Louisiana native was penciled into a role as the Jets’ fourth safety entering this year’s draft, but he faces increased competition for that job now. The Jets added two defensive backs on Day 3 of the draft, both of whom could push Bernard-Converse for playing time.
Mr. Irrelevant selection Jaylen Key is an obvious direct competitor, but even fifth-round pick Qwan’tez Stiggers should be seen as more of an overall defensive back. The Jets might consider moving him to safety full-time as they did with Bernard-Converse.
Bernard-Converse isn’t guaranteed a roster spot entering the summer, and the Jets’ additions during the draft are part of the reason why.
4. Morgan Moses, OT, NY Jets
Unlike the other players on this list, Morgan Moses’ roster spot isn’t in jeopardy. Moses is going to make the 53-man roster, but he might not be a lock for a starting job anymore.
That’s because the Jets used the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft to select Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. Fashanu is seen as the Jets’ long-term left tackle of the future, but he might have an opportunity to compete for snaps early as a rookie.
Fashanu told reporters after the draft that he’s willing to play wherever the Jets need him, and despite only playing left tackle in college, it would not be surprising to see the team give him some reps on the right side as well.
Moses should still be considered the favorite to win the job, and it’s unclear if there will be an actual competition or not, but his job security definitely took a hit with the addition of Fashanu.
3. Xavier Gipson, WR, NY Jets
The Jets made it a priority to improve their wide receiver room this offseason, and while that’s good news for the overall offense, it’s not encouraging for young players like Xavier Gipson on the bottom of the roster.
One player, in particular, who could come for Gipson’s job is new third-round rookie Malachi Corley. Corley is expected to compete for reps early as the Jets’ new slot receiver, and he also could offer versatility as a return man.
Those are both the roles that Gipson occupied last year with the Jets. If Gipson isn’t able to win the starting kick returner job in training camp, there might not be a spot for him on the 53-man roster.
The Jets still like Gipson and would like to see him take a step forward this summer, but if he doesn’t, he might be out of a job. Corley has the potential to make his skill set redundant.
2. Max Mitchell, OT, NY Jets
The addition of Olu Fashanu isn’t only bad news for Morgan Moses. Fashanu’s arrival significantly improves the Jets’ offensive tackle depth, which isn’t promising for the team’s other backup tackles.
Carter Warren should be safe entering the summer, given that the Jets were encouraged by some of what they saw from him last year. The same isn’t true for former fourth-round pick Max Mitchell.
Mitchell struggled mightily in his second season with the Jets, allowing six sacks and 30 pressures on only 336 pass-block snaps. He now enters the 2024 season as the fifth offensive tackle on the Jets’ depth chart.
Mitchell faces an uphill battle to make the Jets’ roster this summer. He hasn’t shown enough progress over the last two years to warrant serious swing tackle consideration.
1. Israel Abanikanda, RB, NY Jets
There is no bigger loser on the Jets’ roster as a result of this year’s draft than Israel Abanikanda. The 2023 fifth-round pick spent much of the offseason as the Jets’ de facto RB2 behind Breece Hall, but that changed this past week.
The Jets added not one but two new running backs to their roster on Day 3 of the draft, adding Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen and South Dakota State’s Isaiah Davis. Both players figure to compete with Abanikanda for playing time.
Abanikanda was underwhelming as a rookie, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry in limited playing time. The Jets didn’t trust Abanikanda as a blocker and had genuine concerns about his ball security.
Not only does Abanikanda now seem unlikely to be the Jets’ primary backup running back in 2024, but he’s not even guaranteed a roster spot. That’s quite the fall from grace for a young running back who the Jets had high hopes for a year ago.
