The New York Jets will cut their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here's a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Sam Darnold, Trevor Siemian,, Luke Falk
Coach Adam Gase kept four quarterbacks on his opening-day roster last season with the Miami Dolphins, which shows how much he values the position. He won't keep four this season, but Falk (135.9 passer rating) could stick as the third. He has outplayed Davis Webb in a competition between two marginal prospects. They can try to add Falk to the practice squad, but that would mean exposing him to waivers. With Siemian on a one-year contract, the objective is to find someone who can develop into a future QB2. We all know Darnold isn't going anywhere.
RUNNING BACK (4): Le'Veon Bell, Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell, Trenton Cannon
This is the deepest position on the roster, as they have five NFL-caliber backs. The odd-man out in our projection is Elijah McGuire, a former draft pick from the previous regime. This is a tough call, but Powell and Cannon get the nod for different reasons. Cannon is the primary kickoff returner and a demon on the special-teams coverage units. He's the team's fastest player and has improved as a running back. Powell doesn't do special teams -- neither does McGuire -- but he's a jack-of-all-trades. He may have lost a step at 30, but he can play any down and do a credible job.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Jamison Crowder, Joshua Bellamy, Charone Peake, Greg Dortch
The front office is looking for a veteran WR4 or WR5 who can return punts and/or kickoffs. They had that guy in Andre Roberts, but they let him bolt to the Buffalo Bills. Bad decision. Bellamy, Peake and Dortch stick because of special teams. Deontay Burnett (team-high nine catches) is having a respectable preseason, but there's no room at the inn because Dortch is the only legitimate punt returner. The Jets are in trouble if there's an injury among the top three. In a pinch, they can use Montgomery, a former wideout.
TIGHT END (3): Ryan Griffin, Eric Tomlinson, Trevon Wesco
Griffin will be the starter until Chris Herndon returns from a four-game suspension. It has been a quiet preseason for Wesco, a fourth-round pick, but he has position flexibility because he can play fullback. So it comes down to Tomlinson or Daniel Brown for the third spot. The edge goes to Tomlinson because he's a factor on special teams. The offense will miss Herndon -- dearly.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Kelvin Beachum, Kelechi Osemele, Ryan Kalil, Brian Winters, Brandon Shell, Jonotthan Harrison, Chuma Edoga, Alex Lewis, Tom Compton.
The projected starting interior -- Osemele, Kalil and Winters -- has played a combined total of 14 snaps in the preseason. That's worrisome. Kalil, 35, coaxed out of retirement, is coming along slower than expected. Week 1 presents a challenge at center: Do they stick with Harrison, who has started throughout the preseason, or do they go with a rusty Kalil? Some good news: The depth is improved. Eight of the nine players have NFL starting experience. The lone exception is Edoga, a rookie who can swing from right to left tackle.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Leonard Williams, Quinnen Williams, Henry Anderson, Steve McLendon, Bronson Kaufusi, Folorunso Fatukasi
The top five are locks to make the team. Fatukasi, who began training camp on the bubble, has helped his case with a solid couple of weeks. The big question is Nathan Shepherd, a third-round pick in 2018. The former small-school standout has been slow to develop and hasn't distinguished himself in the preseason. He has the right size, strength and athleticism, but his instincts are lacking for the position. The new regime has no loyalty to Shepherd, who was drafted by former general manager Mike Maccagnan.
LINEBACKER (9): C.J. Mosley, Jordan Jenkins, Neville Hewitt, Harvey Langi, Frankie Luvu, Tarell Basham, Blake Cashman, Jachai Polite, Anthony Wint
Mosley and Jenkins are the only starting-caliber players in this group, so don't be stunned if things look different after the roster cut-down and waiver period. Clearly, they will miss Avery Williamson (season-ending knee injury) and Brandon Copeland (four-game suspension). Langi, Luvu and Basham are rotational-type players. For now, Hewitt is replacing Williamson as the weak-inside linebacker, but he's only a stop-gap. Cashman, a fifth-round pick, could assume that role at some point. Polite is an interesting case. The third-round pick, a productive pass-rusher at Florida, hasn't been able to gain traction. He's not a lock to make the team.
SECONDARY (10): Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts, Brian Poole, Rontez Miles, Marcus Cooper, Tevaughn Campbell, Derrick Kindred, Alex Brown
After the first six, it's anybody's guess. The bottom of the depth chart is fluid, as the front office will be looking for upgrades, especially at cornerback. Parry Nickerson, a 2018 pick, is the latest in a long line of drafted cornerbacks who have disappointed. It will be a surprise if he makes the team. Kindred and Doug Middleton are battling for the fourth safety spot.
SPECIALISTS (3): Taylor Bertolet (PK), Lachlan Edwards (punter), Tom Hennessy (long-snapper)
Bertolet improved his chances with 48- and 56-yard field goals against the New Orleans Saints, but he's still got some work to do. For one thing, his distance on kickoffs isn't the greatest. The Jets will evaluate the available kickers before anointing Bertolet their Week 1 kicker.