Lichtenstein: As Cutdown Day Looms, Jets' 53-Man Roster Comes Into Focus

The Jets' preseason slate mercifully ended with Thursday's 6-0 snooze-fest victory over Philadelphia at sparsely filled MetLife Stadium.

Most of the participants, especially those who received reps in the second half, were auditioning for other clubs. All NFL teams must cut their rosters down from 90 to 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday.

I previewed who will be the Jets' main contributors on offense and defense in columns after preseason Week 2. My list below includes those who should round out the roster on the final 53. Bear in mind that this isn't set in stone. There will be tweaks before New York hosts Buffalo in the Sept. 8 regular-season opener. General manager Joe Douglas has promised to be very active on the waiver wire, so some of the folks on these lists shouldn't get too comfortable:

Quarterbacks: Sam Darnold, Trevor Siemian

There has been some speculation that coach Adam Gase will keep three QBs since that's how the Dolphins rolled when he was in charge the last three seasons. However, Darnold wasn't on those teams. Gase no longer needs to hedge. Luke Falk, who ended the preseason as the Jets' No. 3 over former Giants third-round pick Davis Webb, should be able to clear waivers to land on Gang Green's practice squad. He's just not that good, his gaudy preseason numbers (29-for-36, 230 yards and 2 TDs) notwithstanding.

Running backs: Le'Veon Bell, Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell, Trenton Cannon

Elijah McGuire ran out the clock in the fourth quarter of Thursday's preseason finale. That's never a good sign. Before training camp, I was doubtful about Cannon's ability to survive this cut. Instead, he earned his way onto the squad with his special-teams play (kick returner/gunner). That makes him more valuable than McGuire, who has marginally better offensive skills.

There's plenty of debate after the first three names on my list. I know every other media member has Charone Peake making the team. He's supposedly this irreplaceable special teams ace. He's not. ProFootballFocus.com has graded him no better than average in each of his three NFL seasons, with six solo tackles and two missed tackles. If the Jets are going to go with seven receivers, which Gase has reportedly never done, it should be for someone who can get open and catch the ball. That's not Peake. The Jets already have Bellamy on special-teams coverage units, and Dortch returns punts. I'm keeping Burnett because of his apparent chemistry with former college teammate Darnold. 

Tight ends: Ryan Griffin, Daniel Brown, Trevon Wesco, Chris Herndon (suspended)

I included Brown as insurance until Herndon returns from his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. It's fitting that my last impression of Eric Tomlinson in a Jets uniform was of him fumbling away a reception out of bounds (that easily could have been ruled Philadelphia ball on the sideline).

Offensive line: Kelvin Beachum, Kelechi Osemele, Ryan Kalil, Brian Winters, Brandon Shell, Jonotthan Harrison, Alex Lewis, Chuma Edoga, Tom Compton, Brent Qvale

Like I wrote in the preview, this group's performance could dictate the Jets' season. As a five-man unit, the starters played zero snaps together in the preseason due to injuries and Kalil's slow progress after coming out of retirement earlier this month. They just started working in team drills this week. There's depth, but it's shaky depth. Douglas may find improvements on waivers. I have Qvale making the team not because of my confidence in his ability, but because of his $550,000 dead-money cap hit, per OverTheCap.com, and with the knowledge that he will be placed on injured reserve soon after cutdown day. 

Defensive line: Leonard Williams, Steve McLendon, Henry Anderson, Quinnen Williams, Bronson Kaufusi, Foley Fatukasi

The big news here is that I don't think Nathan Shepherd, former general manager Mike Maccagnan's third-round reach in the 2018 draft, did enough this preseason to warrant a spot. Fatukasi is the only true backup nose tackle to McLendon. (Note to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams: Please don't use third-overall pick Quinnen Williams there.) And Kaufusi has been training camp's biggest positive surprise, in my opinion.

Inside linebackers: C.J. Mosley, Neville Hewitt, Blake Cashman, Albert McClellan, James Burgess

The Jets took a big hit when Avery Williamson went down for the season with a torn ACL two weeks ago. There isn't an adequate replacement. I like Cashman, but he's a rookie. The Jets need to stock up here. McClellan was the league's highest-graded special teams player (minimum 200 special teams snaps) by PFF last season. I gave Burgess the edge over Anthony Wint due to his prior Gase connection in 2016. 

Outside linebackers: Jordan Jenkins, Frankie Luvu, Tarell Basham, Harvey Langi, Jachai Polite, Brandon Copeland (suspended)

This is not an inspiring group. It's why rumors are buzzing that Douglas will trade for Houston's holdout edge rusher, Jadeveon Clowney. I, like most experts, believe that would be a mistake. Let's see what Jenkins can do on an opposing QB's blind side. Copeland's PED suspension likely kept the door open, at least temporarily, for Polite. I don't think the Jets should be tossing their third-round pick to the curb just yet anyway, even if he was selected by Maccagnan and has struggled in Williams' system all preseason. Polite put up great numbers at Florida last season, which means there's some talent. It just has to be nurtured.

Cornerbacks: Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts, Brian Poole, Nate Hairston, Arthur Maulet, Marcus Cooper 

So much deadwood to cut here, and Douglas won't even be done tinkering on Saturday. Hairston just arrived via trade with Indianapolis, and you can expect the Jets to pounce on any surprise cornerback cuts around the league. For now, I gave Maulet and Cooper the edge over guys like Parry Nickerson (another Maccagnan draftee), Kyron Brown (who's been injured), Alex Brown and Tevaughn Campbell. Blessuan Austin, the Jets' sixth round pick, is still on the PUP list. 

Safeties: Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye, Rontez Miles, Doug Middleton

I preferred Middleton over Derrick Kindred and Santos Ramirez for the backup job, even though his tackling angles have been inconsistent, to put it mildly.

Specialists: Thomas Hennessy (long snapper), Lachlan Edwards (punter)

Edwards appears to have won the competition with Matt Darr -- they each received 11 opportunities this preseason and Edwards had a 7-yard advantage in net average. Why bother including a kicker at this point? Taylor Bertolet's 2-for-5 on field goals Thursday doomed whatever slim hope he had of winning the job. Auditions start anew this weekend.

For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Devils and Jets, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1.