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What Will Be the Jets' Most Challenging Roster Decision?

Defensive Line, Wide Receiver Could Be in Focus for Joe Douglas, Robert Saleh & Co.

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Throughout the offseason, NewYorkJets.com reporters Eric Allen, Ethan Greenberg, Randy Lange, Caroline Hendershot and John Pullano will give their responses to a series of questions regarding this year's Jets.

Today's question: What will be the Jets' most challenging roster decision?

EA: The Jets' defensive line was fantastic Saturday night. Youngsters Leonard Taylor and Braiden McGregor created havoc in the offensive backfield while Takk McKinley, a former first-round pick, completed an impressive summer with a sack. It will be fascinating to see what the final number is along the front. While the rookie running backs will give the Jets quality options behind Breece Hall, Israel Abanikanda certainly made his case Saturday night for a place on an NFL roster. The wideout spot is also interesting. Garrett Wilson leads a clear top five, plus Irv Charles is a valuable special teams contributor and Jason Brownlee really came on in camp. Could we see as many as seven WR? If the Jets keep four safeties, who is the final one behind Chuck Clark, Tony Adams and Ashtyn Davis? We'll find out soon enough.

EG: The Jets' deepest positions, to me, are defensive and offensive line, linebacker and running back, but the DL will be the most-challenging decision. The Green & White has its core up front -- DTs Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw and Solomon Thomas as well as pass rushers Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald, and Micheal Clemons. Then there are veterans like run-stuffing DT Leki Fotu, who signed with the team in the offseason; Jalyn Holmes, who has had an impressive camp playing more DE than DT (he took almost all his snaps at DT last season for the Jets); and pass rusher Takk McKinley, who has flashed in hopes to revive his career. Undrafted free agents Eric Watts, Braiden McGregor and Leonard Taylor have also put together impressive camps. Do Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh & Co. want to try and sneak one of the rookies onto the practice squad? If so, they'll be subject to waivers. Roster gymnastics are looming, but the defensive line will certainly be in focus for the decision makers.

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RL: If I were to spotlight a position of difficult final-53 decisions for Robert Saleh and his staff, I'd say it was the defensive front. At the moment, the interior is manned by now Pro Bowl regular Quinnen Williams and larger-than-life Javon Kinlaw, but reliable Solomon Thomas, veteran newcomer Leki Fotu, Tanzel Smart, Bruce Hector and rookie Leonard Taylor are all in the hunt for reps and roster spots. On the edge, the starters are Pro Bowler Jermaine Johnson and Micheal Clemons, but with second-year man Will McDonald and solid veteran Takk McKinley looking to resume his career, plus young vet Jalyn Holmes and rookies Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor making things hard for the decision-makers. Then if Haason Reddick arrives in the coming days, the outside depth charts will undergo further restructuring. Whomever makes it, the front feels more dynamic than last year, more set to stop the run, then lend pocket pressure to assist the back-end coverage. And whichever young Jets find themselves released, they could easily find themselves returning, immediately on the practice squad or down the road to contribute to what can be a memorable Jets season.

CH: Someone who sticks out is WR Jason Brownlee. He has had a great training camp, but the Jets have 11 wide receivers on their roster as of Saturday night. There's Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Mike Williams. Then there's Xavier Gipson, who was the team's starting returner last season and has taken on a heavier role on offense throughout camp, third-round pick Malachi Corley, who has also been involved in kickoff and punt returns, and Irvin Charles, who started at gunner last season. If the Jets were to try and sneak him onto the practice squad, he'd first be subject to waivers and then could sign to another team's 53-man roster at any point during the season. I'm not sure how many wide receivers the Jets will keep on the 53-man roster, but I know there's a lot of talent in the receiver room and it will be a difficult decision for GM Joe Douglas and HC Robert Saleh.

JP: Following finals cuts last season, HC Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas kept seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster including, perhaps to the surprise of many, a pair of undrafted wideouts. I am curious to see what's in store at the wide receiver position. Rising star Garrett Wilson has cemented himself as QB Aaron Rodgers' top target this offseason while Allen Lazard and Xavier Gipson to continue to have blossoming chemistry with the four-time NFL MVP. Offseason signing Mike Williams, coming off a torn ACL, is expected to make his debut in team periods of practice this upcoming week and rookie Malachi Corley, the Jets third-round selection in April's draft, has continued to make strides toward being a versatile weapon. If Douglas and Saleh elect to keep the same number of receivers as last year, that leaves two spots for six players -- Irvin Charles, Jason Brownlee, Lance McCutcheon, Brandon Smith, Tyler Harrell and Isaiah Winstead. Charles' contributions on special teams as a gunner and Brownlee's experience could give them an inside track. Brownlee was with the team last season and had an impressive close to camp, catching two touchdowns in the final joint practice with the Giants on Wednesday.

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