The NY Jets have officially revealed their initial 53-man roster for the upcoming 2024 season. There were a few surprises and a couple of notable omissions, but for the most part, most of the team's roster moves were sensible and predictable.
That said, the Jets aren't done making moves. The roster the Jets revealed on Tuesday is almost definitely not going to be the roster the Jets enter Week 1 with. There will be changes.
Some of those changes could come via the waiver wire. NFL teams will have until 12 pm ET today to submit waiver claims for players who were let go by other teams. There's also an opportunity to sign vested veterans who were released and avoided waivers.
We're going to take a look at some of the top available options for the Jets on the waiver wire and free-agent market following roster cuts. Here are 10 names to keep an eye on.
10. TE Brenden Bates
The Jets only kept two tight ends on their 53-man roster after releasing Anthony Firkser and placing Kenny Yeboah on the injured reserve. It's very likely the team will make an addition to the position group, and there are a few intriguing names on the waiver wire.
One of which is undrafted rookie Brenden Bates, who put together an outstanding summer with the Chicago Bears after being signed out of Kentucky following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Bates finished second among all tight ends this preseason with 100 receiving yards on six catches. He was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded rookie tight end of the summer, earning a stellar 85.8 grade.
At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Bates flashed his upside as both a receiver and blocker this summer and figures to be a hot commodity on the waiver wire. Multiple teams have reportedly already expressed interest —the Jets should be one of them.
9. TE E.J. Jenkins
Another young tight end the Jets should consider placing a waiver claim on is E.J. Jenkins. Jenkins might be familiar to some Jets fans, as the former Georgia Tech standout actually signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent last offseason.
Jenkins even caught a touchdown pass in the preseason before he was waived as part of final roster cuts. The 6-foot-7, 243-pound tight end was considered a strong contender for the Eagles' roster but was somewhat surprisingly waived again.
Reports suggest Jenkins is expected to garner interest from multiple teams on the waiver wire. The Jets have familiarity with the Virginia native and would be wise to bring him back.
8. C Sam Mustipher
The Jets decided to keep 10 offensive linemen on their active roster, but it's possible they could make some changes to the position group. One veteran who could pique their interest is center Sam Mustipher.
The former Chicago Bears' starter was released by the Broncos on Tuesday and now becomes one of the most experienced offensive linemen on the open market. Mustipher started 40 games over three years with the Bears between 2020 and 2022 before spending last season as a backup in Baltimore.
The Jets don't have a true backup center on their roster, and they already added two other 2023 Ravens offensive linemen this offseason. Mustipher makes a ton of sense as a potential target.
7. TE Cole Turner
We're going to be discussing a lot of tight ends on this list, given the obvious need at the position. Another intriguing name the Jets could target is former Washington Commanders draft pick Cole Turner.
A fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Turner appeared in 22 games for the Commanders over the last two years and was expected to be a part of their 53-man roster again in 2024. Instead, he was waived after trade talks failed to materialize.
Turner is unrefined as a receiver but has impressed in limited playing time as a blocker. The Jets could use a developmental blocking tight end on their roster. The team also got a close look at Turner during a joint practice earlier this month.
6. WR Isaiah Hodgins
One of the most high-profile names let go on Tuesday, the New York Giants parted ways with former starting wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins. Hodgins was a revelation for the Giants in 2022 and was still a regular part of their receiver rotation in 2023.
The former Oregon State standout is expected to garner significant interest on the waiver wire, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see multiple teams place a claim. The Jets are currently 10th in the waiver order, meaning that they might not even be able to land him if they wanted.
Hodgins would be an improvement over Jason Brownlee and Irv Charles at the very least, making this a worthwhile potential pickup for the Jets.
5. TE Jesper Horsted
Yes, another tight end. The Jets got a close look at veteran tight end Jesper Horsted during joint practice with the Carolina Panthers earlier this summer, and if they liked what they saw, perhaps they could look to add him to their 53-man roster.
A converted wide receiver, Horsted was PFF's second-highest-graded tight end this preseason behind only George Kittle. He hauled in all three of his targets for 64 yards in three games. Horstead has 41 career NFL games under his belt and could be much-needed insurance at a position of need.
4. C Ricky Stromberg
Another former Washington Commanders player the Jets should consider targeting is Ricky Stromberg. A third-round pick in last year's NFL Draft, Stromberg was surprisingly waived by the Commanders on Tuesday just one year after being selected on Day 2 of the draft.
Stromberg appeared in just three games as a rookie and missed time due to injury both last year and this summer. Still, Washington's new regime never seemed to give the former Arkansas standout a fair shot.
Now, Stromberg was waived with an injury designation, so it's unclear how serious the injury is. But if it's nothing serious, the Jets and many other teams should be interested.
3. TE Donald Parham
The Los Angeles Chargers released longtime tight end Donald Parham on Tuesday, much to the chagrin of their unhappy fan base. Parham has spent the last four seasons serving as an important depth piece for the Chargers.
The former XFL standout is a freakish athlete standing at 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, and he's put together a successful NFL career. Parham has started 23 of 47 games over the last four seasons while hauling in 67 catches for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Parham is an excellent red-zone threat and would arguably be the Jets' second-best tight end. He isn't subject to waivers, but the Jets absolutely consider signing him to their 53-man roster.
2. WR Noah Brown
Perhaps the most high-profile offensive player released on Tuesday, Noah Brown isn't expected to be without a job for very long. Brown was ultimately a victim of the numbers game in a loaded Texans wide receiver room.
The former Dallas Cowboys wideout has posted consecutive seasons of at least 550 yards, including a two-game stretch last year in which he hauled in 13 catches for a whopping 325 yards. Yes, that was over two games.
Brown is a proven commodity NFL wide receiver who should have his share of options on the open market. If for whatever reason he can't find a better landing spot, the Jets should be all over this.
1. TE Jack Stoll
One of my personal favorite waiver-wire targets for the Jets is former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Jack Stoll. Stoll has garnered a reputation as one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL, starting 26 games for the Eagles over the last three years.
The Nebraska product signed with the New York Giants this offseason but was surprisingly released as part of final roster cuts. The Jets got a close look at Stoll during the Jets/Giants joint practice last week. Not to mention Joe Douglas still has many ties to the Eagles' organization and likely knows Stoll well.
Stoll is a vested veteran and was not subject to waivers, meaning the Jets (or any team) can simply sign him at any time. He would be a perfect pickup as a third blocking tight end who doubles as a core special-teamer. Not flashy, but a very appealing target nonetheless.
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