The Jets and Giants have shaped the core of their teams before the start of the NFL regular season. The Jets’ distinct characteristic is youth, while the Giants’ obvious strength is a talented defensive front seven.
The NFL’s deadline for the league’s 32 franchises to submit their initial 53-man rosters was Tuesday at 4 p.m., but they are still fluid. Teams will make trades or claim players cut by other clubs to shore up depth at various positions, and release players or sign them to the standard 16-man practice squad (17 with one player from the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program) to make room for the new additions.
All of the Jets and Giants’ picks from this year’s draft, held in April, made the rosters. That is seven picks for each team. A few may wind up on the practice squad, but it is a good early sign that the scouting department and general managers — first-year GM Darren Mougey for the Jets and Joe Schoen of the Giants — have appraised and selected well. However, that is still to be determined on the field in the coming weeks and months.
“Like I’ve said a number of times, these days, these couple days we’ve had, they’re always tough on players, on their families, on their teammates, on coaches, on staff members,” said Daboll on Tuesday. “We understand that. That’s the nature of the NFL.
“…There’s always cut-down dates. We’ll have our team, but there’s always evaluations that take place,” he expanded. “Do you want to add this player? Do you want to claim this player? You’re trying to improve any way you can. I’m excited about the guys that are here right now. We’ll just try to do the best we can.”
Under rookie head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets retained 17 players with two or fewer years of experience. This is subject to change and probably will, but it is an indication of Mougey’s and Glenn’s belief in their coaching staff’s capacity to cultivate the raw ability of their youngsters.
The Jets’ most notable cut was wide receiver Malachi Corley, who they drafted in the third round last year, 65th overall, out of Western Kentucky. Corley played in nine games last season, primarily on the special teams unit, and had only three receptions for 16 yards on six targets from the wideout spot.
“This time of the season is the hardest part for any coach,” said Glenn. “You can only have 69 — that’s your 53 and 16 on the practice squad … And I’ve said this before: My job is to hopefully be able to help those men get on another squad if possible.”