Jets face tough choices with players from 2020 draft ahead of roster cuts

Shortly after the 2020 NFL Draft ended, Jets general manager Joe Douglas met with reporters and gave the standard post-draft answer about how it went. 

“The objective is to try to make this team better,” Douglas said with then-coach Adam Gase at his side. “I feel like we added a lot of quality football players, quality people. I think we’re better after this weekend than we were before the draft started. Ultimately, it’s impossible to grade a draft after it happens.” 

After three seasons, it is a little easier and it’s not one Douglas is going to want to hang on his refrigerator. As the Jets cut their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Douglas’ first draft as GM is again going to be under the spotlight. He cut one of those players on Monday when the Jets decided to let go of running back La’Mical Perine, who was a fourth-round pick in 2020. There are three players from that class who are squarely on the bubble heading into Tuesday — wide receiver Denzel Mims, safety Ashtyn Davis and defensive end Jabari Zuniga. 

That 2020 class featured nine players. Two were already gone before this round of cuts — Cameron Clark retired after suffering a neck injury and James Morgan was released last year. Mekhi Becton, the team’s first-round pick, is still on the roster but will miss the 2022 season after suffering a knee injury in training camp. If the three bubble players do not make the team, only Becton, cornerback Bryce Hall and punter Braden Mann will be left from that class. Hall is now a backup, meaning the Jets will have no starters on offense or defense from the 2020 class when they open the season on Sept. 11 against the Ravens.

While the class looks like a washout on paper, there are some things Douglas can point to in his defense. That year may have been the most difficult draft in NFL history. COVID-19 shut the world down about six weeks before the draft. Suddenly, there were no in-person visits, no pro days, no pre-draft workouts. The entire draft became a virtual operation and getting to know players became much more difficult. The 31 other teams also operated under these circumstances, of course, but the degree of difficulty in 2020 was higher than ever. 

Douglas has also rebounded with much more promising draft classes in 2021 and 2022. While the 2020 class does not have any starters, there are six players from the past two draft classes who are expected to start or be major contributors this season and that is not including Zach Wilson, who should be back as the starting quarterback at some point in September. 

Even with those favorable items for Douglas, the 2020 class has to sting and you wonder if he has the stomach to cut so many of his draft picks Tuesday. Here is a look at the three bubble players. 

Denzel Mims WR, second round 

The Mims story has been well chronicled. He has not clicked with Robert Saleh or this coaching staff and is the fifth or sixth wide receiver on the depth chart. He requested a trade last week and Douglas may move him before the 4 p.m. deadline Tuesday. If he doesn’t, things get interesting. Does Douglas keep Mims on the roster even though he has asked out? Mims is not a special teams contributor and it is tough to keep six wide receivers with no special teams value. The Mims decision is the most fascinating one Douglas has to make on cutdown day. 

Ashtyn Davis S, third round 

Davis is super athletic but it has not translated on the field. He does not have good instincts and is often out of position. Will Parks has outplayed Davis in training camp and should be the fourth safety on the team along with Jordan Whitehead, Lamarcus Joyner and Jason Pinnock. If Douglas keeps Davis over Parks, it is only because he drafted him. 

Jabari Zuniga DE, third round 

Zuniga was cut last year and then brought back on the practice squad and did play in three games. He has flashed a few times in training camp, but the Jets are loaded at the position and Zuniga has little chance of making it. He could end up on the practice squad again.