Potential Cut Candidates for the New York Jets
Cuts are, from a human standpoint, one of the hardest things for a coaching staff and front office to do. There is no guarantee that any player who is cut is able to land on their feet and get signed by another team, effectively leaving the fate of players' hopes and dreams of playing in the big leagues in the hands of the coaches and front office employees. Unfortunately, cuts are still a part of the business and are necessary to get a roster down to the best players. The Jets have a few early candidates emerging, even before training camp starts.
Michael Clemons, DL
Michael Clemons has been someone Jets fans have talked about wanting to cut for a couple of years at this point. Clemons was a fourth-round pick back in 2022. Fans originally loved Clemons for his terrifying look and deadpan attitude. Unfortunately, their tune quickly changed when Clemons struggled mightily on the field. Not only was he ineffective against the run and the pass, but he also had penalty issues, racking up a few notably frustrating unnecessary roughness flags while on the field. Despite the Jets’ thin defensive line rotation, Clemons may still find himself as the odd man out if he doesn’t show any improvements in training camp.
Xavier Gipson, WR
Xavier Gipson had one of the most memorable moments in recent Jets history. His walk-off punt return touchdown in overtime of Week One in 2023 after Aaron Rodgers ruptured his Achilles will forever be a bittersweet moment in Jets fans' memories. Unfortunately, he hasn’t done much else as a return man since that play, and with rookie Arian Smith now pushing for that spot, Gipson finds himself with an ever-decreasing role on the roster. He’s not a particularly effective receiver either, only totaling 229 yards in 17 games in 2024. The Jets are hurting at receiver right now, but Gipson still finds himself on the bubble.
Malachi Corley, WR
If Malachi Corley ends up getting cut this offseason, he will go down as one of the bigger Jets draft busts in recent memory. The previous regime infamously went into day two of the 2024 draft saying, “Malachi Corley, no matter what”, and then never played him during the season. He was often a healthy scratch and struggled to get on the field when he was active. He only had three catches for 16 yards in 2024 and was one of the biggest disappointments of the season. The new coaching staff has expressed belief in Corley, saying they do have a plan for the young player, but he has been injured for the majority of offseason activities, putting him behind the eight ball with a new staff and, unfortunately, on the roster bubble as well.
