The New York Jets have position battles all over the roster as the team opens up OTAs this week. Geno Smith is aware he is not currently in one after offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said he would be the starter over Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty, but there are several other starting spots that remain unsettled. After spending big on free agents for the secondary, certain Jets' stars might not be gauranteed a roster spot before Week 1.
According to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com, Dee Milliner is on the chopping block for the Jets. The former first-round draft pick has not had the best start in the league. He struggled to adapt to the new system as a rookie and then suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ended his year early last season. To make matters even worse, the Jets went out and bought three new cornerbacks, Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine. Now Millner is no longer certain where he stands.
Cimini reports that Millner will be battling for his roster spot while a trade could be the end result for the cornerback. The Achilles injury did nothing to help his status with the team and now defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers is making it clear that Millner has a lot to prove and that "tough decisions will need to be made."
"When you look at Dee coming in, you see a guy still kind of working off of an injury, trying to get himself to 100 percent," Rodgers said, via ESPN.com. "But as we looked at him, we expect Dee to compete for a position on the roster like everyone else. This was a top-10 pick, and we think he has a lot of ability and we expect him to compete."
The Jets also have a question mark at their starting pass rusher. Muhammad Wilkerson was the man in charge until New York opted to draft Leonard Williams. It does not help that Wilkerson has yet to report to practice, aiming for a new contract. According to the New York Post, the Jets are denying Wilkerson is available via trades, but a new contract does not seem to be in the works.
According to general manager Mike Maccagnan, money has been set aside to give Wilkerson a new deal. He is set to be a $6.97 million cap charge and the Jets would like to reduce that for the coming year and give him an extension. However, if Williams can step in and make an impact immediately, the veteran could be the odd man out.
