What matters more: chemistry or competition? Depth or cohesion? Quality or quantity?

These are the questions the New York Jets are going to have to answer when it comes to their offensive line in 2023.

As we enter training camp the Jets have a high quantity of decent, serviceable offensive linemen on their roster. So, who will emerge from this training camp and preseason as the starters for week one of the 2023 season? 

What is most interesting for the Jets this season is almost no position on the line has a guaranteed starter. Here is my list of players along with the potential that they start. All of these percentages are assuming all players are in good health.

Potential Starting Offensive Linemen

Duane Brown

A lot has been made about the supposed camp battle between 37-year-old Duane Brown and former 11^th overall pick Mekhi Becton, but there really isn’t that much of a battle. 

This will be Duane Brown’s job as the season starts and remain his barring injury. Becton simply has not shown enough to take the job from Brown and given his health and inability to stay on the field, won’t be able to show enough in camp.

Liklihood to start at Left Tackle – 95%

Alijah Vera-Tucker

AVT returns for his third season after sustaining a season-ending triceps injury at Denver in Week 7. Before the injury, AVT played right guard, left tackle and right tackle after playing his rookie season at left guard.

His absence was felt when he went out and the only thing stopping him for cementing himself at right guard is if the Jets need him to play right tackle, which he did outstandingly at last season.

Likelihood to start at Right Guard – 98%

Likelihood to start at Right Tackle – 2%

Laken Tomlinson

Tomlinson was signed over from the San Francisco 49ers before last season and coming off a Pro Bowl year in the Bay area. His first year with the Jets did not go quite as planned and he was underwhelming to say the least. 

He will look to bounce back at left guard this year, but there is a lot more competition for his spot than last year.

Likelihood to start at Left Guard – 80%

Mekhi Becton

What can I possibly say about Becton that I haven’t previously said? Simply put, the guy can’t be relied on. It’s easy to root for a guy who does everything he can to get on the field after injury, but when all you hear is excuses and hyperbole, it becomes nothing but noise. 

Becton has a road grating skill set that I believe makes him an ideal right tackle. He doesn’t see himself that way. The problem is, I can’t imagine too many in the league see him as reliable option at left tackle at this point. 

Will he be able to handle and accept a transition to right tackle? Can’t wait to watch “Hard Knocks” to find out.

Likelihood to start at Left Tackle – 5%

Likelihood to start at Right Tackle – 40%

Max Mitchell

Mitchell showed some intriguing flashes as a rookie last season before he was shut down with an illness, but he appeared healthy at OTAs. Mitchell was selected in the fourth round by the Jets in 2022 out of Louisiana. 

This is a guy that can be anywhere from the starting right tackle to the backup swing tackle depending on his camp and his health. As a “homegrown player” it could be that the Jets push him to succeed before others.

Likelihood to start at Right Tackle – 28%

Billy Turner

Billy Turner played with Rodgers for the Green Bay Packers and then for Nathaniel Hackett for the Denver Broncos. He started seven games last season. The likely plan for Turner was to start at right tackle and be an emergency left tackle if the need should arise and it very well might. Think about last year when the Jets were signing guys off the street on Tuesday and starting them on Sunday. 

Turner is a good player and will be great swing tackle if he doesn’t win the right tackle job in camp.

Likelihood to start at Right Tackle – 30%

Connor McGovern

In what felt like a panic move at the time, the Jets signed McGovern three days before the NFL Draft in April to cover themselves if they missed out on the center they were eyeing in the draft. This will be his fourth season with the Green & White. McGovern not only started all 17 games last season; he also was the only player on offense who took every snap. 

McGovern is a solid player on the interior of the line. The Jets probably signed him as insurance, but he might just win the job early or even take someone else’s if they don’t perform.

Likelihood to start at Center – 30%

Likelihood to start at Left Guard – 20%

Likelihood to start at Right Guard – 2%

Joe Tippmann

The Jets may not have gotten the guy they wanted in the first round, but the sure got the one they wanted in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Tippmann was the first center taken off the board and the Jets believe they have the next version of Kevin Mawae or Nick Mangold. 

Tippmann was drafted to come in and start right away and if not for the presence of Connor McGovern, there would be no debate as to who the starting center for the 2023 Jets will be. 

If Tippmann earns a spot on the offensive line it will be at center. No reason to waste time trying him out at guard.

Likelihood to start at Center – 70%

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The Jets will rely on one of the biggest additions to the offensive line this season in coach and run game coordinator, Keith Carter. Carter spent the past five seasons as the Tennessee Titans' offensive line coach. He helped the Titans offense finish in the top 6 in red-zone offense in each of the last four seasons.

The Jets signed and drafted other offensive lineman, and while they will add some decent depth at their positions, I don’t foresee any of them cracking the starting lineup barring injuries.

Jets OT competition getting hot

The Jets have seven offensive tackles in camp fighting for playing time while two of them insist on only playing left tackle.

Featured Image via Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports