That leaves two picks yet to be signed, first-round linebacker Vernon Gholston (Ohio State) and first-round tight end Dustin Keller (Purdue). General manager Mike Tannenbaum takes pride in not having drawn-out contract impasses such as the one with cornerback Darrelle Revis last year, and certainly doesn't want that to happen again, and it appears that it won't.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--CB Dwight Lowery (4/113): Terms unknown.

--QB Erik Ainge (5/162): Terms unknown.

--WR Marcus Henry (6/171): Terms unknown.

--OT Nate Garner (7/211): Terms unknown.

DRAFT CHOICES UNSIGNED

--LB Vernon Gholston (1/6).

--TE Dustin Keller (1/30).

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Kellen Clemens. Backups -- Chad Pennington, Erik Ainge.

Clemens is listed as the starter only because that's how he finished the 2007 season. The Jets quickly made it clear after the season that Clemens and Pennington would compete for the starting job heading into the 2008 campaign. Pennington began the year as the starter but struggled with his decision-making more than he ever had, throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown twice in a span of three games in October. He also struggled at getting the Jets into the end zone, and the offense had produced no touchdowns in its last two home games prior to his benching after the Oct. 28 loss to Buffalo. But Clemens didn't provide much of a lift. Including one end-of-the-half kneeldown, the offense produced nine touchdowns in 88 possessions with Clemens at the helm. The second-year pro displayed his strong arm at times, but also showed a tendency to lock in on his primary receiver too often, leading to interceptions. His pocket presence also needs to improve, as he had lots of trouble reading pressure from the back and blind sides. The veteran Pennington, who won a four-way battle for the starting job in the 2006 training camp, would seem to be the favorite in such a race, unless perhaps the organization grades Clemens on a curve because of his upside. Neither player seemed to have a clear edge after spring practices. Ainge, a fifth-round pick, had surgery on the pinky finger on his throwing hand in May and while he should be ready to resume play this month, he doesn't figure to be a factor this season.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- RB Thomas Jones. Backups -- RB Leon Washington, RB Jesse Chatman, FB Tony Richardson, RB Musa Smith, FB Jehuu Caulcrick.

Jones struggled in 2007, averaging only 3.6 yards per carry, his lowest average since he had 3.4 with Arizona in 2001 in his second pro season. A large part of the problem was an offensive line that didn't generate much of a push, particularly in short-yardage situations. Jones didn't have many holes to work with, and sometimes didn't make a quick enough or decisive enough cut when he did have an opening for a fleeting moment. Washington averaged only 3.6 through the first 11 games but finished at 5.0 after a late-season burst. But he had only 5.9 yards per reception, and the Jets need to find ways to get him the ball in space more often on offense. The Jets tried to use tight ends as H-backs, instead of a conventional fullback, last season, but it didn't work. So they went out and signed free-agent Richardson from Minnesota, where he helped pave the way for Adrian Peterson's spectacular rookie season. Chatman, formerly of the Dolphins, is a change-of-pace guy who could challenge Washington for playing time, especially as a third-down back. Smith is finally healthy after five mostly injury-plagued seasons with Baltimore, and could make the team as a backup fullback. Caulcrick also is vying for that spot.

TIGHT END: Starter -- Chris Baker. Backups -- Bubba Franks, Dustin Keller, Jason Pociask.

Baker certainly is another major item on the Jets' summer agenda. He is unhappy with his current contract and the Jets must guard against this becoming a drawn-out soap opera like the one involving left guard Pete Kendall last summer. On the field, Baker had a career high in receptions for the second consecutive season, following up his 31-catch performance of 2006 with 41 receptions. Baker is a crisp route-runner who probably has the best hands on the team, as evidenced by his many excellent one-hand and fingertip grabs. He still was needed to help block on passing downs sometimes and would've had even more receptions otherwise. Although he has two years remaining on his contract, he made it clear the day after the season finale that he wants to renegotiate for more money, and hasn't backed down since. The Jets have shown no sign of wanted to renegotiate. Franks, a free agent who used to be a Green Bay standout, is a pretty good blocker but isn't quite the receiver he used to be, although he still is effective in the red zone. Keller, a first-round pick from Purdue, has the speed to stretch defenses vertically as a receiver, but needs to work on his blocking. Pociask has yet to prove himself.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- FL Jerricho Cotchery, SE Laveranues Coles. Backups -- Brad Smith, Chansi Stuckey, Wallace Wright, Marcus Henry, David Ball.

Coles' 55 receptions were his fewest since his rookie season in 2000, but he was beset with both a concussion and a high ankle sprain. Those two maladies sidelined Coles for four games, and he missed all but a few plays of two other contests because of the ankle. Coles had the remaining $11 million on his contract, which has two years left, guaranteed during the offseason, and needs to stay healthier this year. Cotchery had career highs in receptions (82) and yards (1,130) and seems ready to be a No. 1 receiver. Smith's route-running improved in 2007, but the former quarterback still is not good at catching the ball in traffic or making the tough catch, and doesn't seem suited to be a starting receiver. Wright, one of the Jets' best on special teams, showed flashes in limited playing time. Stuckey suffered a recurrence of the foot problems that plagued him at Clemson, and the Jets shut him down early in hopes that will alleviate the problem once and for all. When healthy, he combines great hands and good route-running and could be a starter very soon. Stuckey looked good in the spring, as did rookie Marcus Henry, a sixth-round pick from Kansas who could be a good red-zone target at 6-4. Ball, a record-setter in college at New Hampshire, could contribute.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LG Alan Faneca, C Nick Mangold, RG Brandon Moore, RT Damien Woody. Backups -- C/G Will Montgomery, T Clint Oldenburg, G Robert Turner, G/T Jacob Bender, G Wayne Hunter, T Nate Garner.

The Jets spent a total of $65 million over five years to rebuild their offensive line, a major weakness in 2007. The August trade that sent disgruntled LG Pete Kendall to Washington turned out to be a major mistake by GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini, as nobody filled the void. So the Jets signed seven-time Pro Bowler Faneca as a free agent to a five-year, $40 million deal, and he is expected to lead the line both on the field and in the locker room. Ferguson had his moments in 2007, but has yet to develop into the shutdown left tackle the Jets expected when they drafted him fourth overall in 2006. Mangold had a solid year, but slipped slightly from his rookie season, possibly because he had to do more in the absence of Kendall. Both figure to benefit from flanking Faneca. On the right side, Moore was solid as usual in 2007 but Clement slumped and was released, paving the way for the Jets to sign Woody to a five-year, $25 million contract. Woody has been a guard much of his career, but started the last five games of the 2007 campaign at right tackle for the Lions. Almost all of the backups are very inexperienced.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LE Shaun Ellis, NT Kris Jenkins, RE Kenyon Coleman. Backups -- E Mike DeVito, E C.J. Mosley, NT Sione Pouha, DL Kareem Brown.

Jenkins, a three-time Pro Bowler as a 4-3 defensive tackle for Carolina, is being asked to transition to a 3-4 nose. At 6-4 and 360 pounds, he has the size to do it. The Jets overpaid for Coleman when they signed the former Cowboy as a free agent last March, but he played fairly well and fits the 3-4 system. Ellis was better as a 4-3 end in the previous system, although he tied for the team lead in sacks with five and sometimes played OLB during the latter part of the season. Mosley played well in spurts and figures to be a bigger part of the D-line rotation in 2008. Pouha, who has the quickness and bulk to be a run-stuffer and a true 3-4 nose, came on during the second half of the 2007 campaign and will back up Jenkins. Pouha is especially effective in goal-line and short-yardage situations. Second-year players DeVito and Brown, a New England castoff, need more seasoning.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- OLB Bryan Thomas, ILB Eric Barton, ILB David Harris, OLB Calvin Pace. Backups -- OLB Vernon Gholston, OLB Matt Chatham, OLB David Bowens, ILB Brad Kassell, OLB Marques Murrell, OLB Jason Trusnik, OLB Cody Spencer.

Thomas slumped after recording a career-high 8.5 sacks in 2006, and lost his starting job to Bowens late in the season. He was very candid during the spring, blaming his own lazy practice habits for his decline in performance, and Thomas obviously realizes the clock is ticking. Especially after the Jets drafted Gholston with the sixth pick and signed Pace to a six-year, $42 million contract as a free agent. Gholston is a pass-rusher extraordinaire who will make the transition from a 4-3 DE at Ohio State to a 3-4 OLB with the Jets, and Pace had a career-high 6.5 sacks for Arizona last season. The Jets desperately need an edge-rushing OLB that opponents must gameplan for. Bowens was a good situational pass-rusher in the second half of the 2007 campaign and also can play inside if needed. Harris wowed people after stepping in as a starter in the eighth game last season after the since-traded Jonathan Vilma went down with a season-ending injury, and he tied for the team lead in sacks with five while also being stout against the run. It's possible that Vilma could be traded before the 2008 season, although teams may be wary until they see how healthy his right knee is after surgery. Barton was steady and was second on the team in tackles behind Harris. Kassell was solid in a reserve role, while Chatham struggled after missing the first seven games after off-season foot surgery. Spencer, a special-teams ace, returns after being sidelined by an undisclosed illness last season.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Darrelle Revis, RCB Hank Poteat, FS Abram Elam, SS Kerry Rhodes. Backups -- CB David Barrett, CB Dwight Lowery, CB Drew Coleman, FS Eric Smith, S Cameron Worrell, CB Justin Miller, CB James Ihedigbo.

Revis started every game and showed why the Jets traded up 11 spots in the first round to select him. His three picks were second on the team to Rhodes' five, and he has big-time coverage skills. He's also good in run support and is a future star. Rhodes already has attained that level. Rhodes, the best playmaker on the Jets' defense, was turned loose in the second half of the 2007 season after Elam's emergence and was signed to a lucrative contract extension during the offseason. Poteat was solid and notched his first two career interceptions. He finished the season as the starter but wasn't re-signed by the Jets until May. Miller, who missed all but two games last season with a knee injury, appears to be the front-runner for that starting spot. Elam, signed in September after being released by Dallas, took the since-departed Erik Coleman's job because he was more aggressive as both a cover guy and tackler, although he must channel that aggressiveness. Smith seemed poised for a breakout 2007 season, but a hamstring injury in training camp set him back. Still, he likely will challenge Elam for the starting FS spot in camp. Lowery, a fourth-round pick from San Jose State, is a ball hawk who will challenge for playing time.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Mike Nugent, P Ben Graham, LS James Dearth, KR Leon Washington, PR Leon Washington.

Nugent had another very solid season, connecting on 26 of his last 28 field-goal attempts inside 50 yards. He also got more distance on his kickoffs, notching nine touchbacks, but was only 1-for-4 from 50 yards and beyond on field goals. Graham finished 19th in the NFL in net yardage and was a healthy scratch against Tennessee in the next-to-last game of the 2007 season. Rookie free agent Jeremy Kapinos punted that day and seemed poised to challenge Graham again this summer until he was surprisingly released in June. Dearth was almost automatic on snaps in 2007, as usual, although one bad one against Philadelphia led to a miss from 44 yards by Nugent. Washington took over kickoff returns after Justin Miller's season-ending injury and seemed headed for the Pro Bowl, where Miller went in 2006. But Washington, who had three returns for touchdowns, tailed off in the second half as teams began adjusting kickoffs to neutralize his returns. He was unspectacular on punt returns and the Jets probably should give those duties to Revis. He was a standout punt returner in college. It will be interesting to see how the Jets' special teams fare with Kevin O'Dea as the coordinator, taking over for well-respected Mike Westhoff, who resigned for medical reasons after the 2007 season finale.

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