Offensive Depth
Edition #615
Good morning!
Who’s ready for the first day of OTA’s? The Jets report to 1JD today for their first day of off-season activities and I’m ready for it. With the Knicks and Rangers locked into the playoffs, the Islanders following and the Yankees playing good ball with the Mets showing signs of life…NY Sport seems set for a resurgence, and I’m hopeful this is the first day of the Jets climb back to the top.
I wanted to give a shout out to Jonathan Macri and Knicks Film School, the first ever newsletter I subscribed to here on Substack. With the Knicks locked into the #2 seed having won 50 games for the first time since 1994 (just like the Rangers), now’s a great time to get subscribed ahead of the playoffs.
As always, the Monday edition of TJW is free for everyone. But if you like what you read, consider hitting that subscribe button or upgrading your membership. As always I appreciate every single read, subscribe and share.
NFL.com looked at the ideal top-two picks for every single team in the draft and they gave the Jets a TE and Safety…not sure that will go down that well.
Gennaro Filice of NFL.com releases his second mock draft of the season and he had the Jets getting Rome Odunze, I wouldn’t complain one bit, although they had to move up to get him.
We may not like Woody Johnson as an NFL owner, but he’s given Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh something that NFL personnel rarely get. Time.
Douglas arrived back in 2019, Saleh back in 2021 and they’ll both still be here in 2024 despite missing the playoffs every year. That’s rare.
So while Douglas and Saleh know that they have to turn in a winning record and a playoff appearance this season to save their jobs, they also need to be mindful of the future.
If they really do believe in what they’re doing, if they really do believe in this group of players then they must have confidence that they’ll be here in 2025 and beyond.
So I thought that with OTA’s starting today, it was a good time to take stock of our depth ahead of the NFL draft. It’s also a mistake to believe that free agency is over, I’m confident that we’ll see more signings, which almost certainly includes a veteran RB.
Quarterback
Starter: Aaron Rodgers (Signed through 2025)
Backup: Tyrod Taylor (Signed through 2025)
Depth: Zach Wilson (Signed through 2025)
Let’s start from the bottom on this one. Technically the Jets haven’t refused the option on Zach and as such he’s technically signed through 2025. The Jets and Zach’s agents are still looking for a new opportunity, but right now teams are unwilling to pay his $11.1 million contract. You feel as though this is going to get very awkward. Every team in the league knows that the Jets want to move Zach, and every team in the league knows the Jets won’t carry him at $11.1 million as QB3, you can’t. Woody Johnson has backed the Jets into a corner with his statement that they won’t release him. So the Jets either trade him and eat a lot of that salary, or they keep him…which would be awkward considering everyone and their dog knows they tried to move him.
Tyrod Taylor is a good backup to have and I like that he was given a multi-year deal and of course the Jets have Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall Of Famer and when healthy, one of the best QBs in football. Right now he’s signed through 2025 with plenty of void years, but let’s see what happens. Aaron stays healthy the Jets are contenders.
Running Backs
Starter: Breece Hall (Signed through 2025)
Backup: Israel Abanikanda (Signed through 2026)
Fullback: Nick Bawden (Signed through 2024)
Depth: Jacques Patrick (Signed through 2025), Xazavian Valladay (Signed through 2025)
It’s likely that the Jets will need to make an effort to extend star running back Breece Hall over the next 12-18 months. 994 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns, as well as 591 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in an offence that didn’t have a stable offensive line, competent play-caller or competent QB play…one year removed from an ACL injury. I’m not sure Breece is human, but I am sure that he’s a guy you want to build an offence around.
It took a long time for the coaches to trust rookie Israel Abanikanda, with the former Pitt man struggling to pick up protections. As we saw very little of him, it’s hard to judge his contributions in 2024. The same can be said about Patrick and Valladay, and while I like Bawden, I’m not sure we use him enough to warrant his roster space.
It seems almost certain that the Jets will sign a veteran running back at some point this summer.
Wide Receivers
Starters: Garrett Wilson (Signed through 2025), Mike Williams (Signed through 2024), Xavier Gipson (Signed through 2025)
Backup: Allen Lazard (Signed through 2026), Jason Brownlee (Signed through 2025), Malik Taylor (Signed through 2025)
Depth: Irvin Charles (Signed through 2024), Lance McCutcheon (Signed through 2025)
When it comes to the two outside receivers, I think the Jets boast one of the best 1-2 punches in football if they can stay healthy. You have everything you want tin Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams and Xavier Gipson really flashed as a UDFA rookie, so there is a lot of expectation that he’s ready to make a jump in year two. Adding the contested catch ability and physicality of Mike Williams to the route-running and elegance of Garrett Wilson was a masterstroke. It means defenses can’t just focus on Garett and that should open things up for everyone, even Breece Hall considering safeties will be playing a lot deeper if Rodgers is throwing the ball to Wilson/Williams.
But what happens if one of the other gets injured? Williams says he’ll be ready for opening day, but that’s a risk. If you can improve the slot then you do, and move Gipson into more of a supporting role. One injury to Williams/Wilson and the Jets are back to where they were last season. Rodgers will improve Lazard, because he can’t play any worse, but there’s a reason so many people want the Jets to take advantage of the deep receiver class, and one glance at the depth chart will tell you why.
Tight Ends
Starer: Tyler Conklin (Signed through 2024)
Backup: Jeremy Ruckert (Signed through 2025)
Depth: Kenny Yeboah (Signed through 2025), Zack Kuntz (Signed through 2024)
I personally believe that Tyler Conklin is one of the most underrated players on the Jets roster. He does a little bit of everything and like Wilson, he performed in 2024 despite the absolute shambles of an offence he was in. He matched a career high in receptions and achieved a career high in receiving yards, and he’s a full effort player. If we can keep Rodgers healthy, Wilson won’t be the only one that hits career highs. The only issue I have with Conklin is his TD production, he has 7 touchdowns in 6 seasons…not the numbers of a true TE1.
I still don’t know what we have in Jeremy Ruckert, I thought his blocking took a step back last year and he still only has 17 receptions through two years. He needs to be utilised more but how good is he? Yeboah is a good special teams player but has barely surfaced on offence outside of a grab here and there and while Zack Kuntz has a ton of athletic ability, my opinion of him from last off-season hasn’t changed. Super athlete, but didn’t see much of a football player in his tape. We’ll see how he’s developed now he’s had a year of coaching under his belt.
With Conklin a free agent after this season and Ruckert/Yeboah and Kuntz unproven, it’s easy to see why the Brock Bowers hype train is full-steam ahead. If not Bowers then the Jets really need to bring in another TE through draft weekend to add some more quality to the depth chart.
Offensive Tackles
Starters: Tyron Smith (Signed through 2024), Morgan Moses (Signed through 2024)
Backups: Carter Warren (Signed through 2026), Max Mitchell (Signed through 2025)
Depth: Austin Deculus (Signed through 2024), Obinna Eze (Signed through 2025)
The Jets have their best starting tandem at tackle since D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Damian Woody, but there are significant questions for both 2024 and beyond. Both tackles are signed through 2024, and while there may be some unspoken agreements about extending if health can be proved, it leaves us vulnerable if both players decide to move on following this year. There is also significant injury concerns with Smith, and Moses battled through some things last year too. Saying that, I think the reward is worth the risk and I’m genuinely excited to see what these two can do through the 2024 season if they stay healthy.
Unfortunately the tackle depth is a bit of a disaster. Carter Warren allowed 5 sacks and 20 pressures on around 250 pass-blocking snaps and his run-blocking was atrocious. Max Mitchell was tagged for 6 sacks and 30 pressures on 336 pass-blocking snaps and again, his run blocking was atrocious. Deculus and Eze are nothing but depth. For Warren, it was his first year and he missed significant time, so the hope that he develops is still there and the Jets still believe in him. For Max, well he’s going into year three now and while he had his own health issues to worry about, I’m not sure I’ve seen anything which suggests he can be a starting tackle in this league.
All of this leads me to believe the Jets have to take at least one tackle and probably two tackles in the upcoming draft. To give them a succession plan. While it may be frustrating to see a first round pick sit for a year, that will mean the Jets have managed to keep Smith and Moses healthy, which is unlikely. They also drafted Will McDonald last year and while he got into game action, he was used sparingly.
Interior Offensive Linemen
Starters: John Simpson (Signed through 2025), Joe Tippmann (Signed through 2026), Alijah Vera-Tucker (Signed through 2024, option)
Backups: Wes Schweitzer (Signed through 2025), Xavier Newman-Johnson (Signed through 2024), Jake Hanson (Signed through 2024)
Depth: Chris Glaser (Signed through 2025), Vitaliy Gurman (Signed through 2025)
Like the offensive tackle group, the starters are locked in and it’s a group packed full of potential. AVT has experienced some difficult injury luck over the last two years but considering we don’t have Denver on the schedule this year, he should be good (Suffered season ending injuries on both trips to Mile High). Joe Tippmann looked like an NFL veteran as a rookie, 3 sacks and 20 pressures in nearly 600 pass-blocking snaps while being shifted between guard and center is a good result for a rookie. I think if he sticks at C this year, he’ll take off. John Simpson allowed 1 sack on over 700 pass-blocking snaps, so that’s not too bad.
I actually like West Schweitzer and Jake Hanson as backups, but Xavier Newman allowed 4 sacks and 16 pressures on just 188 pass-blocking snaps, so that’s a disappointing return even as a backup. You feel as though there is room here to take a mid-round rookie and really develop them. People talk about the depth at tackle, but there is good depth throughout the interior as well, Zak Zinter is a guy I absolutely love and would be thrilled to see the Jets take him later this month.
2024 Outlook
If you look at the spending, we really don’t have a ton committed to the offence this year:
We’re only top 15 in terms of 2024 spending for QBs and TEs. If you combine all the positions 23 teams in the NFL have more money dedicated to their offence in 2024 alone. If you flip the tables, only 3 teams have more money dedicated to the defence than the Jets. So it’s really no surprise that the Jets dominate on defence but struggle on offence.
Unfortunately we can’t edit our posts on Substack. Running back Blake Watson, Memphis has also attracted a lot of attention from the Jets.
Today, the Jets will unveil their new uniforms , whoop de do🎉🥳🙌🍺. I really hope they use real models and not players. They used 7 players when they introduced their latest disaster in 2019, all 7 were gone in three years.
Another excellent post by David, he must be applauded for his work, not only does he give us every offensive player but he researches how many years each has on his current contract. You can’t find that written anywhere else.
Unfortunately, in doing his due diligence, David was forced to mention the anvil that is tied around the Jets salary cap neck, Zach’s contract.
While speaking of depth, the Jets this weekend added to their offensive coaching staff by signing Walter Kusmirek. Now that you all have said WHO. He was previously a college assistant at New Haven, Wagner and Morrisville State. He played college football at Fitchburg State. Let’s give Walt a break, he can’t be any worse than Hackett.
Hopefully by Monday afternoon 4/29/24, David will be forced to rewrite this offensive depth column positively because that’s the day after the draft and most of the UDFAs are signed. Just remember fans, Tony Adams, Snacks Harrison and this one really hurts, Bryce Huff were UDFAs.
I found this article online it is about players who weren’t invited to the combine but are still drawing a lot of attention. Here are the attention grabbers who didn’t participate in the underwear Olympics.
Khristian Boyd, DT, Northern Iowa: Not only is Boyd likely to be the first non-combine player drafted, it’s not out of the question he could crack the third round, just as Sacramento State OB Marte Mapu did last year as the first non-combine draftee (3/76, Patriots). As of earlier this week, Boyd had logged 15 Top-30 visits and turned down several more due to logistics.
Jowon Briggs, DT, Cincinnati: Briggs is another interior defensive lineman who is sparking interest among scouts, especially after his showing at the Shrine Bowl and solid pro day performance.
Travis Glover, OT, Georgia State: Glover is far from off the radar – he had a solid week at the Senior Bowl – but still didn’t achieve combine status. No matter. He’s had six T-30 visits and calls from multiple offensive line coaches around the league.
Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia: Manu lists at 6-8/350, but it’s not just his size that excites teams. So far, Manu has made 11 Top-30 visits and has Zoomed with three other teams. HE HAS MET WITH THE JETS.
Mason Tipton, WO, Yale: Tipton may be the Tropical Bowl’s best bet in the draft. His 4.33 40 and supreme jumps (37 VJ/10-5 BJ) have started a buzz among scouts.
Dayton Wade, WO, Mississippi: Another Hula Bowl participant who’s building momentum, Wade had a solid-if-not-sizzling pro day, but his SEC pedigree may push him into Round 7.
Treyton Welch, TE, Wyoming: So far, Welch has two Top-30 visits and has been in contact with several NFL tight end coaches. He may be a draft pick for the College Gridiron Showcase.
David White, WO, Western Carolina: White lit it up in Orlando at the Hula Bowl, then repeated his exploits at the Shrine Bowl. That momentum has carried into March and April as he’s logged seven T-30 visits so far.
Blake Watson, OH, Memphis: Another Hula Bowl participant who just gained steam when he went to work in Frisco at the Shrine Bowl. Watson has notched seven Top-30 visits so far.
Though this is far from an exhaustive list, here are a few more players that could surprise.
·Defensive line: Jaylon Allen, DE, Memphis; Ja’Mion Franklin, DT, Duke; Anthony Goodlow, DE, Oklahoma St.; Tyreek Johnson, DE, South Carolina; Jamree Kromah, DE, James Madison; Levi Rodriguez, DT, Texas A&M-Commerce; and Ron Stone Jr., DE, Washington St.
·Offensive line: Mike Edwards, OT, Campbell; Mike Jerrell, OG, Findlay; and Willie Tyler, OT, Louisville.
·Defensive backs: Omar Brown, DC, Nebraska; Chris Edmonds, SS, Arizona St.; Alex Johnson, DC, UCLA; Sanoussi Kane, SS, Purdue; Kenny Logan, SS, Kansas; Rico Payton, DC, Pittsburg St.; Shon Stephens, DC, Ferris St.; Trey Taylor, FS, Air Force; and AJ Woods, DC, Pittsburgh.
·Linebackers: Swayze Bozeman, IB, Southern Miss; Dallas Gant, IB, Toledo; Winston Reid, OB, Weber St.; Omar Speights, OB, LSU; and Isaiah Stalbird, OB, South Dakota St.
·Receivers: Ayir Assante, WO, Wyoming; McCallan Castles, TE, Tennessee; Joshua Cephus, WO, UTSA; Kam Johnson, WO, Barton College; Xavier Johnson, WO, Ohio St.; Jalon Jones, WO, Charlotte; Mason Pline, TE, Furman; David Robinson, TE, Temple; and Casey Washington, WO, Illinois.
Though this column is about the offensive side of the ball, one defensive question.
“ How far does T’Vondre Sweat fall in the draft”