Ranking the Jets’ strongest position groups entering 2021
The Jets are an improved football team entering the 2021 season.
That might not be saying much after the bar hit the floor during a disastrous 2-14 season in 2020, but New York has taken some major steps forward with its personnel this offseason. Joe Douglas has turned to free agency and the NFL draft to bring in a new potential franchise quarterback and upgrades at multiple positions on both sides of the ball. It is going to take time for all of the pieces to come together, but Robert Saleh has a promising roster to work with in his first season as Gang Green’s head coach.
Which positions are the Jets strongest with the new season on the horizon? Which positions could still stand to improve in a big way? Here, Jets Wire ranks New York’s position groups from strongest to weakest.
Let’s get into it.
Tight End
AP Photo/Zach Bolinger
Tight end was thought to be one of the Jets' few strengths entering 2020. Now, it is their weakest position group and it is not even close. To say Chris Herndon and Ryan Griffin disappointed last season would be an understatement. Both were essentially rendered useless by Adam Gase's ineptitude, but even when they were given the chance to make a play or two, they often failed. Those two are the elder statesmen of New York's tight end depth chart, which does not provide much reason for optimism surrounding the unit entering 2021. Tyler Kroft and undrafted free agent Kenny Yeboah could potentially bolster Gang Green's tight end room, but neither is primed to make any sort of catastrophic impact. Kroft is more of a blocker than anything else and Yeboah, while a promising prospect, has struggled with drops throughout the spring.
Specialists
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Thomas Hennessy and Braden Mann are both solid, but New York's kicking situation is what lands its specialists close to the bottom of the power rankings. Sam Ficken was solid when healthy last season, but he is not exactly Adam Vinatieri reincarnated. The Penn State product was up-and-down in 2019 and the Jets are challenging him in training camp with undrafted free agent Chris Naggar for a reason. Until Naggar can prove his worth, though, the Jets don't have much to write home about at kicker.
Quarterback
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It might come as somewhat of a surprise to see quarterback so low on the list, but there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this placement. Zach Wilson has looked the part so far this spring, but the Jets simply do not know what they are going to get out of him in his rookie season. He could blossom into a star just like Patrick Mahomes did early in his career. He could also wind up looking as helpless as Christian Hackenberg when asked to complete a five-yard slant on air. New York just can't predict how the BYU product will fare once Week 1 rolls around. The current personnel behind Wilson is also uninspiring. James Morgan and Mike White have yet to appear in an NFL game. If the Jets enter the regular season with Morgan or White as their backup, there could be a major problem if Wilson succumbs to an injury.
Cornerback
AP Photo/Adam Hunger
This is where things start to get a little bit tricky. There is not much separation between the next four position groups and their placements could be viewed as interchangeable depending on point of view. The Jets have talent at cornerback, but almost all of it is young and unproven. Bless Austin flashed his potential at times last season and Bryce Hall looked more and more like the player he was at Virginia as the season went on. Javelin Guidry and Lamar Jackson also showcased some promising traits as undrafted rookies. Combine that with New York's fresh crop of rookie corners and New York is trending in the right direction at the position -- as long as everyone continues to develop as expected. More production will be needed before any sort of move up the position rankings, though.
Safety
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
New York's depth at safety is a legitimate question mark right now, but its starters at the position are the definition of solid. Marcus Maye reminded everyone of his value throughout last season and will once again begin 2021 as one of, if not the, best defender on the Jets' roster. Lining up next to him will be veteran Lamarcus Joyner, who can do a lot of different things in Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich's defense. Ashtyn Davis did not do much as a rookie, but he is still a promising prospect who figures to take a step forward in his second season with the Jets. Sharrod Neasman also gives New York another veteran in the room -- one who is familiar with Ulbrich's scheme.
Linebacker
AP Photo/Bill Kostroun
New York's linebacker room left a lot to be desired last season, but that is primed to change with the return of four-time All-Pro C.J. Mosley. Mosley's return to the middle of the defense instantly bolsters the linebacker room. Free agent signing Jarrad Davis endured an up-and-down 2020 season with the Lions, but he is an ideal fit in New York's new defensive scheme and figures to return to form with his new team. The only question mark for the Jets at linebacker entering 2021 is the weak side. Blake Cashman is not a natural at the position and has struggled to stay healthy throughout his brief NFL career, but rookies Hamsah Nasirildeen and Jamien Sherwood both have high ceilings and could contribute early after learning the ins and outs of playing as a full-time weak side linebacker.
Offensive Line
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Sam Darnold spent most of his career with the Jets playing behind a putrid offensive line. New York's offensive line has improved entering 2021 -- with the hope that Wilson will not have to endure the same lack of protection as his predecessor. Mekhi Becton starred as a rookie. As long as he can stay healthy, he will continue to blossom at left tackle. George Fant was also solid in his first season with the Jets and is living up to his contract so far. What really puts the Jets' offensive line in a better position than it was this time last offseason is the addition of Alijah Vera-Tucker, who has the potential to develop into a star playing next to Becton at left guard. There are still question marks for this unit -- such as who will win the battle for the starting right guard spot -- but it is undoubtedly an improved one.
Running Back
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
The Jets might not have a true No. 1 running back on their roster right now, but they are set to benefit from their strength in numbers in 2021. Josh Adams, Tevin Coleman, Michael Carter and Ty Johnson all have the ability to factor into Mike LaFleur's rushing attack. Adams occasionally flashed last season, Coleman knows LaFleur's offense like the back of his hand, Carter has opened eyes during the spring, and Johnson ended 2020 on a high note. New York's running back depth chart is one of its deepest. No single player has yet to separate himself as the starter, but it takes more than just one good back for a ground game to be successful throughout the course of a season.
Wide Receiver
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Jets are loaded -- by their standards -- at wide receiver. Keelan Cole, Jamison Crowder, Corey Davis, Denzel Mims and rookie Elijah Moore, who has dominated in his first NFL offseason, gives New York five reliable targets entering 2021. Braxton Berrios has also shined during the spring, giving Wilson yet another safety blanket to work with underneath. The Jets have not had this kind of talent in their wide receiver room since Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker roamed One Jets Drive. New York is in an excellent spot at the position right now and it could only stand to improve if Mims and Moore continue to progress ahead of schedule.
Defensive Line
AP Photo/Corey Sipkin
Gang Green's wide receiver depth might be improved, but it cannot hold a candle to the top-end talent on the defensive line in 2021. Quinnen Williams has developed into one of the best interior defensive linemen in football and, for the first time in his career, will have some help. Carl Lawson is well on his way to becoming one of the better pass rushers in football, meaning opposing offensive lines can no longer just focus on stopping Williams. Foley Fatukasi is the definition of a solid space-eating run stuffer and, when healthy, Sheldon Rankins can bring a lot to the table at defensive tackle. The Jets also added reliable veteran Vinny Curry. The Jets are even in a good spot to receive production from their left end position. John Franklin-Myers quietly put together a strong 2020 season and Jabari Zuniga still has the potential to be an impact pass rusher off the edge.
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