2022 Team Reports
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New York Jets Writers
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Team Philosophy
Adam Harstad
Offensive Players
Andrew Garda
Kickers
Sigmund Bloom
Returners
Adam Harstad
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Team Philosophy
Like most of the NFL, the New York Jets have been desperate to add someone familiar with the Kyle Shanahan / Sean McVay offensive scheme that has been sweeping the league. They landed on Mike LaFleur, younger brother of Green Bay head coach Matt LeFleur. Like most proponents of the scheme, LaFleur bases his offense around wide zone running concepts, with the offensive line moving laterally at the snap while the running back runs behind them toward the sideline. Once the back sees a hole, he plants his foot, makes one cut, and gets up the field as quickly as possible. The scheme has been effective for decades, winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Broncos in the late 1990s, with each proponent adding their own wrinkles. Usually, teams will build their passing game around misdirection on outside zone, with quarterbacks running play action, run-pass options, or bootlegging away from the line's movement and throwing the ball over the top of the defense, which is following the action of the offensive line toward the sideline.
Quarterbacks
Starter
Key Backups
In his rookie season, Zach Wilson struggled tremendously, including missing a chunk of games due to injury. On the plus side, by the end of the season, he had shown improvement with no interceptions in the last five games. He will need to show a lot more for the Jets to be a success this season, though the Jets have tried to improve the offensive line. They added another receiving weapon for him in first-round pick Garrett Wilson, who should help Wilson take that leap forward. Still, the Jets will be pleased if he can continue to improve his pocket presence and overall decision-making - as he did the last five games of the season. He's questionable for Week 1 after having knee surgery in August following a meniscus injury and ligament strain in one of his knees.
Joe Flacco's better years are in the rearview mirror, but he did well in spot starts last season, though his unvaccinated status caused him to end up on the Reserve/Covid list twice. He will battle with Mike White, who the Jets extended with an original-round tender. White had a great stretch last season when Wilson was banged up, but after two great games, White crashed and burned, finishing with a four-interception effort against the Buffalo Bills. White's money isn't guaranteed, so he has worse odds of staying on the roster than Flacco, and Flacco is the favorite to start Week 1.
Running Backs
Starter
Key Backups
- Tevin Coleman, Ty Johnson, Austin Walter, LaMical Perine
When he was healthy and on the field, Michael Carter showed enough ability to make fans think he could be an every-down back. The problem was that he wasn't healthy and missed multiple games. There were also several games where he clearly struggled behind an atrocious offensive line with an inconsistent quarterback who defenses didn't respect. The line has allegedly been improved, but nobody is sure what to expect from Zach Wilson's second year. Further, second-round pick Breece Hall is a talented, hard-running back with the potential to be a workhorse, and he can catch the ball well too. Camp will tell the tale, but at the very least, Hall will get a share of the carries - and a large share to boot - if he doesn't take the top role outright. This will be some form of a committee with performance determining the split.
The clock could be ticking on Tevin Coleman's time with the Jets. Certainly, it is for some combination of the backs here now that Breece Hall has been drafted. The Jets kept Tevin Coleman around, and while the veteran isn't a dynamic back by any stretch, he is a favorite of offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, so he might remain on the roster, but his workload will take a hit if Breece is half as good as the Jets think he is. Ty Johnson was primarily a receiving back who saw a little extra action in 2021 when Michael Carter and Tevin Coleman were hurt. He isn't a consistent runner and had some drop issues last season as well, and any added back in the NFL draft will come in part at his expense. Ultimately, his skillset is easily replaced. Austin Walter could be that replacement. A journeyman who has not excelled overall in his time in the league, Walter is a good pass-catcher though he has rarely seen the field enough for anyone to know just how good he is at it. Perine enters his third year with the Jets as one of the few remaining holdovers from the Adam Gase era. He hasn't shown much in his time with the team, partly because of injury and illness but also because he hasn't shown much ability in any phase of the game. In college, he was a solid pass-catcher, but that hasn't emerged in the NFL, and with average attributes across the board otherwise, he is unlikely to break out this season.
Wide Receivers
Starters
Key Backups
Corey Davis missed multiple games due to a core injury and resulting surgery but should be ready for camp. Davis is a very good No, 2 but not as good a fit for a No. 1 receiver, something the Jets clearly know given how hard they went after Tyreek Hill. Hill went to Miami, so expect the Jets to add some talent early in the draft. Davis has good speed and hands but doesn't shake coverage well enough to consistently provide lead receiver numbers. Second-year receiver Elijah Moore may be able to fill that void a little, as the Jets look like they will move him outside. With him outside and Braxton Berrios taking over the slot, the team is likely hoping that defenses have to pull some coverage off of Davis. Moore had a solid rookie season, and the Jets are hoping he can remain healthy enough to take a big step forward. He's got the speed and athleticism to be a big factor in the offense. The Jets are high on Garrett Wilson, and his speed and run-after-the-catch ability make him a potential No. 1 if he can improve his route running and adjust to press coverage.
Braxton Berrios is a solid slot receiver who will easily replace Jamison Crowder, who seemed to struggle in the offense last year. Denzel Mims didn't see much use in 2021; early on, the rumor was he didn't have a firm grasp of the playbook. While the Jets publicly said all the right things supporting him, his lack of involvement told a different story. This upcoming camp could be it for Mims, who lost footing when the team brought Braxton Berrios back to take over the slot role and with rookie Garrett Wilson, Mims is in a precarious position. D.J. Montgomery didn't get much play last season, starting off on the practice squad before being elevated for a few games midseason when the Jets needed warm bodies. He's likely to end up back there unless he finds a role on special teams. Jeff Smith has seen limited action each of the last two seasons, dressing for a dozen games each year, and has performed well in camp in the past but has also battled injuries that seem to have paused any development he was making. Rodney Adams is a punt return option and can be tough to take down in the open field, while Tarik Black was a practice squad player who only appeared in one game last season.
Tight Ends
Starter
Key Backups
C.J. Uzomah was an interesting signing, given his limited production with the Cincinnati Bengals and a history of injuries (an ACL in 2020 and a knee injury in the 2021 AFC Championship game). The Jets have few options at tight end, and Uzomah could emerge as a nice outlet for Zach Wilson if he can avoid further injuries. He could get pushed by Tyler Conklin, who the Jets also signed, just came off a more productive year and is younger than the former Bengal as well. While it wasn't a position of need, the Jets took Jeremy Ruckert in the third round. Ohio State didn't use Ruckert for receiving a ton, but he is a good blocker and will probably be on the field for that early on. Kenny Yeboah was an undrafted free agent addition in 2021 who mostly resided on the practice squad. A pure-pass catcher, Yeboah could be useful for a Jets team that needs more weapons, but he has to show more to stick on the active roster. Lawrence Cager has so far been a receiver for the Jets and Browns (in very limited fashion), but his size makes him an interesting tight end prospect, though he's got an uphill climb to fit into the new position. In three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Brandon Dillon has caught all of one pass on one target while being active for five games. He's a longshot to make the Jets roster.
Offensive Linemen
Starters
- LT Duane Brown
- LG Laken Tomlinson
- C Connor McGovern
- RG Alijah Vera-Tucker
- RT George Fant, Mekhi Becton (inj)
Key Backups
- Conor McDermott, Dan Feeney, Nate Herbig, Max Mitchell
Left guard Laken Tomlinson arrives as a Pro Bowl alternate from San Francisco. Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker was the team's best lineman last season but with the arrival of Tomlinson, he will have to swap. Center Connor McGovern does a mostly decent job. Duane Brown will likely play left tackle, where George Fant, his former teammate in Seattle was slated to play before starting right tackle Mekhi Becton, who was recently moved to the right side, went down with a knee injury.
Kickers
- Greg Zuerlein, Eddy Pineiro
Greg Zuerlein wasn't terrible for the Cowboys last year and remained a fantasy-relevant kicker, but he never got back to being the kicker he was with the Rams, and that meant he was a cap casualty, saving Dallas $2.5 million when they released him. The Cowboys were open to re-signing him at a lower price, but instead, the Jets swooped in, signing him to a $2.75 million, one-year deal, with one million guaranteed. That should give him a leg up in the competition with Eddy Pineiro, a journeyman who made all eight field goal attempts and 9 of 10 extra points in five games with the Jets last year. No matter who wins, the Jets kicker is unlikely to matter in fantasy leagues this year.
Returners
Kickoff Returners
Return specialist Braxon Berrios finished third in the NFL in combined return yards and 10th in all-purpose yards in 2021. He's a good bet to finish among the league leaders again in 2022.
Punt Returners
Return specialist Braxon Berrios finished third in the NFL in combined return yards and 10th in all-purpose yards in 2021. He's a good bet to finish among the league leaders again in 2022.
Team Defense
Coming
Defensive Linemen
Starters
- Starting DL: DE Carl Lawson, DT Sheldon Rankins, DT Quinnen Williams, DE John Franklin-Myers
Key Backups
- Backup DL: DE Jermaine Johnson [R], DE Vinny Curry, DE Bryce Huff, DE Jacob Martin, DE Jabari Zuniga, DT Solomon Thomas, DT Nathan Shepherd, DT Jonathan Marshall
The Jets should be significantly improved on the edge this year as they will get Carl Lawson back from a torn Achilles that wiped out his 2021 season. He proved to be a capable pass rusher early in his career with the Bengals who was headed for a bigger role in New York, but it's possible the injury will limit his effectiveness. The other defensive end spot should be handled by incumbent John Franklin-Myers, who played well early last year before fading in the second half. On the inside, the Jets have one of the best tandems in the league in Sheldon Rankins and Quinnen Williams. Rankins is a former 12th overall pick who has dealt with some injuries in the past but has some upside as a pass rusher. Williams has clearly established himself as one of the elite players at his position with 13 sacks and solid tackle production over the past two seasons.
Many draft experts rated Jermaine Johnson as a top-10 player, yet he fell to the Jets at 26th overall and could become a long-term starter. Vinny Curry adds experienced depth outside as well, while Bryce Huff and Jacob Martin can contribute as part of a rotation. Solomon Thomas and Nathan Shepherd provide experienced depth inside.
Linebackers
Starters
- OLB Quincy Williams, MLB C.J. Mosley, OLB Hamsah Nasirildeen
Key Backups
- LB Jamien Sherwood, LB DelShawn Phillips, LB Marcell Harris
Quincy Williams was released by Jacksonville but quickly found a home playing alongside his brother with the Jets. Despite missing two games, he still played nearly 1000 snaps and topped 100 combined tackles with a handful of big plays. C.J. Mosley missed the previous two years but returned strong and posted a career-high with 106 solo tackles and 62 assists. He clearly belongs among the elite fantasy linebackers. The third linebacker spot is likely to be either Jamien Sherwood or Hamsah Nasirildeen, two sophomores who used to play safety but likely have limited upside unless there's an injury. Sherwood is coming back from an Achilles injury, though, which should give Nasirildeen an early edge.
DelShawn Phillips is a capable backup who can fill in when needed. Marcell Harris played safety under Robert Saleh with the 49ers before being converted to linebacker so he's familiar with the system and could work his way into the lineup while also contributing on special teams.
Defensive Backs
Starters
- CB Ahmad Gardner [R], SS Jordan Whitehead, FS Lamarcus Joyner, CB D.J. Reed, CB Michael Carter II
Key Backups
- CB Bryce Hall, CB Brandin Echols, CB Isaiah Dunn, CB Javelin Guidry, S Ashtyn Davis, S Elijah Riley, S Jason Pinnock, S Will Parks
The Jets have the strongest group of cornerbacks they have had in years, led by the arrival of 4th overall pick Ahmad Gardner. Like most rookies, he will probably need some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL, but he profiles as a future shutdown corner. Jordan Whitehead signed a two-year contract in free agency after playing for a Super Bowl winning team in Tampa. He will bring a physical presence and leadership qualities to the Jets secondary as the replacement for Marcus Maye. Lamarcus Joyner was re-signed after missing last season with a torn triceps. He's 31 years old, but his experience in the deep secondary should help minimize big plays. D.J. Reed signed a three-year deal after starting for Seattle the past two seasons. He's a physical corner who was signed to hold down an outside corner job and could have some decent fantasy potential here. Michael Carter II had a solid rookie season last year and should start out as the team's primary nickel corner.
Bryce Hall has played well at times and will likely be the top backup at both outside corner positions. Brandin Echols also has starting experience but is better suited to a backup role, while Javelin Guidry should be the primary reserve in the slot. Ashtyn Davis is no longer considered a sure starter after struggling in 2021, but he has the potential to surprise here while the remaining players are likely depth options at best.
