Don’t Count ’em out: 10 Longshots With Shot to Make Jets 53

The countdown to New York Jets training camp has hit single digits as Gang Green will up the doors a 1 Jets drive just eight days from today.  Through those doors will walk ninety NFL players, 37 of whom will not make the final roster.

As is always the case, a few players will surprise and make the 53-man roster out of training camp.  Of course there are plenty of obvious players who will make the cut, even more who have a very good shot to make it, and then of course your longshots.  Guys who are being widely overlooked for one reason or another, but who could be suiting up for the Jets when week 1 arrives.

Here are ten players who, in our opinion, belong in the potential surprise category.

LB Jamin Davis: Linebacker is one of the thinner spots on the roster and Davis, a former first-round pick, is one of the bigger ‘backers on the Jets roster at 234 pounds.  Look at Aaron Glenn’s personnel in Detroit and he did like having several big linebackers at his disposal.  If the Jets can unlock Davis’ potential, as the previous regime did with Quincy Williams, he can be a steal.

RB Donovan Edwards: While consensus seems to be that the Jets backfield will be made up of Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, we would caution you not to count out Edwards.  The former Michigan product is a big play waiting to happen and looks plenty good catching the ball out of the backfield.  He’s got experience (and success) against some big time programs and should push Davis or force the Jets to consider carrying a fourth back.

DT Phidarian Mathis: Mathis was an excellent run stopper for Alabama but hasn’t panned out this far as a pro.  Given their dire situation at defensive tackle, Mathis has a shot to seize the opportunity to fill a role for which the Jets are in desperate need of improvement.

Edge Rashad Weaver: No longer boasting one of the deeper edge groups in the NFL, the Jets are down to Will McDonald and a recovering Jermaine Johnson as their only two proven edge rushers.  Beyond that it’s one question mark after another.  Weaver is one of those question marks but we like what we’ve seen from him on film when he had 5.5 sacks for the Titans back in 2022.  We’re not here to say he’s going to rack up fifteen sacks, but we believe he has a chance to make the 53.

DT Fatorma Mulbah: As previously mentioned, the Jets need to bolster their interior run defense.  While Mulbah isn’t that 330-plus pound run stuffer you may covet in the middle, he was impressive on film as West Virginia where he did an excellent job against the run.  He’s not the first DT on this list and he won’t be the last.

WR Quentin Skinner: Skinner was a valuable piece of Kansas’ offense over the past few seasons where he averaged twenty yards per catch for his career.  At 6′ 5” he’s a long, physical receiver who can  opposing DB’s deep down the field.  Skinner will also fit in with the Jets new culture of “no block, no rock”.  A more than willing blocker, Skinner is happy to get physical in the run game.  Skinner had seven contests last season in which he was asked to run block at least fifteen times and came away with a PFF grade of 60 or higher.

S Dean Clark: You could honestly put any one several safeties on this list.  While the Jets already have their likely starters in Andre Cisco and Tony Adams, the depth chart behind them is one huge question mark.  We’re giving Clark the nod over the likes of Jarius Monroe and Jaylin Simpson because his versatility is off the charts.

Edge Eric Watts: Wattts was an impressive player as a rookie out of Connecticut last season and his skill set plus size gives him a chance to be another versatile player for Jets coaches to work with.

WR Ontaria Wilson: Wilson’s athletic profile won’t jump off the page, but his production at Florida State and in the CFL will.  Despite a shockingly low relative athletic score (1.59), Wilson averaged 16.5 yard per catch over his final two seasons at FSU before logging 31 explosive plays in the CFL prior to landing with the Jets.  He was also one of eight players the Jets brought in to their rookie mini-camp for an extended look.

DT Payton Page: In case you didn’t catch it the last two times we mentioned it…the Jets need some DT’s who can help stop the run.  Page did a nice job of that in college with Clemson and has more upside than some of the vets the team added in free agency.

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