I do a Jets roster top 25 every summer before training camp.
I have been doing it since 2012, and it is a fun exercise to do before camp starts.
A lot of it is projecting how new players to the team will do, as well as figuring out who is ready to take a big step.
I thought it would be interesting to do a post-season roster top 25 now that we actually have watched 17 games.
This is my own interpretation of how these guys played and also how important their contributions were to the team.
There are some difficult evaluations for players who were injured at midseason, such as Alijah Vera-Tucker. I have included him on the list because I think he was that good when he was playing.
Aaron Rodgers obviously would be high on this list if it was about projecting 2024, but that is not what I’m doing here. It is about 2023. Rodgers is not on the list after playing just four plays.
Here’s my list. Feel free to send me yours.
1. Sauce Gardner, cornerback
Preseason rank: 2
You can’t use statistics to state just how great Gardner is.
It is watching him shut down receivers, run their routes for them and take away half the field each week that makes you appreciate him.
Gardner had no interceptions this season, and yes, he dropped a big one in Dallas. But most of the time, teams just didn’t throw his way. Gardner led the team with 11 passes defensed and built on his rookie season with another outstanding year.
Gardner has freakish talent and a strong work ethic. The Jets need to make sure he is here for a very long time.
2. Quinnen Williams, defensive tackle
Preseason rank: 1
Williams was not quite as dominant statistically as he was a year ago.
He ended up with 5 ½ sacks, but I think you have to account for how much he was the focal point of opposing blocking schemes. Every team the Jets played had to account for Williams, and that led to plenty of double teams. That opened up things on the outside for teammates such as Bryce Huff and Jermaine Johnson to have career years.
3. Breece Hall, running back
Preseason rank: 6
I was skeptical about what Hall could do a year removed from ACL surgery, but he showed no lingering issues from the injury.
Hall was dominant at times and became the focal point of the Jets’ offense late in the season. He rushed for 994 yards and had 591 receiving yards.
Hall is explosive with the ball in his hands, and he should be even more fun to watch next year with Rodgers.
4. Quincy Williams, linebacker
Preseason rank: 14
What a season for Williams. Since the Jets picked him up off waivers in 2021, you could see his ability to run sideline to sideline and deliver big hits, but he really elevated his game this season.
He no longer played out of control and he was strong in coverage. Williams was voted the team MVP by his teammates, and he deserved it.
5. Garrett Wilson, wide receiver
Preseason rank: 4
It will be interesting to see what Wilson can do if the Jets have stability at quarterback. In each of his first two years, Wilson has gone over 1,000 yards receiving — and that has been with seven different quarterbacks playing.
Wilson is a precise route runner who can make people miss once he catches the ball. It feels like we have only seen glimpses of what he can do because the offense has been so bad around him.
6. Bryce Huff, defensive end
Preseason rank: 19
Huff is about to get paid. The question is whether it will be the Jets cutting the check.
Huff has been a tough guy to evaluate in the past because he plays so little. But there was no hiding his impact this season. He finished the year with 10 sacks, and was consistently in the backfield of Jets opponents.
7. C.J. Mosley, linebacker
Preseason rank: 9
The old man in the middle had himself another strong season. Mosley, 31, is one of the team’s leaders and just a steady force for the Jets defense. He is a sure tackler and is the play-caller on defense. Mosley fared well in coverage for most of the season.
8. D.J. Reed, cornerback
Preseason rank: 7
Reed continues to be one of the only free-agent signings this regime has gotten right. Reed and Gardner are a tremendous cornerback tandem.
Reed shut down plenty of receivers. He had nine passes defensed and one interception.
9. Michael Carter II, cornerback
Preseason rank: 16
Carter gets overshadowed by Gardner and Reed, but he is becoming one of the best slot corners in football. Carter had nine passes defensed and forced a fumble.
10. Jermaine Johnson, defensive end
Preseason rank: NR
Johnson promised a big second season, and he delivered. Johnson was second on the team with 7 ½ sacks and did a good job setting the edge. Johnson had his first interception against the Browns, returning it for a touchdown.
11. Alijah Vera-Tucker, offensive line
Preseason rank: 5
It is a nearly impossible task to rank Vera-Tucker after he missed all but five games, but his impact was huge. The offensive line fell apart when he tore his Achilles, the second season in a row in which the offense collapsed after losing him.
12. Tyler Conklin, tight end
Preseason rank: 11
Conklin had a career-high 621 receiving yards, but failed to get into the end zone.
13. Greg Zuerlein, kicker
Preseason rank: NR
I usually don’t rank kickers and punters, but there was no denying Zuerlein’s impact. He missed three field goals all season.
14. Thomas Morstead, punter
Preseason rank: NR
Another specialist who was superb for the Jets. He continually pinned opponents inside the 5.
15. John Franklin-Myers, defensive end
Preseason rank: 12
Franklin-Myers was battling injuries late in the season and looked as if he did not have the same burst.
16. Jordan Whitehead, safety
Preseason rank: 17
I like Whitehead better than most Jets fans do and would bring him back for the right price next season.
17. Quinton Jefferson, defensive tackle
Preseason rank: NR
Jefferson had six sacks and was a nice partner for Quinnen Williams in the middle of the line. He is a free agent.
18. Tony Adams, safety
Preseason rank: NR
Adams had some ups and downs in his first year as a starter. His biggest moment was his interception against the Eagles.
19. Joe Tippmann, center
Preseason rank: NR
Tippmann started games at right guard and then shifted over to center. He did well for a rookie, and should be the starting center next season.
20. Laken Tomlinson, left guard
Preseason rank: 20
Tomlinson struggled. I think he is going to have to take a pay cut to return in 2024.
21. Xavier Gipson, wide receiver
Preseason rank: NR
Gipson needs to grow as a receiver, but provided one of the highlights of the season with his game-winning punt return in overtime against the Bills in Week 1.
22. Zach Wilson, quarterback
Preseason rank: NR
The plan was for Wilson to watch from the sideline this season. He ended up taking over at quarterback in Week 1. It was not pretty, but Wilson had some good moments.
23. Ashtyn Davis, safety
Preseason rank: NR
Does anyone make more of an impact per snap than Davis? He had three interceptions and three fumble recoveries as a backup.
24. Will McDonald, defensive end
Preseason rank: NR
The first-round pick barely played, but he showed flashes when he did.
25. Trevor Siemian, quarterback
Preseason rank: NR
Siemian won two of the three games he started. He was OK.
Just missed the cut: Mekhi Becton, Jamien Sherwood, Solomon Thomas, Jeremy Ruckert, Carter Warren
Preseason players who fell off: Aaron Rodgers (3), Carl Lawson (8), Allen Lazard (10), Mecole Hardman (13), Duane Brown (15), Connor McGovern (18), C.J. Uzomah (21), Al Woods (22), Corey Davis (23), Michael Carter (24), Mekhi Becton (25)
Business as unusual
This could be one of the Jets’ quietest offseasons in recent memory.
There is no change at coach or GM, no coordinator changes and we know who the quarterback is going to be.
That eliminates a lot of what can dominate the offseason chatter around a team.
With the Jets, you never know what to expect, and there will be plenty of noise around Davante Adams, free agency and the NFL Draft.
But compared to last year, when we had Aaron Rodgers watch, or years where there was a change at coach, this one should be much quieter.
Stat’s so
Garrett Wilson has put up back-to-back 1,000 yard receiving seasons, something no Jet had ever done in his first two years in the league.
He has more receiving yards in his first two seasons than anyone in franchise history.
Here is the top 10:
1. Garrett Wilson (2022-23): 2,145 yards … 178 receptions, 7 TDs
2. Wesley Walker (1977-78): 1,909 yards … 83 receptions, 11 TDs
3. Al Toon (1985-86): 1,838 yards … 131 receptions, 11 TDs
4. Keyshawn Johnson (1996-97): 1,807 yards … 133 receptions, 13 TDs
5. Rob Moore (1990-91): 1,679 yards … 114 receptions, 11 TDs
6. Wayne Chrebet (1995-96): 1,635 yards … 150 receptions, 7 TDs
7. Robbie Chosen (2016-17): 1,528 yards … 105 receptions, 9 TDs
8. George Sauer (1965-66): 1,380 yards … 92 receptions, 7 TDs
9. Don Maynard (1960): 1,265 yards … 72 receptions, 6 TDs
10. Laveranues Coles (2000-01): 1,238 yards … 81 receptions, 8 TDs
Note: Don Maynard played his first season with the Giants and his second season with the Titans/Jets, so only his 1960 stats are counted here.
Source: Stathead
