FLORHAM PARK, NJ The Jets held their first day of rookie camp on Friday. Coach Robert Saleh and a few rookies spoke after observe.
Listed here are some takeaways:
1. Will McDonalds debut
Saleh prefers to not put his draft class in danger so quickly, so not one of the seven within the Jets 2023 class actively participated in drills Friday. All of them warmed up and stretched with the group to start out, then have been largely spectators for the remainder of the observe. Rookie camp is often used to gauge what they’ve in undrafted free brokers and tryouts, anyway.
So this stage of the offseason, for rookies a minimum of, is about their bodily situation. And McDonald the Jets’ first-round decide, an Iowa State defensive finish with an interesting historical past, a minimum of seems to be the half. He’s listed at 6-4, 236, though he stated after writing that he was at 240 and wished to achieve 250.
It’s lengthy, thick. You have a look at his peak, his weight, and you then see him and you are like, Wow, he simply feels taller, Saleh stated. There isn’t a doubt in an NFL program with an NFL coaching desk, hes going to get one other 10-15 lbs. It should be fairly cool. I’m delighted to work with him.
McDonald stated he was fortunate sufficient to fulfill a few of his new Jets teammates and referred to as them goofy folks, particularly cornerback DJ Reed, who posted a video on Twitter passionately celebrating McDonald’s Jets alternative. He is a slipshod man, McDonald stated. I used to be honored that he did that.
2. All smiles on Aaron Rodgers’ brow
The Jets spent their first full week with Aaron Rodgers within the constructing as a quarterback, and everybody cannot cease smiling. Garrett Wilson even stated it on Wednesday: everybody goes to work with a smile on their face. He additionally predicted that his gaming expertise with Rodgers can be one thing he would inform his youngsters about years from now. Sauce Gardner was beaming as she talked about her evening out with Rodgers earlier within the week, heading to Carbone for dinner collectively after which to Madison Sq. Backyard for a Knicks playoff sport. Quincy Williams admitted he was in awe watching Rodgers practice, getting distracted throughout warm-ups.
Everybody remains to be on cloud 9.
I’ve by no means been round a quarterback fairly like him, personally, Saleh stated, citing Rodgers’ communication and demeanor particularly. He is virtually one other coach there. It’s fairly spectacular.
Saleh was additionally requested if he was stunned at Rodgers’ involvement within the volunteer program, particularly since he was not recognized to have participated on this a part of the offseason lately with america. Packers. Briefly: No, he’s not stunned.
I by no means anxious whether or not he was going to be right here or not, Saleh stated. In my thoughts, you simply see a hearth in guys eyes if you sit down and speak to him. He’ll do the whole lot. He involves win and you may really feel it in his voice, you possibly can see it in his eyes and the best way he goes about his enterprise.
3. Updating UDFAs
It was a fairly gentle observe on Friday, so there’s not a lot to remove from what we noticed on the pitch. However the Jets introduced their undrafted free agent class of 13. I am going to go into the UDFAs which have one of the best probability of creating the group in a narrative on Monday, however Florida security Trey Dean III might be the largest identify on the roster. Athleticisms Dane Brugler had projected him as a sixth- or seventh-round decide.
Right here is the complete checklist of UDFA signed to the roster: defensive lineman Deslin Alexandre (Pittsburgh), receiver Jason Brownlee (Southern Mississippi), linebacker Claudin Cherelus (Alcorn State), Dean, operating again Travis Dye (USC ), vast receiver Xavier Gipson (Stephen F. Austin), linebacker Maalik Corridor (Southeast Oklahoma State), tight finish EJ Jenkins (Georgia Tech), linebacker Caleb Johnson (Miami), participant offensive lineman Brent Laing (Minnesota-Duluth), cornerback Derrick Langford (Washington State), vast receiver TJ Luther (Gardner-Webb) and security Marquis Waters (Texas Tech).
As for the tryouts, probably the most notable prospect was most likely Incarnate Phrases Lindsey Scott Jr., whom Brugler ranked twenty second amongst quarterbacks. He threw for 60 touchdowns in 2022 and Brugler wrote Scott listed at 5-10, 207 has unsteady toes and an instinctive imaginative and prescient to make defenses pay for giving him a lane to run and is undersized and that his ball placement tends to wobble however he throws with anticipation and is an actual double menace.
The Jets are mounted at quarterback, so Scott has an extended probability of being added to the 90-man roster. They already carry Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Chris Streveler. Different quarterbacks in rookie camp (on a trial foundation) have been Notre Dames Jack Coan and Appalachian States Chase Brice.
Some years, rookie camp might embody a notable veteran making an attempt to earn a spot on the roster. I lined the Giants when Kelvin Benjamin was round a couple of years in the past, however there was no person like that for the Jets. Three non-rookies are already on the 90-man roster: defensive lineman Marquiss Spencer, offensive lineman Chris Glaser and vast receiver Irv Charles.
The others: offensive lineman Cobe Bryant and operating again Mataeo Durant.
4. Corey Davis Standing
The Jets signed veteran Randall Cobb this week, and now the large receivers room seems to be fairly crowded. Garrett Wilson is again, and the Jets additionally added Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman this offseason. Many thought the entire thing may result in the Jets chopping Corey Davis for cap financial savings in some unspecified time in the future, however Saleh once more made it clear that Davis is not going anyplace. He stated the identical factor at homeowners’ conferences in March.
Sure, he’s going to be a part of this group, Saleh stated on Friday.
Davis carries a cap of $11.1 million, however the Jets clearly admire what he brings to the desk sufficient to chunk that bullet, until a restructuring or a pay reduce remains to be to return. How does Davis match with Wilson, Lazard, Cobb and Hardman within the combine for snaps too?
Saleh famous how offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hacketts’ system values receivers with the flexibility to play in a number of positions, which applies to Davis and he additionally identified how a lot he missed the Jets offense when he was injured final season.
We obtained small fairly shortly, Saleh stated. I felt like this 12 months, by bringing in Allen and having Corey, we now have much more employees. There’s numerous grinding that occurs within the run sport, the purple zone, all these massive boy catches that occur out of the play-action cross. These items are the place Allen and Corey excel. To have a man like Allen and Corey and you then add Garrett and Mecole with all of the velocity and all of the competitors that is going to occur at that five-six, Randall and all that. It is a actually cool group of receivers and thrilling to see the way it goes.
Bonus Factors
The Jets declined Mekhi Bectons’ fifth-year choice for 2024. Saleh would not touch upon that immediately, however stated Becton seemed good. It seems to be incredible, actually. He is attacking this offseason in the proper method and I am excited for him.
There wasn’t a lot to notice when it comes to precise soccer, however tight finish Izaiah Gathings, a State tryout from Center Tennessee, had a pleasant one-handed catch on drills .
Gardner made a quick look throughout observe. He has been on the facility for many of the voluntary offseason program.
Preliminary Jets Draft Class Jersey Numbers (topic to vary): McDonald (#99), Joe Tippmann (#66), Carter Warren (#67), Israel Abanikanda (#25), Zaire Barnes (#99). 53), Jarrick Bernard-Converse (#29) and tight finish Zack Kuntz (#81). McDonald stated he selected quantity 99 with the identical quantity as Jets legend Mark Gastineau as a result of it was additionally his first quantity at Iowa State.
The Jets signed Abanikanda, Barnes, Bernard-Converse and Kuntz to their rookie contracts. Count on the others to signal within the subsequent few days.
(Picture by Zaire Barnes, #53: Wealthy Schultz/Related Press)
