Jets Top 25 countdown: New weapons, the heart of the defense and 2023’s biggest question
The march to training camp rolls on, and we move into the top 15 this week in our Jets roster top 25.
Today we are counting down No. 15 to No. 6, and there are plenty of new faces in this group as well as players who had solid seasons for the Jets last year.
It speaks to the Jets’ depth that some of these players are not in the top five as they would have been in prior years.
Just a reminder: We do not put rookies in the list because no one has any idea how a rookie will play in the NFL.
We will be back next week with a final installment of the top five players.
No. 15: Duane Brown
Last year’s ranking: Unranked (not on team)
Position: Left tackle
Age on Opening Day: 38
How acquired: Signed a two-year, $22 million free-agent contract on Aug. 15, 2022.
Years left on contract: 1
2023 salary cap figure: $11.3 million
Looking back at 2022: The Jets signed Brown early in training camp last year to give them some insurance at tackle, and they ended up needing it. Mekhi Becton went down with a knee injury as the Jets and Brown were in negotiations. Brown signed and became the starting left tackle. He tore his left rotator cuff in practice before Week 1. Brown could have had season-ending surgery, but instead opted to rehab the shoulder and ended up missing just the first four weeks.
At times, Brown, who ended up starting 12 games for the Jets, played pretty well. At other times, he looked like a tackle playing with one arm.
Pro Football Focus ranked Brown as the 69th tackle out of 81 they graded. He was particularly poor in run blocking, grading out as the 76th tackle out of 79.
Outlook for 2023: There was some question as to whether Brown would retire after last season, but he said he didn’t even consider it. He had surgery to repair his shoulder immediately after the season, and will be ready to go for training camp.
Brown will be battling Becton for the starting left tackle spot, and I give Brown a clear edge. He has played many, many more games than Becton (215 career starts to Becton’s 14). Brown also earned the respect of everyone inside the Jets organization for opting to play with his injury last season. They know he had nothing to gain financially by playing, but he gutted his way through the season anyway.
Still, Brown will be 38 years old when the season starts, and there are not many 38-year-old left tackles out there. Think about this: Brown was drafted just two years after D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who has been retired for seven years. At some point, age is going to catch up to Brown. But if he can squeeze one more year out of his body, the Jets could have something at left tackle. Last year was not a fair season on which to judge him. I expect Brown to be protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blind side this season.
No. 14: Quincy Williams
Last year’s ranking: 19
Position: Linebacker
Age on Opening Day: 27
How acquired: Claimed off waivers from the Jaguars on Sept. 2, 2021.
Years left on contract: 3
2023 salary cap figure: $2.4 million
Looking back at 2022: Williams has gone from being Quinnen Williams’ brother to a strong player in his own right. Williams plays with ferocity and is a violent tackler. Williams is one of those players who you don’t need to see his number to know it is him on the hit.
He played in 15 games last season for the Jets, missing two with an ankle injury that looked like it would take much longer to heal. You wonder whether he was ever 100 percent after that injury.
Williams had 106 tackles and three sacks. PFF rated him the 62nd-best linebacker out of 81 graded. He had 50 stops and missed 17 tackles.
Outlook for 2023: Williams will be back next to C.J. Mosley this season. They re-signed Williams to a three-year, $18 million contract this offseason, making sure he would not leave in free agency.
It was a wise investment for the Jets, who have worked hard to develop Williams over the past two years. You don’t want to see him go somewhere else now that he has overcome some of the things holding him back earlier in his career.
The hard part with Williams is there is a fine line between playing fast and violently like he does and being out of control. Sometimes it still feels as if Williams is out of control, and he misses tackles and sometimes commits penalties when that happens. The Jets continue to try to rein him in. But Williams has shown his value to the team, and he was rewarded with a new contract. He should be a key piece of the Jets defense again this year.
No. 13: Mecole Hardman
Last year’s ranking: Unranked (not on team)
Position: Wide receiver
Age on Opening Day: 25
How acquired: Signed a one-year, $4 million free-agent contract on March 22.
Years left on contract: 1
2023 salary cap figure: $1.8 million
Looking back at 2022: Hardman was part of the Super Bowl champion Chiefs, but was hindered all season by a core muscle injury. He played just eight games in the regular season, recording 25 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed four times for 31 yards and two touchdowns and had six punt returns and one kickoff return.
Hardman returned from injury to play in the AFC Championship Game, but reinjured himself and had only one catch and two rushes in the game. He did not play in the Super Bowl.
Outlook for 2023: Hardman had surgery to repair his injury in February, and was a spectator for the Jets’ spring program as he recovered.
It is going to be interesting to see how the Jets utilize Hardman. He was largely a gadget player in Kansas City, but the Jets are going to need more out of him. Hardman is going to be their speediest receiver, and they need him to be a deep threat and open things up underneath for Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and the tight ends.
The Jets were ecstatic when they signed Hardman. They think they really landed a weapon for Rodgers with this signing, and I expect him to be a big part of the offensive game plan.
Special teams coach Brant Boyer also may need Hardman to be the team’s return man after Braxton Berrios was released this offseason.
Hardman seems excited about how Nathaniel Hackett and the Jets will use him and make him a more complete receiver than he was in Kansas City. Hardman will be in the unique position of going from having Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball to Rodgers throwing him the ball. It does not get much better than that for a wide receiver.
No. 12: John Franklin-Myers
Last year’s ranking: 10
Position: Defensive end
Age on Opening Day: 26
How acquired: Claimed off waivers from the Rams on Sept. 1, 2019.
Years left on contract: 3
2023 salary cap figure: $4.1 million
Looking back at 2022: Franklin-Myers played in all 17 games for the Jets last season, and registered 38 tackles, five sacks and 20 quarterback hits.
PFF ranked Franklin-Myers 18th out of 119 edge rushers they graded. He was 14th against the run and 22nd in pass rush.
Franklin-Myers has thrived in the Robert Saley/Jeff Ulbrich system, and that is why the Jets gave him a contract extension in 2021. He is good in all phases, and can move from the outside to the interior of the defensive line with ease.
The biggest knock on Franklin-Myers in 2022 was penalties, not the number but how massive they were. He had two big penalties that hurt the Jets. He was called for a late hit on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on a third down. The Jets should have been off the field. Instead, the penalty gave the Bengals a first down, and they ended up scoring a touchdown. The other penalty was one of the biggest plays of the entire season. Frankiln-Myers was called for roughing the passer against the Patriots, and his hit on Mac Jones nullified a pick six by Michael Carter II just before halftime. The Patriots ended up winning the game. The penalty felt like a turning point in the season.
Outlook for 2023: The Jets love the versatility Franklin-Myers brings. He can line up on the edge on first and second downs and kick inside over the guard on third down. I think they will use him more inside this year than in the past two seasons because they have so many edge rushers. The Jets need to find ways to get Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald on the field. One way to do that is to move Franklin-Myers inside more.
Franklin-Myers has been one of GM Joe Douglas’ best finds. Douglas grabbed Franklin-Myers off waivers in 2019, and the Jets have developed him. He should continue to be an integral part of the defense in 2023.
No. 11: Tyler Conklin
Last year’s ranking: 18
Position: Tight end
Age on Opening Day: 28
How acquired: Signed a three-year, $21 million free-agent contract on March 16, 2022.
Years left on contract: 2
2023 salary cap figure: $6 million
Looking back at 2022: Conklin was one of the Jets’ big free-agent signings in 2022, and he produced. Conklin appeared in all 17 games. He put up nearly identical numbers to the ones he posted in Minnesota in 2021 that got him the big contract from the Jets. He had 58 catches for 552 yards and three touchdowns (61, 593, 3 in 2021 for the Vikings). He had four drops.
PFF ranked Conkiln 45th out of 73 tight ends graded. That grade got dragged down by Conklin’s limitations as a blocker — he is not a great blocker. He is a receiver lining up at tight end.
Outlook for 2023: Conklin had a productive year with poor play at quarterback. He could be a monster with Rodgers as his quarterback. Conklin quickly proved he was the best tight end on the team last year during training camp, eclipsing C.J. Uzomah, another big-free agent signing.
Conklin was consistent all season, making some big catches. You have to imagine he will do even better with the Jets’ new offense and with Rodgers throwing him the ball. I would expect Conklin to put up career-best numbers in 2023.
No. 10: Allen Lazard
Last year’s ranking: Unranked (not on team)
Position: Wide receiver
Age on Opening Day: 27
How acquired: Signed a four-year, $44 million free-agent contract on March 14.
Years left on contract: 4
2023 salary cap figure: $3.3 million
Looking back at 2022: Lazard played in 15 games last season for the Packers. Following the departure of Davante Adams, he was targeted 100 times, 40 more than he was the season before. He had career highs in catches (60) and yards (788). He also had six touchdown receptions. He averaged 4.4 yards after the catch and had four drops.
PFF ranked Lazard 50th out of 113 wide receivers graded.
Outlook for 2023: Lazard joined the Jets before the Rodgers trade became official, but it was a sign that a deal was coming. Lazard and Rodgers know each other well from five years together in Green Bay. Having a familiar target to throw to in Lazard will be a key piece in making Rodgers feel comfortable with the Jets.
It is not just Rodgers who is familiar with Lazard. Hackett was with him for three years in Green Bay.
Lazard will slide back into the No. 2 wide receiver role with Garrett Wilson as the team’s clear No. 1. The Jets spent a lot of money to sign Lazard. It will be interesting to see whether he can live up to that contract. These types of deals have not worked out great for the Jets through the years. Corey Davis was the latest one that did not live up to the expectations he arrived with.
The Jets don’t need Lazard to suddenly be a 100-catch wide receiver, but they need him to be a target who makes Rodgers comfortable and takes pressure off of Wilson. I think Lazard will be given plenty of opportunities in the Jets offense. We’ll see what he can do with them.
No. 9: C.J. Mosley
Last year’s ranking: 2
Position: Linebacker
Age on Opening Day: 31
How acquired: Signed a five-year, $85 million free-agent contract on March 11, 2019.
Years left on contract: 2
2023 salary cap figure: $21.5 million
Looking back at 2022: For the second straight season, Mosley was the heart and the leader of the Jets defense. Mosley’s stats don’t tell the whole story of how important he is. After a rough first two seasons with the Jets due to injuries and a COVID opt out, Mosley has shown why the team coveted him in free agency.
Mosley played 17 games last season. He had 158 tackles, five for loss, three quarterback hits, one sack, one fumble recovery and one interception. He made the Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro.
PFF ranked Mosley 30th out of 81 linebackers they graded. He was 24th against the run.
Beyond how he performs, Mosley is like a coach on the field for Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. He is the one who makes the defensive calls and gets everyone aligned. It does not feel as if Mosley has been a Jet for very long because of his first two seasons here, but he is now one of the longest-tenured players on the team.
Outlook for 2023: Mosley has not shown any signs of letting his play slip. He consistently performed well in 2022. There is no reason to expect a drop-off this year. Mosley is one of the team’s hardest workers off the field and continues to be a leader.
Mosley is the heart of the team, and the Jets will be in trouble if they lose him for any significant amount of time. It will be hard for him to live up to that $21.5 million salary cap number, the highest on the team, but he is definitely valuable to the Jets. Mosley said the team has spoken to his agent about adjusting his contract to lower that number, but nothing has happened yet.
If the Jets do turn things around this season, Mosley deserves a lot of credit for changing the culture. He has been a positive force over the past two seasons and has not gotten beaten down by any “Same Old Jets” talk.
No. 8: Carl Lawson
Last year’s ranking: 3
Position: Defensive end
Age on Opening Day: 28
How acquired: Signed a three-year, $45 million free-agent contract on March 15, 2021.
Years left on contract: 1
2023 salary cap figure: $3 million
Looking back at 2022: Lawson returned from a torn Achilles tendon that cost him all of 2021, and played well for the Jets.
Saleh and Ulbrich believe in a heavy rotation on the defensive line, which makes you wonder whether Lawson could have bigger numbers with more playing time (58 percent of defensive snaps). But overall you could see Lawson’s speed and the problems it creates in passing situations.
Lawson played in all 17 games. He had 33 tackles, seven sacks, 24 quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and nine tackles for loss.
PFF ranked Lawson 52nd out of the 119 edge rushers graded. Lawson was 31st in pass rush, but his run grade dragged him down. He was 102nd against the run. The Jets don’t need Lawson to be a three-down defensive lineman. That is not what he is getting paid for. They want him to get after quarterbacks, so the run grade is not critical.
Outlook for 2023: The Jets asked Lawson to take a pay cut this offseason, and he agreed. He went from being owed $15 million this season to $9 million. It shows the Jets like Lawson, but don’t love him. This figures to be his last season with the team.
Lawson will be the team’s top edge rusher again, but that room is getting crowded with young players after the Jets used first-round picks on Johnson and McDonald in the past two years. You wonder whether Lawson’s play time might be reduced if those two players start flourishing.
Lawson now is two years removed from his Achilles injury. Players usually say they don’t truly feel like themselves until they get two years out from that surgery. It would not be surprising to see Lawson take another step this season and become a double-digit sack player.
No. 7: D.J. Reed
Last year’s ranking: 6
Position: Cornerback
Age on Opening Day: 26
How acquired: Signed a three-year, $33 million free-agent contract on March 15, 2022.
Years left on contract: 2
2023 salary cap figure: $8 million
Looking back at 2022: Reed had a tremendous impact in his first season with the Jets. He did not arrive with a big reputation, but he became one of the Jets’ most important players. He teamed with rookie Sauce Gardner to give the Jets one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL.
Reed played in all 17 games. He had 80 tackles, one interception, 12 passes defensed and one forced fumble.
PFF graded him 23rd out of 118 cornerbacks. He was 10th in coverage. PFF had Reed allowing 47 receptions and two touchdowns on 83 attempts. He had a passer rating against of 75.7.
Reed also was a strong voice in the locker room and became one of the team’s leaders. He is a favorite of the Jets coaches for the way he carries himself.
Outlook for 2023: Reed looks like a perfect free-agent signing by Douglas. Free agents are often overrated or over the hill. Reed was a player just finding his stride last year. He is still young, and the Jets could have a player entering his prime who is ascending rapidly.
If there was one knock on Reed in 2022, it was that he only had one interception. The Jets need their entire secondary to start taking the ball away more. That will raise the level of the Jets defense from good to great.
It will be interesting to see what Reed does for an encore after such a strong Jets debut season.
No. 6: Breece Hall
Last year’s ranking: Unranked (rookie)
Position: Running back
Age on Opening Day: 22
How acquired: Selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Years left on contract: 3
2023 salary cap figure: $2 million
Looking back at 2022: Hall would have been Garrett Wilson’s toughest competition for Offensive Rookie of the Year if he had not torn the ACL in his left knee in Week 7 against the Broncos.
Hall began the season as part of a committee approach at running back with Michael Carter. Hall quickly earned the lead role, and was just emerging when the injury occurred in Denver. It set back the Jets offense in a huge way. Hall was the team’s “home run hitter,” a player capable of scoring a touchdown seemingly every time he touched the ball. Hall had 15 runs of 10 yards or more and eight runs of 15 or more. He was the best player on offense for the Jets in Green Bay and Denver, his last two games before the injury.
Hall ended up playing seven games. He had 80 rushes for 463 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 5.8 yards per attempt. He also had 19 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown.
Hall had a shaky first game with a fumble and a drop, and then shook off those nerves and looked as if he belonged during the rest of the time he was healthy.
Outlook for 2023: Hall’s health may be the biggest, most important question surrounding the Jets entering the 2023 season. He will be just short of 11 months removed from the ACL injury when the season begins. The Jets are optimistic Hall will be ready for the season opener against the Bills, but will he be himself? History tells us running backs usually need two years to fully come back from ACL injuries. There are exceptions, of course, and maybe Hall can be one of those.
The Jets need Hall to be a playmaker again. The Jets offense has a new look with Rodgers at quarterback, but they still don’t have that many explosive playmakers on offense. Hall is one of them if he can regain his pre-injury form.
If Hall does return at full capacity, the offense will run through him, even with Rodgers aboard. Hall can be a dynamic force for the Jets, but we might not see that fully again until 2024.
