With Mike Maccagnan out and Joe Douglas in as Jets general manager, there are several players on New York’s roster who have some work to do if they want to impress their new GM and survive training camp.
The Jets are loaded with Maccagnan holdovers. Many of them are locks to make the team when New York breaks camp, but some find themselves firmly on the bubble. Remember, Douglas has no ties to any of Maccagnan’s recent draft picks or free agent signings. If he doesn’t like what he sees in training camp, he’ll have no problem moving on from them in favor of his own guys.
Here are six Maccagnan holdovers who need to prove themselves throughout training camp if they want to make New York’s 53-man roster.
Nathan Shepherd
Maccagnan was high on Shepherd coming out of Fort Hays State, but after an underwhelming rookie season, Douglas might not keep him around for a second season with the Jets if Shepherd disappoints throughout training camp.
Odds are Shepherd is safe. Past Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson, the Jets lack defensive end depth. However, Douglas will spend camp scouring the waiver wire for upgrades at every position. If he finds a player who has a track record of producing, Shepherd will have to put together impressive preseason performances if he wants to secure himself a roster spot.
Jeremy Clark
Clark is long and physical at the line of scrimmage, which helps his chances opening Douglas’ eyes. After an injury-plagued rookie year, the Michigan product will have to scratch and claw throughout camp to avoid landing on the practice squad, though
In his first couple of days on the job, Douglas added cornerback depth in the form of Montrel Meander and Mark Myers. Like, Clark, Meander and Myers will spend July and August fighting for a roster spot. However, Meander and Myers have the upper hand as Douglas acquisitions.
Given New York’s current cornerback predicament, Clark has as good of a chance as anyone to begin the season on the 53-man roster. With that being said, his spot will have to be earned.
Trenton Cannon
Cannon entered his rookie season with plenty of hype as a special teams weapon and potential contributor at running back. Unfortunately, the Virginia State product disappointed in both of those areas and finds himself firmly on the roster bubble heading into training camp.
The Jets are loaded at running back with Le’Veon Bell, Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell and Elijah McGuire, meaning Cannon will not have an opportunity to impact New York’s rushing attack. His best bet at making the team will be as a return man, but undrafted free agent Greg Dortch was electric throughout the spring and will give Cannon a run for his money throughout the summer.
If Cannon fails to live up to his potential for the second consecutive summer, he is destined to land on New York’s practice squad or a free agent.
Foley Fatukasi
Fatukasi barely saw the field as a rookie, but has the potential to produce given the opportunity. Without a strong training camp, odds are he won’t get the chance to do so with the Jets.
With Steve McLendon, New York has solid interior defensive line depth. Henry Anderson, Leonard Williams and Quinnen Williams likely won’t come off the field all that often this upcoming season, leaving Fatukasi relegated to the bench. That could leave the door open for Douglas to add an experienced defensive tackle in place of Fatukasi, who would likely wind up on the practice squad.
Fatukasi needs to prove he belongs in camp. Otherwise, he’ll be out the door.
Brent Qvale
Moving away from New York’s second-year players, Qvale is one of the veteran Maccagnan holdovers who need a good training camp to stick around with the Jets for another year.
Qvale has been solid, but unspectacular in his time as a reserve offensive lineman for New York. Lauded for his versatility, Qvale has gotten the job done when called upon. However, with the arrival of Tom Compton, who shares a similar skill set, Qvale’s services may no longer be required.
Compton was not a Douglas signing, but he has a more successful track record than Qvale. That alone gives him the upper hand in this position battle. If he slips up at all during camp, Qvale will be in a bind when it comes to making New York’s 53-man roster.
Davis Webb
With Sam Darnold entrenched as the start and Trevor Siemian serving as a veteran backup, Webb seems destined to land on New York’s practice squad.
However, there’s a chance Webb can flip the script and land himself a spot on Gang Green’s 53-man roster. By the end of the spring, Webb was seeing reps as the No. 2 quarterback. Adam Gase likely did this to spell Siemian and get Webb more familiar with the offense, but it opened the door for Webb to impress and put himself in the race to win the backup job.
Webb has the arm and football IQ to succeed in the NFL. If he puts it together this summer, he could very well wind up having a shot to prove his worth with the Jets.
