The nine players selected in Joe Douglas’ first draft as the Jets GM aren’t the only rookies who will compete for jobs this summer. Douglas and the Jets also signed nine undrafted free agents to the roster in the hope of finding young and talented players where other teams missed.
Douglas is already known as an UDFA wizard from his days with the Ravens, so he has a leg up on finding the best talent after the draft. It’s likely why he grabbed players from multiple positions of need, including outside linebacker, defensive back, offensive line and wide receiver. At the very worst, Douglas will fill out his practice squad. But at the very best, he could find a young and cheap role player at various spots on the team.
Here are the expectations for all the Jets’ undrafted free agents with training camp approaching.
EDGE Bryce Huff
The Jets need pass rush help and Huff will have a great opportunity to make an impact early. Besides Jordan Jenkins, the Jets don’t have an entrenched second outside linebacker on the roster – and this is where Huff could fill in. He’s small for his position (6-foot-1, 254 pounds) but quick on the edge and has a nose for the quarterback.
Huff won’t become a game-breaking edge rusher right off the bat but he’ll fit a nice niche in Gregg Williams’ defense from the start, which could develop into a more consistent role on the Jets. The expectations are rarely high for undrafted free agents, but Huff received the most guaranteed money of any UDFA pickup by the Jets – $90,000.
WR Lawrence Cager
Cager will need to fight his way up the depth chart to be an important part of the Jets offense. He’s a big-bodied pass-catcher but battled injuries throughout college. Other than tight ends Chris Herndon and Ryan Griffin, the Jets lack a true red-zone receiving threat.
Cager could be that guy with his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame, but it will be hard to make a name for himself while he’s buried on the depth chart.
OL Jared Hilbers
Hilbers is the eighth offensive lineman Douglas brought in this offseason to reshape the Jets’ offensive line and could fit in as a nice backup tackle for New York. He’s the same height as Mekhi Becton at 6-foot-7 and proved to be a top-25 tackle in college at Washington. Hilbers has one of the best chances to crack the Jets’ 53-man roster because of the limited competition in front of him at the tackle position and Douglas’ proclivity for linemen.
The Jets don’t want or need Hilbers to start this season. What Hilbers should be, though, is a quality reserve player with the skills to make the team and learn more as the season progresses.
WR George Campbell
Campbell proved to be a big-play machine in college but didn’t play often because of an injury history. His 24.7 yards per catch would have been one of the highest in the country, but he only caught 19 catches for 469 yards – and seven touchdowns – in 2019.
Campbell fits the mold of an Adam Gase receiver with a solid 6-foot-4, 183-pound frame, but it will be tough for him to get snaps behind the rest of the Jets receivers – all of which have a lot more experience in the offense and/or better speed. It could be hard for Campbell to make the roster. He could see time on the practice squad, though.
DB Shyheim Carter
The Jets don’t have much depth at safety behind Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, but don’t expect Carter to vault into a starting role if either Adams or Maye are traded. Carter will still need to beat out Mattias Farley if he wants to compete for a backup role.
There’s a chance Carter tries to fit in as a cornerback as well, and that’s where he might have a better shot at being a contributor. The Jets have 12 cornerbacks on the roster right now and only Pierre Desir and Brian Poole are guaranteed to make the team. The rest are either rookies or signed inexpensive contracts. Carter is likely a practice squad candidate.
DL Domenique Davis
The Jets already have a plethora of defensive linemen on the roster, so it would be surprising to see Davis make the team and contribute given the talent in front of him. Gregg Williams loves to have an arsenal of linemen at his disposal, and Davis was very productive in college with 112 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, six sacks and 14 quarterback hurries.
Kyle Phillips proved to be a great pickup for the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and Davis could find a similar role in 2020 on Williams’ line. Snaps will be hard to come by, but if he makes the roster Davis could see a small part to play on the defense.
DB Javelin Guidry
Speed will make Guidry and intriguing prospect in 2020. He ran the second-fasted 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine – 4.29 seconds – and had 19 pass breakups, 82 tackles and three picks in 38 college games. Guidry’s 5-foot-9, 191-pound frame fits more as a slot cornerback than outside one, and he could be a solid backup to Brian Poole if he impresses in camp.
Guidry looks more like a solid special teamer right off the bat. He could thrive as a gunner or potentially a return specialist down the line thanks to his size and athleticism, but his probability of cracking the cornerback room is slim considering the NFL experience in front of him.
DB Lamar Jackson
Jackson fits the bill as a big outside cornerback at 6-foot-2, 208 pounds. He’s a physical corner who can disrupt an offense in the passing game and in the run. He totaled 123 tackles, 27 pass breakups and five interceptions in 49 games for Nebraska.
It will be hard for him to make a solid impact on defense unless he proves invaluable in practice, but he does have safety experience as well if the Jets want to bolster that room more than cornerback. Expect Jackson to make the practice squad, but he could be elevated if injuries strike.
DL Sterling Johnson
Johnson will be in direct competition with Domenique Davis and the other backup linemen for a spot on the defensive line. Whether or not he makes the team and plays is up to him, but his big 6-foot-4, 285-pound frame will give him a solid opportunity this summer.
The Jets are great at producing quality defensive linemen regardless of where they were drafted, but it will be tough for Johnson to carve out a role behind so many more experienced players.
