Jets Wire’s Rookie Power Rankings are back!
The beginning of training camp marks the beginning of a month-long journey through an NFL camp for New York’s rookie class. The circumstances are less than ideal with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, but training camp will remain a proving ground for Gang Green’s neophytes nonetheless.
With the pads on, the stakes are higher than ever for New York’s promising nine-man 2020 draft class, as well as some undrafted free agents. The intensity and speed of the game will pick up for some and it may take a while to get adjusted. With that being said, each of the Jets’ rookies have enough talent to make some kind of impact this upcoming season.
Without further ado, here is the first edition of Jets Wire’s rookie power rankings for the 2020 season.
Everyone Else
Before we get into the top five, here is a list of Jets’ rookies who did not make the cut:
RB La’Mical Perine (Fourth-round pick)
Perine is currently New York’s No. 3 running back behind Le’Veon Bell and Frank Gore, which is a good spot for a mid-round draft pick to be. However, with Bell and Gore set to dominate the bulk of the workload in the background, it remains to be seen how much playing time Perine will get at the beginning of the season.
QB James Morgan (Fourth-round pick)
Morgan enters training camp as the Jets’ No. 4 quarterback behind Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco and David Fales. Morgan is all but a lock to crack New York’s 53-man roster at the beginning of the regular season, but he cannot be included in the top five of the power rankings considering his limited role as a backup.
OL Cameron Clark (Fourth-round pick)
The Jets drafted the versatile Clark with an eye on deploying him as a backup who can line up at either guard or tackle in the event of an injury to a veteran starter. Until he enters the starting lineup for one reason or another, Clark will remain out of the top five.
CB Bryce Hall (Fifth-round pick)
Of all the draft picks not included in the initial top five, Hall has the best chance to break into the rankings in the near future. As long as he remains healthy throughout training camp, he has a shot to challenge for the No. 2 cornerback spot opposite Pierre Desir.
WR Lawrence Cager (UDFA)
WR George Campbell (UDFA)
CB Shyheim Carter (UDFA)
DT Domenique Davis (UDFA)
CB Javelin Guidry (UDFA)
OT Jared Hilbers (UDFA)
DE/OLB Bryce Huff (UDFA)
CB Lamar Jackson (UDFA)
DL Sterling Johnson (UDFA)
No. 5: P Braden Mann
Braden Mann just made history as the first specialist to appear in Jets Wire’s rookie power rankings.
The Texas A&M product will walk into the starting punter job once training camp begins. It’s rare for most rookies selected outside of the first three rounds to have a starting job locked down on the first day of camp, but that is the position Mann finds himself in as the only punter on New York’s roster right now.
Mann is not inheriting the No. 1 spot on the depth chart solely because of that, though. The Jets drafted him for a reason. He was arguably the best punter in college football the last two seasons and performed at an elite level throughout his collegiate career. Expect that production to carry over to the NFL.
No. 4: S Ashtyn Davis
Ashtyn Davis is stuck behind Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye on New York’s safety depth chart, so he will not have a chance to crack the starting lineup in 2020. That does not mean he is not in line to contribute to Gregg Williams’ defense, though.
Davis is a jack of all trades player that can line up all over the field. He can cover over the top to allow Adams to play more in the box, or he can play in the box himself. He can also line up at cornerback, which could be important for the Jets considering the current uncertainty at the position. Davis is also a sure bet to make an impact on special teams.
Regardless of what his role is throughout his rookie year, Davis will be in a position to make plays. If he can perform as he did throughout his career at California, it won’t be long before he climbs in the rankings.
No. 3: DE/OLB Jabari Zuniga
Jabari Zuniga over Davis at No. 3 might seem like a bit of a head-scratcher, but there is a perfectly logical reason for this placement.
While Davis is set to spend training camp carving out a niche in New York’s defense, Zuniga will be competing directly against Tarell Basham for the second outside linebacker spot opposite Jordan Jenkins. There is no guarantee he beats Basham out, but if he does, Zuniga could be trending toward a big-time rookie season for the Jets.
Zuniga has the potential to make an instant impact for New York. He has already received a ringing endorsement from Gregg Williams and his career at Florida indicates he has what it takes to produce at the next level. Now, he just has to put the pieces together in the next month in order to win a starting gig.
No. 2: WR Denzel Mims
Could Denzel Mims be the weapon Adam Gase’s offense lacked in 2019?
The Jets are certainly hoping so, as they spent a second-round pick on him in an effort to bolster Sam Darnold’s supporting cast. They are also hoping he can make an instant impact this upcoming season, as he is set to begin 2020 as New York’s starting outside wide receiver opposite Breshad Perriman.
It might take Mims a little bit to get into the swing of things. Once he does get going, though, the Jets might have one of football’s most promising young wide receivers on their hands.
No. 1: OT Mekhi Becton
Considering the hype surrounding Mekhi Becton entering training camp, it’s only appropriate that he begins the 2020 season at the top of the rankings.
Becton is all but a lock to be New York’s starter at left tackle once Week 1 of the regular season rolls around. He’s still a little bit raw in his technique, but Becton has the physical traits and natural blocking ability to become an impact player on the line right off the bat.
The Jets went big, literally and figuratively, when they selected Becton, who many viewed as a boom or bust prospect, 11th overall. As long as he develops as Joe Douglas and company expect him to, New York could have its left tackle of the future.
