The Jets reported for training camp on Wednesday and will start practice on Thursday.
The team enters training camp with a lot of new faces, including at head coach and general manager. Between a regime change, new uniforms and lucrative contracts, a team that should be the subject of HBO’s Hard Knocks will get to work on a season that could be special.
With that being said, here are six of the biggest storylines surroudning the Jets entering training camp.
Quinnen Williams’ contract situation
The Jets have hit an impasse with Quinnen Williams on his rookie deal.
With Brian Burns officially signing with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, that makes Williams one of two first-round picks that remains unsigned.
The delay in Williams’ contract is due to his signing bonus payment schedule. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jets and Williams have not come to an agreement because the Jets’ latest offer has a bonus payment schedule that would cost Williams $100,000.
It appears that Joe Douglas is staying firm on the Jets’ contractual approach here, attempting to set a precedent. Still, the Jets need to get their first-round pick on the field sooner than later. Using Sam Darnold as a measuring stick, New York does not want Williams to miss any more than three days of integral practices.
Sam Darnold’s grasp of Adam Gase’s offense
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sam Darnold said that he is on the “latter stages” of learning the new offense. Even though Darnold is learning his second offense in as many seasons, he said he feels a lot more “comfortable” entering year two.
What has helped Darnold grasp the offense is his relationship with his head coach.
“Me and coach Gase have a great relationship off the field, and then on the field, we’re able to communicate very well with each other,” Darnold told reporters Wednesday. “His personality I feel matches up to mine pretty well. We’re always in constant communication and I think that’s how it should be.”
Darnold being ahead of the curve is a good sign for the second-year quarterback. This offense is catered to him and, as the leader of the offense, he has an opportunity throughout training camp to bring the unit along and get everyone on the same page before September.
Le’Veon Bell back in action
Le’Veon Bell reported for training camp for the first time in two years.
The Jets star running back exclaimed, “I’m back baby,” when entering the team facilities on Wednesday. Bell certainly is back and he hasn’t been shy about the chip on his shoulder. However, how much we’ll see of Bell remains to be seen.
The Jets plan to limit his workload during camp, being that he’s been away from the game for over a year.
“We’ll be smart,” Adam Gase said to reporters. “He’s not going to walk out of this camp with the most reps he’s ever had. We’ll find that line, find what the balance is. It’s going to be a communication a lot of the time. We have an idea going in, then if we have to adjust that plan, we will.”
The Jets are being smart with Bell, walking a fine line to make sure that their prized offseason acquisition isn’t burned out before the season begins.
Cornerback depth
Entering training camp, cornerback seems to be the weakest position group on the team.
With Brian Poole being placed on the NFI on Wednesday, the Jets’ current opening day starters would be Trumaine Johnson, Parry Nickerson and Darryl Roberts. That would be one of the weakest cornerbacks groups in the NFL.
The cornerback room needs to be the first area that Joe Douglas tackles after it was ignored by the previous regime. Mike Maccagnan signed Poole to replace Buster Skrine, but stopped there besides making the obvious move to re-sign Roberts. The Jets are lacking a true No. 2 cornerback opposite of Johnson and teams around the league are going to pick on them.
With Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay demanding new deals, the Jets could look there for help. Regardless, New York has to be gravely concerned about its current corners.
Chris Herndon’s suspension
Chris Herndon was handed a four-game suspension for a substance abuse policy violation. He will be eligible to return Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, as the Jets’ bye is in Week 4.
In response to this, the Jets have signed Ryan Griffin and brought back Temuchin Hodges to add to a tight end room that includes Eric Tomlinson, Daniel Brown and Trevon Wesco.
Training Camp allows the Jets to find their most suitable Herndon replacement for the first four weeks of the season. Normally, losing a player for four games wouldn’t be viewed so crucially, but Herndon became Sam Darnold’s go-to target in 2018. The Jets’ slate over the first four games is one of the toughest parts of their schedule, so finding a reliable tight end for the first four games is critical.
Can the offensive line improve?
The Jets offensive line was miserable in 2018, partly due to Spencer Long’s inability to deliver clean snaps and James Carpenter dealing with injuries.
To bolster the offensive line, the Jets went out and acquired All-Pro guard Kelechi Osemele. At center, the Jets’ solution was to bring back Jonotthan Harrison, who held his down and seems to be building a rapport with Sam Darnold.
The offensive line is Joe Douglas’ expertise, as he was a key architect in building the Eagles unit that was crucial to their Super Bowl run. Gang Green’s front five needs to inspire confidence this summer, otherwise, it could mean another long season for Darnold and company.
