Tag: Pierre Desir

Jets shore up their CB depth with trade for Quincy Wilson

Former 2017 second-round pick Quincy Wilson adds another level of depth to the Jets’ secondary after falling out of favor with the Colts.

The Jets added another cornerback with their 211th pick, but not through the draft.

New York traded the pick to the Colts for Quincy Wilson, who now joins former Indy teammates Pierre Desir and Nate Hairston and former Florida teammates Brian Poole and Marcus Maye in the Jets secondary. 

Wilson was the Colts’ second-round pick in 2017 but failed to earn a consistent role in Indianapolis. He only started 10 games in three seasons, all of which were between 2017-2018. He saw action in only nine games this past season and failed to record any interceptions or pass breakups. He also only played in 11 percent of the Colts’ snaps in 2019 – the third-fewest snaps of any defensive back.

Joe Douglas took a flier on Wilson because of his potential and fit in Gregg Williams’ defense. Wilson played well in the Colts’ press-man coverage system in 2017 and 2018, where he recorded a 68.3 and 67.8 Pro Football Focus grade, respectively, during those two seasons and combined for two interceptions and 50 combined tackles. But once the Colts switched to a zone scheme, Wilson saw his production dip considerably. 

The Jets now have considerable depth in the secondary, something they lacked in 2019. Wilson can play both cornerback and safety but likely won’t compete for a starting role on the outside despite his 6-foot-2, 194-pound frame. He may not even make the 53-man roster, but his NFL experience already makes him more valuable than any player the Jets would have picked in the sixth round.

Instant Analysis: Jets benefit from Bryce Hall’s fall

Bryce Hall has injury concerns but could develop into a top cornerback for the Jets.

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The Jets got a potential starting cornerback in the fifth round when they picked Virginia’s Bryce Hall with the 158th selection.

Hall fits the bill as a ball-hawking cornerback with ideal size and length at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. He forced 37 incompletions over the past two seasons – third-most in college football – with a 92.4 coverage grade that ranked fifth-most among cornerbacks over that span. 

Hall’s speed makes him a perfect outside cornerback for Gregg Williams’s zone-based coverage defense, where he can react quickly on short-passes and support the run defense when needed. He can play man when needed, too, with safety help over the top. Hall can also play special teams when needed.

So why did Hall fall all the way to the fifth round? He suffered a severe ankle injury in mid-October that required surgery and forced him to miss half of his senior season. Hall says he’ll be ready for training camp this summer, but he didn’t participate in any drills at the NFL combine so there’s no telling if he’s back to game-speed yet.

This is an incredible value pick for the Jets in the fifth round. Hall joins a cornerback room with Pierre Desir, Brian Poole, Bless Austin, Arthur Maulet and versatile defensive back Ashytn Davis, who the Jets took in the third round on Friday. Hall probably won’t be a starter Week 1 as he continues to recover from ankle surgery, but could easily develop into one for the Jets as the season progresses.

Grade: A+

Instant Analysis: Gregg Williams is going to have fun with Ashtyn Davis

Jets got a raw prospect in defensive back Ashtyn Davis, but he has the speed and versatility to be a force on Gregg Williams’ defense.

Many Jets fans will wonder who Cal defensive back Ashtyn Davis is and why the Jets took him 79th overall, but the pick makes a lot of sense because of his raw athletic ability and versatility on defense and special teams.

For starters, Davis is fast. He went to Cal on a track scholarship before walking onto the football team and working his way from punt return specialist to cornerback to free safety. He returned 70 punts for 1,604 yards and averaged almost 23 yards per return for the Bears. He also recorded 102 solo tackles with seven interceptions as a defensive back.

The Jets don’t have an immediate need at safety – yet – so the expectation is that Davis will be a cornerback and return specialist. His experience at safety means he could also play in the deep secondary if called upon, but he should help fill out the cornerback room led by Pierre Desir, Brian Poole, Bless Austin and Arthur Maulet.

Davis said he can play almost anywhere on defense – cornerback, safety and even weakside linebacker – but prefers the “deep defense.”

“I’m looking forward to manning some people up,” he said. “I think that’s in the cards for me.”

Davis’ sentiment lines up with a lot of scouting reports that peg him as a hard-nosed and fearless defensive back, which could either be a blessing or a curse for Gregg Williams. The Jets love bruisers on defense (see Adams, Jamal) but Davis appears to be over-aggressive at times. He sometimes takes himself out of plays and fails at finishing tackles. Davis is also coming off groin surgery he had in December that forced him to miss the end of the season and the NFL combine.

With that said, Williams knows how to coach up raw talent, and Davis possesses plenty of traits that the coordinator desires.

Davis fits well in a Jets defense that craves versatility. He’s definitely still a developmental player but could turn into a solid enforcer for the Jets in the near future.

Grade: C+

Signing Logan Ryan would do wonders for Jets secondary

Jets Wire breaks down why signing free agent cornerback Logan Ryan would be a big-time move to upgrade the secondary.

Joe Douglas has done a nice job addressing the Jets secondary this offseason by signing Pierre Desir and bringing back Brian Poole, but there is still plenty of work to be done for the unit to become a solid one before Week 1 of the 2020 season rolls around.

Beyond Desir and Poole, there is not much on New York’s cornerback depth chart. Bless Austin is penciled in as the No. 2 cornerback opposite Desir, but his inexperience makes him a less than ideal option for the job. Arthur Maulet is a nice backup, but should not be in the running for a starting job. The same goes for Kyron Brown and Nate Hairston.

Fortunately for the Jets, there is a New Jersey native and former AFC East division rival still available for the taking in free agency who could come in and alleviate any cornerback concerns.

The Daily News’ Manish Mehta reported that the Jets are looking into signing former Patriots and Titans cornerback Logan Ryan. The 29-year-old is coming off arguably the best season of his career, setting new highs in tackles (113), pass deflections (18), sacks (4.5) and forced fumbles (four). Ryan also added four interceptions as a member of one of the better defenses in the NFL last season.

Ryan is not an elite corner, but he is exactly what the Jets need at this point in time. A duo of Desir and Ryan would be an immediate upgrade over what New York had at cornerback last season and would give defensive coordinator Gregg Williams two established defensive backs to insert into his scheme.

Before the Jets can realistically entertain any pursuit of the Rutgers product, there are financial hurdles that need to be cleared with only $18.8 million remaining in salary cap space. That could spell the end for Brian Winters’ tenure with the team, as releasing him would free up $7.28 million — likely enough to sign Ryan. It could also mean Avery Williamson’s time with the Jets is up, as New York would clear $6.5 million in cap space by releasing him.

Considering the depth the Jets have on the offensive line and at linebacker, they can absorb the loss of Winters or Williamson in order to improve their secondary. New York needs to do what it can in order to take advantage of a player of Ryan’s caliber lingering in free agency.

If all financial hurdles are cleared and Ryan is interested in a homecoming, adding him to the mix would do wonders for a Jets secondary in desperate need of some experienced talent.

2020 NFL Draft: 4 cornerbacks the Jets could target in later rounds

Jets Wire takes a look at four cornerbacks the Jets could target in the later rounds of the 2020 NFL draft.

There is no question that the Jets need to add a cornerback or two in the upcoming 2020 NFL draft.

Joe Douglas did a nice job addressing the position in free agency by bringing back Brian Poole and inking Pierre Desir to a one-year deal. However, even with Poole back in the fold and Desir’s arrival, New York still needs additional cornerback depth. Past Poole and Desir, the Jets’ cornerback room is littered with inexperienced and unproven players.

New York is unlikely to address cornerback early in the draft, making the later rounds the ideal time for Douglas to sure up the position. Who are some potential late-round targets the Jets could have their eyes on? Let’s take a look.

Reggie Robinson, Tulsa

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Considering the Jets’ defensive scheme, Robinson’s skill set makes him an ideal late-round cornerback target.

At 6-foot-1, Robinson has the speed, length and athleticism to play in Gregg Williams’ defense. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL draft combine and has a knack for being disruptive in the secondary, as he recorded four interceptions and four pass breakups in his senior year.

Robinson’s not a finished product, but he has the potential to develop into a starting outside cornerback. Considering that is exactly what the Jets need, they would be foolish to pass on him if he is still on the board in the later rounds.

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Gregg Williams has proven his worth on and off the field

In only a year’s time, Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has made an instant impact for New York both on and off the field.

Eight years ago, it looked like Gregg Williams’ time in the NFL was coming to an end sooner than he ever could have imagined.

Pinned as the Saints’ ring leader of an illegal bounty fund which paid players for injuring opponents, Williams lost his coordinator job with the Rams a little over a month after leaving New Orleans to join Jeff Fisher’s coaching staff in St. Louis. Williams was hit with an indefinite suspension by Roger Goodell for what transpired with the Saints.

Considering the severity of Williams’ pay for performance bounty scheme against opponents, serious question marks surrounded his future in football. Would another team take a risk on hiring a defensive coordinator with that kind of transgression on his record? Would the NFL even consider reinstating him down the road?

Williams spent 2013 as a senior defensive assistant with the Titans after he accepted responsibility for his role in the bounty scandal and vowed to never take part in such a scheme again. His reinstatement came after only one year out of football.

Williams returned to the sidelines in 2014 after Jeff Fisher decided to re-hire him with the Rams. He served as Los Angeles’ defensive coordinator until 2016 and caught on with the Browns the following season. After a stint as Cleveland’s defensive coordinator and interim head coach in 2018, Williams joined Adam Gase’s coaching staff last year as defensive coordinator — a move that has paid dividends for the Jets.

Williams’ involvement in the bounty gate scandal comes up from time to time, but most people have moved past what happened with the Saints. It certainly has not affected Williams’ ability to remain a top-tier defensive coordinator, as he made an instant impact in his first season with New York.

In 2018, the Jets ranked 29th in the NFL in points allowed per game with 27.6. Last season, with a defense decimated by injuries, Williams helped bring that number down to 22.4 points allowed per game — good enough for 16th in the NFL. New York also improved substantially against the pass under Williams’ watch, ranking 16th with 236.2 passing yards allowed per game. In 2018, the Jets allowed 254.1 yards through the air per game.

Williams’ impact on the field has been profound, but that is not the only area where he has been able to help the Jets. Williams played an instrumental role in the signing of free agent cornerback Pierre Desir and outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins’ decision to re-up with New York on a one year deal this offseason.

The 61-year-old Williams has no problem ripping into his players when he has to. At the same time, he would go to bat for his guys any day of the week. Williams’ brash ways are calculated and designed to get the best out of his players. That kind of coaching style might not appeal to everyone, but it has been a major hit in the locker room at One Jets Drive.

Combine Williams’ track record as a defensive coordinator and his status as a player’s coach and it is hard to undersell his value. The Jets struggled to a 7-9 record last season, but that did not deter any defensive free agent from signing with the team this offseason. Regardless of record, players want to put the pads on and play for Williams every Sunday.

It’s rare that a coordinator comes along with so much influence on and off the field. The Jets have a history of striking out on coordinator hires, but give them credit for this one. Without Williams, who knows where New York’s defense would be.

Pierre Desir says defensive coordinator Gregg Williams sold him on signing with Jets

Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams played an instrumental role in Pierre Desir’s decision to sign with the Jets in free agency.

Pierre Desir’s familiarity with Jets assistant general manager Rex Hogan wasn’t the only thing that pushed him towards signing with New York in free agency.

Days after the Colts waived Desir, the Jets swooped in to ink him to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. Hogan played an instrumental role in bringing Desir to the Big Apple, but it was defensive coordinator Gregg Williams that sealed the deal with the veteran cornerback.

“[Speaking with Williams] kind of sold me on wanting to sign with the Jets,” Desir said on a conference call with reporters on Friday.

In conversations with players around the league, Desir said he discovered how beloved New York’s defensive coordinator is by his players. Williams is not afraid to rip into people when necessary, but is ultimately a player’s coach that will go to bat for his guys any day of the week.

Considering Williams played a major role in outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins’ decision to re-sign with the Jets, it should not come as much of a surprise that he was a primary factor in Desir’s decision to join Gang Green. Not only does Williams churn out top-ranked defenses, but he also does it in a way that and with a coaching style that players love.

Desir comes to the Jets after spending the last three years in the Colts’ zone coverage heavy scheme. However, with Desir’s words about Williams, it is clear that although he might not be the perfect fit in the Jets’ typically man-heavy defense, the two sides are willing to put in the work to turn New York’s secondary into one of the better ones in football in 2020.

Jets Salary Cap update: Where does New York stand at the end of March?

The Jets signed 10 players in the past two weeks, mostly on inexpensive and short-term deals.

With the first wave of free agency over, Joe Douglas and the Jets brought in 10 players over the last two weeks. The Jets signed a few potential starters but mostly built up some depth at linebacker, defensive back, offensive line and receiver.

New York kept a few of its top players from 2019 by re-signing linebackers Jordan Jenkins, Neville Hewit and James Burgess, as well as defensive backs Arthur Maulet and Bennet Jackson. They also grabbed linebacker Patrick Onwuasor, cornerback Pierre Desir, guards Greg Van Roten and Josh Andrews, and wideout Breshad Perriman on the open market.

Jenkins, Desir and Perriman are poised to start. That’s not guaranteed for Onwuasor, Van Roten, Hewitt, Burgess and Maulet, but all have ample starting experience as well. 

Douglas played it safe with his money and only handed out flexible, cheap short-term contracts. As a result, the Jets officially have $45,016,813 in cap space, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Counting reported moves that are not official yet, however, they have closer to $32,530,780 – per OverTheCap.com. The discrepancy is because the Jets technically haven’t officially signed a few of their free agents. Typically, a free agent must pass a team physical before the signing can be official, and some teams haven’t conducted physicals on all of their new players with the closure of team facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Douglas looks to have shored up a few positions of need, but there are still positions the Jets should look at as free agency continues. Cornerback and receiver need work despite the signings of Desir, Maulet and Perriman, and the Jets still don’t have a suitable backup quarterback or running back. There is still a chance the Jets cut players like Avery Williamson and Brian Winters to save even more money.

With a little over $32 million left to spend, Douglas can still find some quality players on the market to solidify his roster. 

Pierre Desir says he played hurt throughout 2019 season

Pierre Desir was blindsided by his release from the Colts.

It was a bit of a surprise to see the Indianapolis Colts release cornerback Pierre Desir over the weekend, but he quickly resurfaced signing with the New York Jets just a day later.

Desir himself was blindsided by the release. It likely stemmed from a $3 million guaranteed injury clause kicking in on Sunday but even so, Desir wasn’t expecting to hit the streets so suddenly.

After a down season, it is somewhat understandable why Desir was cut. But the veteran cornerback said he was playing hurt throughout the 2019 season, dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him from playing at his highest level.

“I was trying to do the best for my team,” Desir told Connor J. Hughes of The Athletic. “The coaches wanted me to play. I was trying to play. It was just one of those years. I was injured, but my team needed me. That injury is tough. You see why guys miss an entire season with hamstring injuries.”

Desir said he essentially was playing on one leg after injuring his hamstring in Week 3. The sleeve he wore to protect the hamstring prevented him from opening up and running and the fact that he missed practice time led to a lack of conditioning, which in turn led to him being ill-prepared physically each week.

Desir signed a three-year deal during the 2019 offseason, but the way the contract was constructed by the Colts front office meant they could essentially cut him anytime after Year 1 without much dead-cap penalty.

It was a bit surprising to see the move get made because the Colts aren’t beaming with depth in the cornerback room. They have the promising Rock Ya-Sin coming off of a solid rookie campaign on the boundary. Kenny Moore remains to be one of the best slot corners in the game. Beyond that, Marvell Tell III is still developing and Quincy Wilson has essentially become persona non grata when it comes to playing time.

The release of Desir likely means the Colts are going to target the cornerback heavily in the 2020 NFL draft with their first of seven picks coming in the second round. They could also add some depth to the room via free agency, but they are likely hoping the market calms down before doing so.

Desir was a solid veteran presence to have in the cornerback room, but the Colts likely felt his decline wasn’t worth the money he was being guaranteed.

Whether Desir’s play was due to his injury remains to be seen, but the veteran cornerback was certainly blindsided by the release.

4 things to know about new Jets CB Pierre Desir

Get to know more about New York’s newest free agent acquisition, cornerback Pierre Desir.

The Jets have themselves a new starting cornerback.

Joe Douglas turned his attention to New York’s secondary on Sunday, inking former Colts corner Pierre Desir to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million in guaranteed money. Indianapolis made the surprising decision to cut Desir one year into a three-year contract extension, but he did not last long on the open market as the Jets pounced to give Gregg Williams a ballhawk to work with.

So, what should Jets fans know about their newest free agent acquisition? Let’s get familiar with Desir and what he brings to the table.

A unique journey to the NFL

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Desir’s journey to the NFL is different than almost any other player in the league. Not only did he have to scrap and claw to get noticed playing at a small school, but he had to overcome circumstances that put his football career in jeopardy dating all the way back to high school.

Desir was not an academic qualifier coming out of high school and was not eligible to play Division I football despite being All-State in Missouri. He took his talents to Division II Washburn University in 2012 but was forced to leave the school as the football program ran short on scholarship money.

Desir returned home with his now-wife, Morgan, and two daughters to benefit from the help of family. He enrolled at nearby Lindenwood University, but was forced to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. In order to pay tuition and support his family, Desir worked long hours as a day laborer, placing him further away from the football field than he ever could have imagined.

Fast forward to 2020 and Desir is an established starting NFL cornerback. That’s one heck of a journey for a player who had to put his football dreams on hold for a while.

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