Expectations for all 9 Jets undrafted free agents

The Jets brought in nine undrafted free agents this offseason, all with varying degrees of expectations for 2020.

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.

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Report: Bryce Huff got most guaranteed money of Jets’ udrafted free agents

According to an NYDN report, EDGE Bryce Huff and DB Shyeim Carter received the most guaranteed money out of the Jets’ undrafted free agents.

After adding nine players in his first draft class as Jets general manager, Joe Douglas added another nine undrafted free agents.

Based on the guaranteed money that Gang Green handed out, Memphis edge rusher Bryce Huff and Alabama defensive back Shyheim Carter are its two most coveted undrafted free agents. The Jets gave the most guaranteed money to Huff, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Huff received $90,000 in guaranteed money, which includes a $15,000 signing bonus and $75,000 guaranteed base salary, per Mehta.

New York drafted Jabari Zuniga in the third-round out of the University of Florida but wanted to add more depth at a rather thin position. In 2019, Huff ranked fourth in the nation among pass-rushers with 64 total pressures. Over the past two seasons, Huff compiled 16 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. During his senior campaign, he added 16 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. He has a chance at making an immediate impact as an edge rusher.

As a versatile defender, who can either play safety or nickel, Carter received the second-most in guaranteed money with $72,000. Carter has the football acumen to serve as a depth or rotational player but lacks the athleticism to play cornerback at the next level. Still, Gregg Williams should find a place to play for a prospect that Nick Saban has spoken very highly of.

The Jets’ larget guaranteed sum on offense went to University of Washington OT Jared Hilbers. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini originally reported, the Jets guaranteed $62,000 to Hilbers.

Hilbers has the athleticism to play either tackle position and is a sound run-blocker. He fits the mold of the swing tackles that Douglas has been putting an emphasis on between Mekhi Becton and George Fant.

Each undrafted free agent receives a three-year, $2.285 million contract, but the guaranteed money demonstrates how much a team thinks of a player. Obviously, the Jets guaranteeing a player more money means the organization believes that the player has a better chance of making the team.

Here is what the guaranteed money looks like for the remaining six players in the Jets undrafted free agent class, per Mehta.

Sterling Johnson | DT | Coastal Carolina: $60,000
Lawrence Cager | WR | Georgia: $57,500
Javelin Guidry | CB | Utah: $47,000
Lamar Jackon | CB | Nebraska: $27,500
George Campbell | WR | West Virginia: $2,500
Domenique Davis | DL | UNC-Pembroke: $650

4 things to know about Jets undrafted free agent DL Sterling Johnson

Here are four things to know about Jets undrafted free agent DL Sterling Johnson, who played his college football at Coastal Carolina.

Sterling Johnson is another former big-time recruit who struggled to get playing time but still managed to catch on with the Jets as an undrafted free agent.

He didn’t find his footing until he transferred to Coastal Carolina University, but few, if any, NFL scouts were coming around. A projected 3-4 defensive end at the next level, it’s hard to envision their being room on New York’s roster with its depth on the defensive line. However, Gang Green has found multiple diamonds in the rough through the undrafted free agent pipeline or later rounds of the draft at this position.

With the uncertainty surrounding Quinnen Williams’ legal situation, Johnson could play himself into a roster spot during training camp. With that said, here are four things to know about the undrafted free agent out of Coastal Carolina.

New Role, No Problem

In his second season at Coastal Carolina, Sterling Johnson embraced a new role at the nose tackle position in the team’s new 3-4 defensive scheme for the 2019 season.

Johnson started 11 games, recording 41 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a blocked field goal. He was subsequently honored with a 2019 All-Sun Belt third-team selection for his performance.

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