With training camp and the preseason in the books for Gang Green, it’s time to check in and evaluate how the Jets 2024 draft class has performed in the summer.
Expectations are aplenty with justified deep postseason goals, meaning the team will likely need a number of key contributions from this list in order to be serious contenders come January.
OT Olu Fashanu
The Penn State product has been a stalwart as the blindside protector for several years, a role he is likely to develop into on the biggest stage in the Big Apple.
An added benefit to having Olu Fashanu in the building at this stage is he gets to learn the position from one of the game’s best in Tyron Smith. Fashanu has openly admitted to modeling his own play after the perennial future first-ballot hall of famer.
So far, it has been clear that Fashanu is learning the ins and outs at a very rapid rate, and he should be the first name called should either Smith or Morgan Moses miss time this season.
Although he had never played a snap at any other position other than left tackle, Fashanu has already managed to provide solid tape on the right side for the Jets. The plan should still remain to make him the succeeder to Tyron Smith on the left side, but in a pivotal year such as this, flexibility along the offensive line is paramount and we could see Fashanu line up on either side in the near future.
WR Malachi Corley
The draft room at One Jets Drive was anxious to select Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley in the early second round through a potential trade-up scenario, but it was not until the third at pick 65 that his name was finally called.
Corley joined a wide-receiver room that is searching for a running mate to impending superstar Garrett Wilson.
At this point in the summer, Corley has remained mostly with the second unit in practices. Occasional shifts with the ones have occurred in the absences of fellow wideouts Allen Lazard and Xavier Gipson. Corley is a chess piece that can hurt defenses in a number of ways, with his bruising style and abilities after the catch being his signatures.
He remains a raw talent, so his path to significant playing time may not be clear cut as of now.
RB Braelon Allen
Just a quick glance into Braelon Allen and his build could make a team seriously consider making him the focal point of their offense.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Wisconsin product has turned heads from the very first practice, and has already made a real argument for a sizeable role next to another young Jets sensation in Breece Hall.
Allen has managed to showcase many advanced skills, some that do not appear even for many of the league’s best for several years— pass protection, reliable hands, and the ability to finish every run with force.
Another factor that plays into Allen’s favor is not just that he is young, but that he is extremely young, becoming the third-youngest draftee since 2000. The tools are all there for Braelon Allen to become the perfect complementary piece the Jets have been searching for and form a lethal duo with Breece for years to come.
QB Jordan Travis
When the team selected Jordan Travis with the 171st selection, it was seen by many as the ideal scenario for both sides.
The Florida State quarterback would be under no pressure to immediately come in and save the franchise as several have been tasked with in years past. In turn, the team would get to see what a fully healthy Travis can look like after learning from two of the game’s best in Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor.
As of this moment, Travis is nearing full recovery from his horrific leg injury suffered last November during the Seminoles’ late push towards the college football playoffs. Until he is cleared off the NFI list, Travis will continue to learn from the meetings and the sidelines.
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RB Isaiah Davis
The Jets’ fifth-round selection of South Dakota State’s Isaiah Davis marked a true dedication to building a youthful backfield alongside Hall and Allen. Davis looks to have quickly established himself as the team’s third-down back in relief of the aforementioned tandem.
The preseason has also allowed for Davis to be heavily featured in hurry-up scenarios, where Davis’ ability to catch from the backfield has been apparent. Being that the team is likely to rely on the ground game much more than in years past, assuming they are in the lead more, it becomes crucial that there are fresh legs to close games out effectively.
CB Qwan’tez Stiggers
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the bunch has been the stellar way in which the former CFL Rookie of the Year has found his footing in a stacked Jets secondary.
Qwan’tez Stiggers was seen as much more of a developmental selection in a similar light to Jordan Travis, but through his fantastic play and potential to disrupt the game at all levels, Stiggers looks to be in line for a healthy portion of snaps this season.
The trio of Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II is already regarded as a top unit in the league, and with the addition of more promising depth, the Jets defense as a whole has the makings of all-time great. Stiggers has flashed in every preseason game he has appeared in, with his professional pedigree showing on film.
S Jaylen Key
The annual Mr. Irrelevant has shown his fair share of upside in practices as well as the preseason.
Jaylen Key‘s highlight performance came in Week 1 against Washington, where he tallied six tackles and showed off his range and versatility.
While the team does already have a number of proven talents in Tony Adams, Chuck Clark and Ashtyn Davis, Key comes from a defensive-back factory in Alabama that has produced a big number of impact players over the years. While certainly a potential inactive candidate early in the season, Key could figure into the long-term plans at safety if he continues to impress the coaching staff.
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