New York Jets Training Camp Preview 2022
The New York Jets are… well, the New York Jets. This is a team that has been stuck in first gear for a long time now, and fans wonder if this will be the year they finally sniff .500. A very good draft class paired with a natural progression of the young guys on this roster could translate into some success in 2022. It seems like this Jets front office is building the right way, but time will tell about all these young kids playing in New York. Heading into training camp, what should you look forward to from the New York Jets?
3 Position Battles To Watch
- Left Tackle: Mekhi Becton, George Fant
When Mekhi Becton was drafted 11th overall back in 2020, Jets fans thought they had their LT for the next decade. A promising rookie year was then followed by heartbreak, when he missed almost the entire 2021 season due to a knee injury. After the injury, Becton has not looked the same. Head Coach Robert Saleh has even gone on record making no guarantees that he would start in 2022. His replacement, George Fant, filled his role quite nicely last season. It will be important to see who wins this battle to protect young QB Zach Wilson’s blindside in 2022.
2. Wide Receiver: Elijah Moore, Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Braxton Berrios, Denzel Mims
There are a couple of battles to watch here. First, who gets the true WR1 spot on this team — Elijah Moore or Garrett Wilson? Moore had a decent rookie year last year with 43 catches for 538 yards and 5 TDs. It’s easy to say that Wilson can step in and produce more, but the QB has to get it to him. Next, who gets the spot in the slot? Berrios will be back this year and could fit that role nicely, but putting Mims in the slot could be the last-ditch effort to salvage anything out of that draft pick. All these guys will make the roster, but seeing who gets put where will be interesting to watch.
3. Defensive Line (Too many to list here)
This defensive line battle will be fun to watch. There will likely be 10 or so linemen kept on the 53-man roster, and currently 17 guys in consideration. Your locks are Quinnen Williams, John-Franklin Myers, Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson, and Sheldon Rankins. In the rest of the group are guys like Vinny Curry, Soloman Thomas, and Nathan Shepard. I think Shepard makes the 53 based on his snaps last season, but a guy like Thomas might not. He has never lived up to his potential when he was drafted 3rd overall back in 2017.
Ready To Breakout: LB Quincy Williams
Quincy Williams was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019, but struggled to make the team. He got his chance with the New York Jets and never looked back. He earned the starting job in week 10 of last season and played very well, averaging almost 9 tackles a game over the final 7 games of the season. If he keeps that pace up this season, we could see a monster year for the former Murray St. linebacker.
Rookie To Watch: Breece Hall
Breece Hall was the consensus best running back in this year’s draft class. Landing with the New York Jets might not seem ideal on paper, but when you look at the success Michael Carter had last season, that might change. Hall is likely to nab the RB1 role for this Jets team, and the tandem of Hall-Carter should provide a very good RB group for the Jets. I could see an 800-yard season or so out the gate for Hall.
Fantasy Sleeper: Zach Wilson
The key word here is sleeper. I might take some heat for this one, but I think there is room for Zach Wilson to take a major leap in 2022. Last season, Wilson only threw for 2334 yards and 9 TDs. Those numbers HAVE to go up this season, and with an improved receivers group, offensive line, and TE, it all falls on Wilson. I’m not saying he has to take a second-year leap similar to Joe Burrow, but I would not be shocked if Wilson is flirting around the top half of the league in fantasy. Finishing somewhere like 14th overall is a win.
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