New York Jets: Choosing the 2024 All Ex-Jets Staff

Over the previous few seasons, we’ve been placing collectively a workforce of ex-Jets primarily based on how that they had carried out with their new groups through the yr. Final month we recapped how ex-Jets fared through the 2024 season, so let’s now try and put collectively an all-former Jets workforce for 2024.

Quarterback – Sam Darnold

Darnold had solely began seven video games since 2021, however he headed to the Professional Bowl in 2024 as he led the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 report. He accomplished 66 p.c of his passes for over 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns and in addition rushed for over 200 yards and a landing. Whereas Darnold did throw 12 interceptions and struggled within the season finale and postseason, it is going to be fascinating to see the place his profession goes from right here.

(Final yr: Geno Smith)

Operating Again – Ty Johnson

Ty Johnson racked up over 500 yards from scrimmage for the Buffalo Payments as he averaged 5.2 yards per carry and caught 18 passes through the common season. Josh Allen referred to as Johnson the most effective third down again within the league as he scored 5 touchdowns, together with one within the playoffs. Nevertheless, his efficiency fell wanting Raheem Mostert’s Professional Bowl season final yr.

(Final yr: Raheem Mostert)

Tight Finish – Eric Tomlinson

Right here’s one place that was robust to fill. CJ Uzomah and EJ Jenkins each gained a Tremendous Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles, however they caught only one go between them, so Tomlinson – who had two catches – earns the spot for his blocking contributions, though he was launched earlier than the top of the yr.

(Final yr: Trevon Wesco)

Huge Receivers – Elijah Moore, Kalif Raymond and Greg Dortch

Elijah Moore struggled to develop chemistry with Deshaun Watson, however he noticed his manufacturing improve as soon as Watson was out for the season and ended up with a career-high 61 catches for 538 yards and a landing. He always ranks among the many elite in separation metrics, so may very well be a low-cost breakout candidate if he will get a rotational position on a workforce with good quarterback play.

Raymond’s manufacturing fell off in 2024, largely because of the truth that the Detroit Lions had so many offensive weapons that it was tough to get everybody concerned. Even so, when focused, he made optimistic contributions with 17 catches for 215 yards and two scores.

The diminutive Greg Dortch has made an honest profession for himself with the Arizona Cardinals. He racked up nearly 400 yards from scrimmage in 2024. He caught 37 passes together with three touchdowns.

(Final yr: Elijah Moore, Kalif Raymond and Braxton Berrios)

Offensive Line – Mekhi Becton and Kelvin Beachum at deal with, Trystan Colon and Laken Tomlinson at guard, Connor McGovern at middle

There was main competitors for these 5 spots in 2024, with each single candidate coming from an NFC workforce.

For the needs of this workforce, we’re shifting Becton again out to left deal with as a result of, let’s face it: He. Is. A. Left. Deal with. Nevertheless, he was a revelation this yr at proper guard as he picked up a Tremendous Bowl ring with the Eagles. After giving up three sacks within the first 4 video games, Becton didn’t quit one other all yr and in addition diminished his penalty rely to 4 within the common season.

The opposite deal with spot goes to Beachum who began 12 video games at proper deal with for Arizona and gave up simply 4 sacks.

There was a dilemma for the choice committee at guard as each Tomlinson and Greg Van Roten every performed nicely, began each recreation and led their respective groups in offensive snaps. Nevertheless, regardless of solely beginning seven video games, Colon proved worthy of choice as he didn’t quit a sack and solely had one penalty. Tomlinson received the sting over Van Roten on the different spot by advantage of the actual fact he gave up one fewer sack.

Lastly, McGovern – who, strictly talking, was arguably not eligible since he went again to the Jets briefly regardless of not enjoying for them – wins the middle position having began 5 occasions for the New Orleans Saints and never surrendered any sacks. Each Colon and Van Roten took snaps at middle through the season, so might have laid declare to this spot.

(Final season: Morgan Moses and George Fant at deal with, Chuma Edoga and Greg Van Roten at guard, Trystan Colon at middle)

Defensive Line – Leonard Williams, John Franklin-Myers and Mike Pennel

Williams had a sluggish begin to the season, however satirically he had his large breakout towards the New York Jets as he had two sacks and a protracted pick-six. Ultimately, he had two or extra sacks in 4 of the final seven video games to finish the yr with 11 and earn Professional Bowl and All Professional honors. He additionally had 64 tackles and 28 quarterback hits.

Franklin-Myers got down to make the Jets remorse buying and selling him and achieved this emphatically, as he racked up a collection of career-highs, together with 40 tackles and 7 sacks.

Pennel as soon as once more performed a key position for the AFC champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The 33-year outdated’s mixed 387 common season and postseason snaps have been a career-high and he additionally set a profession mark with three sacks to associate with 25 tackles.

(Final season: Sheldon Rankins, Nathan Shepherd and Leonard Williams)

Edge Defenders – Frankie Luvu and Carl Lawson

Luvu’s first yr in Washington was a convincing success as he was named a second workforce All Professional. He racked up 99 tackles, eight sacks and 7 go breakups, 5 of which got here on passes he batted down on the line.

Lawson had a bounce-back yr as he racked up 5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits for the Cowboys in 15 video games.

(Final season: Jacob Martin and Frankie Luvu)

Linebackers – Demario Davis and Blake Cashman

There’s no change at this spot, as Cashman set career-marks throughout the board with 112 tackles, eight go breakups and 4.5 sacks. Davis additionally set a career-high with 136 tackles, including seven go breakups and two sacks.

(Final season – Demario Davis and Blake Cashman)

Cornerbacks – Corey Ballentine and Artwork Maulet

This stays one of many hardest positions to fill, maybe as a result of the Jets have had the identical three starters for the previous few years. Bryce Corridor received injured within the first recreation, so Maulet and Ballentine mainly retained their roles by default as they have been the one ex-Jets to play greater than 20 defensive snaps at cornerback.

Maulet spent a lot of the yr on injured reserve and had 5 tackles in three video games, whereas Ballentine largely performed on particular groups however did begin one recreation. In a theoretical recreation between the present Jets and these ex-Jets, this might clearly be the matchup you’d assault.

(Final season: Corey Ballentine and Artwork Maulet)

Safeties – Jason Pinnock and Jordan Whitehead

Pinnock had one other productive yr with the New York Giants as he had 85 tackles and a profession excessive three sacks.

Whitehead was additionally productive in his first yr with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he had 79 tackles and three go breakups, together with no penalties.

(Final season – Jason Pinnock and Marcus Maye)

Kicker – Nick Folks

Folks led the NFL for the second season in a row by way of subject objective share. He missed only one kick and had one profitable game-winner.

(Final season – Chase McLaughlin)

Punter – Braden Mann

Mann was as soon as once more the one ex-Jet to punt within the league this yr, however he has settled into his position properly with the Tremendous Bowl champion Eagles and will stay with them for a while. His numbers tailed off a bit on the finish of the season, however he nonetheless had a greater yr statistically than Thomas Morstead.

(Final season – Braden Mann)

Lengthy snapper – Zach Triner

Triner retains the lengthy snapper spot this yr by advantage of the actual fact he was the one ex-Jet to see motion in that position this yr. He performed in six video games with the Buccaneers and three with the Miami Dolphins.

(Final season – Zach Triner)

Return Specialist – Kalif Raymond/Brandon Codrington

Raymond was a simple alternative as he led your entire NFL in punt return yardage and was third in common as he scored on a 90-yard landing. Codrington was the most suitable choice right here as a kick returner, with a median of 27.7 yards and a protracted of 53.

(Final season – Kalif Raymond/Godwin Igwebuike)

Particular Teamers

There have been loads of ex-Jets who would contribute on particular groups for a hypothetical all-ex-Jets all star workforce, highlighted by Nick Bellore who led your entire NFL in particular groups tackles. Linebackers Neville Hewitt and Del’Shawn Phillips have been additionally in double-figures.

Conclusions

It’s fascinating to see this workforce evolve from yr to yr. Some new developments developed over the previous 12 months.

One fascinating anomaly is that almost the entire finest contributions from ex-Jets got here from gamers on NFC groups. One other was that a number of gamers, particularly on protection, set career-highs this season.

Nevertheless, whereas up to now there have been a number of, typically underwhelming, choices at every place, this yr there was extra star high quality than up to now, but additionally extra of a positional imbalance, with some key contributors not making the workforce whereas sure positions (primarily at tight finish and cornerback) had hardly any viable choices. Subsequent yr, you may see the likes of DJ Reed and Tyler Conklin producing elsewhere, which can stability issues out a bit.

In the end, we are able to have concern each about a few of the proficient gamers the workforce has set free of the constructing, whereas additionally being troubled by the dearth of depth they’ve clearly had at sure positions and the unhealthy luck they’ve had by way of guys who couldn’t keep wholesome right here instantly rising as sturdy contributors.

Whether or not or not they be taught something from these developments, we are able to solely hope that the Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn braintrust fares higher in these areas.