After going 7-10 in 2022 and acquiring Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets have their sights on the postseason. It will be competitive in the AFC East, but the Jets are ready. While the roster has made marginal improvements, it will take more to secure a playoff spot in the competitive AFC East. With that in mind, bounce back season from these five Jets players can go a long way.
Top 5 New York Jets Players Who Can Improve in 2023
C.J. Uzomah
Following a successful stint with the Cincinnati Bengals, the New York Jets signed C.J. Uzomah to a three year contract worth $24,000,000. Joe Douglas got a valuable weapon for Zach Wilson after Uzomah’s career year. Unfortunately, leaving Cincinnati & Joe Burrow for Zach Wilson didn’t go as intended. He wound up losing snaps to fellow free agent signing Tyler Conklin. With Aaron Rodgers under center, one hopes Uzomah can return to top form he showed in 2021 with 493 yards and five touchdowns.
Corey Davis
Corey Davis is entering the final year of his contract with the Jets. At $37.5 million, it’s safe to say the former fifth-overall pick in 2017 hasn’t lived up to the deal. Its easy to point out Davis’ injury history and drops that have plagued him since leaving Tennessee. But he has a great opportunity now with Aaron Rodgers to provide stability in the offense. Along with the addition of Allen Lazard’s abilities as a pass blocker, Davis could be in for one of his best years since 2020 and be one of the better players on the Jets as he hits free agency.
The Zach Wilson point TD pass to Corey Davis was probably the most hyped I’ve been since the Eric Decker overtime touchdown catch #Jets pic.twitter.com/fMbaA1Baxh https://t.co/d8a3RbSUnv
— Conor Sheeran (@conor__sheeran) January 8, 2022
Laken Tomlinson
In 2022, fans applauded Joe Douglas for addressing the offensive line by signing Pro Bowl guard Laken Tomlinson from San Francisco. His first season left fans wanting more though. The offensive line’s struggles don’t fall squarely on his shoulders, but Tomlinson didn’t live up to the hype most fans expected. However, the team’s offseason has shown measures to avoid further regression. Vera-Tucker’s return, drafting Joe Tippmann, & a new offensive line coach should help. These players, along with the added motivation of protecting a superstar quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, should allow the Jets offensive line to take a step forward in 2023.
Jermaine Johnson
The Jets greatest strength is their depth on the defensive line. Unfortunately, this strength made 2022 first round pick Jermaine Johnson see limited snaps compared to teammate and Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner. The young defensive end should be more involved on defense this year. Johnson played in only 34% of the defensive snaps while excelling as a run defender. His pass rushing is still a work in progress, but with tantalizing speed and continued development Johnson can make more of an impact next to Quinnen Williams next year.
Tony Adams
The New York Jets finished last season with one of the more exciting secondaries in the league. Just being on the field will already do wonders for Tony Adams in a talented secondary. While he won’t start over Whitehead or Amos, Tony Adams does have potential as a free safety. Adams has excelled in deep middle coverage back at Illinois. He learned a lot from NFL coaches Lovie Smith & Brett Bielema. With one of the best cornerback duos in Gardner and Reed, Adams can take full advantage of the opportunities that come his way.
Main Photo: Jeffrey Becker – USA Today Sports
