This past season was one of progress for the Jets.
It didn’t show in the 4-13 record and last-place finish in the AFC East, but New York took steps in the right direction in Robert Saleh’s first year at the helm. If holes are filled this offseason, New York could be in a position to compete in 2022.
It wasn’t a successful year for every player on the roster, though. Some of Joe Douglas’ free agent signings flopped, while returning players did not live up to expectations. Nobody is safe as the Jets continue their rebuild and those who struggled this past season are in danger of not returning in 2022.
Here are 10 notable Jets who underachieved in 2021. The hope is that it’s only up from here for this group.
Corey Davis
Davis didn’t do much to disprove the notion that he isn’t a true No. 1 wide receiver in his first season with the Jets. Davis struggled against top cornerbacks and caught just 54.7 percent of passes thrown his way in nine games before suffering a season-ending core injury. New York needs a whole lot more out of him in 2022 in order for Zach Wilson to take the next step in his development.
Keelan Cole
Cole’s first season with the Jets was his worst since 2019, as he caught just 28 passes for 449 yards and one touchdown, which came in New York’s season finale. Cole wasn’t signed to be one of Wilson’s most prolific weapons, but he caught just 54.9 percent of passes thrown to him and didn’t do anything to build on a career 2020 season with the Jaguars.
Denzel Mims
This was a season Mims would like to forget. He battled food poisoning and COVID-19, struggled to learn a new system and was benched multiple times. Mims squandered every opportunity the Jets handed him this past season. His days in New York might be numbered.
Tyler Kroft
Kroft played in just nine games due to injuries and COVID-19 and finished with 16 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown. Kroft’s first season with the Jets will likely be his last, as Douglas will spend the offseason looking for a major upgrade at tight end.
Kenny Yeboah
Yeboah was one of two highly-touted undrafted free agents who disappointed in 2021. He struggled with drops throughout the offseason and didn’t make his way to the active roster until late in the season, where he had little time to get into a groove or make any sort of substantial impact. Yeboah is on thin ice after an underwhelming rookie season.
Greg Van Roten
Van Roten lost the starting right guard job to Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who hadn’t played football since 2019, two weeks after the trade deadline. Van Roten was the weak link on New York’s offensive line when he was on the field and likely won’t be back with the team in 2022.
Sheldon Rankins
Rankins got lost in the defensive line rotation as the season went on and finished with just 32 tackles, seven quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and three sacks. Those numbers aren’t terrible, but they don’t move the needle considering Rankins made $5.5 million this past season.
Jarrad Davis
Davis suffered an ankle injury in the preseason that put him out of action for nearly two months and was never the same player he was in the early days of training camp. Quincy Williams outperformed Davis upon his return to the field and his role in New York’s defense wasn’t all that important by season’s end.
Isaiah Dunn
All of the hype Dunn garnered during the spring quickly disappeared when the preseason kicked off. The undrafted free agent out of Oregon State looked lost in coverage during exhibition play and that spilled over into the regular season. Dunn wound up spending most weeks as a healthy scratch, as he simply was not where he needed to be to crack the cornerback rotation.
Ashtyn Davis
The angles Davis took to bring down opposing ball carriers were perplexingly bad at times this season. Davis didn’t do much for the Jets in 2021, other than being in the right place at the right time to intercept awry passes. He’ll be watched closely during training camp with New York looking for more consistent play out of its safeties.
It didn’t show in the 4-13 record and last-place finish in the AFC East, but New York took steps in the right direction in Robert Saleh’s first year at the helm. If holes are filled this offseason, New York could be in a position to compete in 2022.
It wasn’t a successful year for every player on the roster, though. Some of Joe Douglas’ free agent signings flopped, while returning players did not live up to expectations. Nobody is safe as the Jets continue their rebuild and those who struggled this past season are in danger of not returning in 2022.
Here are 10 notable Jets who underachieved in 2021. The hope is that it’s only up from here for this group.
Corey Davis
Davis didn’t do much to disprove the notion that he isn’t a true No. 1 wide receiver in his first season with the Jets. Davis struggled against top cornerbacks and caught just 54.7 percent of passes thrown his way in nine games before suffering a season-ending core injury. New York needs a whole lot more out of him in 2022 in order for Zach Wilson to take the next step in his development.
Keelan Cole
Cole’s first season with the Jets was his worst since 2019, as he caught just 28 passes for 449 yards and one touchdown, which came in New York’s season finale. Cole wasn’t signed to be one of Wilson’s most prolific weapons, but he caught just 54.9 percent of passes thrown to him and didn’t do anything to build on a career 2020 season with the Jaguars.
Denzel Mims
This was a season Mims would like to forget. He battled food poisoning and COVID-19, struggled to learn a new system and was benched multiple times. Mims squandered every opportunity the Jets handed him this past season. His days in New York might be numbered.
Tyler Kroft
Kroft played in just nine games due to injuries and COVID-19 and finished with 16 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown. Kroft’s first season with the Jets will likely be his last, as Douglas will spend the offseason looking for a major upgrade at tight end.
Kenny Yeboah
Yeboah was one of two highly-touted undrafted free agents who disappointed in 2021. He struggled with drops throughout the offseason and didn’t make his way to the active roster until late in the season, where he had little time to get into a groove or make any sort of substantial impact. Yeboah is on thin ice after an underwhelming rookie season.
Greg Van Roten
Van Roten lost the starting right guard job to Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who hadn’t played football since 2019, two weeks after the trade deadline. Van Roten was the weak link on New York’s offensive line when he was on the field and likely won’t be back with the team in 2022.
Sheldon Rankins
Rankins got lost in the defensive line rotation as the season went on and finished with just 32 tackles, seven quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and three sacks. Those numbers aren’t terrible, but they don’t move the needle considering Rankins made $5.5 million this past season.
Jarrad Davis
Davis suffered an ankle injury in the preseason that put him out of action for nearly two months and was never the same player he was in the early days of training camp. Quincy Williams outperformed Davis upon his return to the field and his role in New York’s defense wasn’t all that important by season’s end.
Isaiah Dunn
All of the hype Dunn garnered during the spring quickly disappeared when the preseason kicked off. The undrafted free agent out of Oregon State looked lost in coverage during exhibition play and that spilled over into the regular season. Dunn wound up spending most weeks as a healthy scratch, as he simply was not where he needed to be to crack the cornerback rotation.
Ashtyn Davis
The angles Davis took to bring down opposing ball carriers were perplexingly bad at times this season. Davis didn’t do much for the Jets in 2021, other than being in the right place at the right time to intercept awry passes. He’ll be watched closely during training camp with New York looking for more consistent play out of its safeties.
