Some teams crush college free agency. The Jets? Not so much.
Oh, they have uncovered a few undrafted free-agent gems over the years, but they're not regarded among the NFL's elite when it comes to this sort of thing. Jets general manager Joe Douglas hopes to change that perception, starting with his nine-player UDFA class.
The player to watch is former Memphis edge rusher Bryce Huff, who received a $90,000 guarantee in his contract, tops among the Jets' undrafted rookies. This doesn't mean he's a lock to make the team, but it's a relatively big guarantee for a team that typically doesn't splurge in this area. A year ago, the Jets gave undrafted defensive end Kyle Phillips a $30,000 guarantee -- and he turned out to be as productive as top pick Quinnen Williams.
"I don't believe he's an every-down player quite yet, but he'll find a way to make the roster and contribute because he does have a unique enough skill set -- speed to power," Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said of Huff during a phone interview. "That's hard to coach and hard to teach.
Over the years, the Jets discovered wide receiver Robby Anderson (2016) and nose tackle Damon Harrison (2012) as UDFAs, but they haven't had a consistent pipeline. Conversely, the Baltimore Ravens have gone 16 straight years with an undrafted rookie on their opening-day roster, a streak that started when Douglas was a Ravens scout who coordinated the effort.
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Oh, they have uncovered a few undrafted free-agent gems over the years, but they're not regarded among the NFL's elite when it comes to this sort of thing. Jets general manager Joe Douglas hopes to change that perception, starting with his nine-player UDFA class.
The player to watch is former Memphis edge rusher Bryce Huff, who received a $90,000 guarantee in his contract, tops among the Jets' undrafted rookies. This doesn't mean he's a lock to make the team, but it's a relatively big guarantee for a team that typically doesn't splurge in this area. A year ago, the Jets gave undrafted defensive end Kyle Phillips a $30,000 guarantee -- and he turned out to be as productive as top pick Quinnen Williams.
"I don't believe he's an every-down player quite yet, but he'll find a way to make the roster and contribute because he does have a unique enough skill set -- speed to power," Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said of Huff during a phone interview. "That's hard to coach and hard to teach.
Over the years, the Jets discovered wide receiver Robby Anderson (2016) and nose tackle Damon Harrison (2012) as UDFAs, but they haven't had a consistent pipeline. Conversely, the Baltimore Ravens have gone 16 straight years with an undrafted rookie on their opening-day roster, a streak that started when Douglas was a Ravens scout who coordinated the effort.
Diamond in the Huff? Jets hope to start a trend with undrafted rookie
In need of kick-starting a consistent pipeline of UDFA talent, the Jets are banking on Memphis edge rusher Bryce Huff to bring the "speed to power."
