USAT: Jets Wire audio clip

USAT: Jets Wire

Mar 22, 2022

A few of the Jets’ newest players are on the rise. - Cornerback D.J. Reed, edge rusher Jacob Martin and tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin are all coming off career years. Each just signed with Gang Green, giving the Jets four free agents who showed serious improvement in 2021. - On the surface, it looks like the Jets are buying high – and fans have historical reasons to worry about that (remember Trumaine Johnson?) But that’s not necessarily the case with this class. Reed, Martin, Uzomah and Conklin aren’t just coming off career seasons; they’re also coming off a year in which each one played significantly more snaps than previous years. In all four cases, they rose to the challenge and proved more than capable of producing at a high level with more playing time. - Let’s break it down, starting with Uzomah. The former Bengals tight end finished the season with 49 receptions for 493 yards and five touchdowns – all the most in his seven-year career. It was only his second season with at least 800 snaps and his third with at least 15 starts. - A similar scenario unfolded for Conklin in Minnesota. The former Vikings tight end finished with more snaps in 2021 (924) than in his previous four seasons combined (869) and started more than three games for the first time in his career (17). That increased workload resulted in 87 targets, 61 receptions, 593 yards and three touchdowns — all career-highs. - More starts and snaps significantly affected Reed and Martin’s production as well. Reed saw 1,000 snaps and 14 starts for the first time and finished with a career-high 10 defended passes and 78 combined tackles to go along with two interceptions. In Martin’s first season as a full-time starter in Houston, he doubled his snap share and finished with a career-high four sacks, 23 combined tackles, two forced fumbles and 38 pressures. - So while the Jets paid for players who only had one year of elevated production, none of those players had many opportunities to prove themselves prior to 2021. Uzomah had the most experience before his deal with the Jets, but he previously played behind Tyler Eifert and on an offense that typically ran through the running back or the outside receivers. - The Jets also didn’t sign these players because of gaudy numbers. They went with scheme fits. Conklin and Uzomah finished 14th and 20th in receiving yards and ninth and 19th in receptions, respectively. Reed and Martin weren’t ranked highly stat-wise, either. But in their roles, the four will fill specific areas of need on the Jets’ offense and defense. - Career-highs are great and likely helped them all earn bigger paydays, but that doesn’t necessarily make them suspect signings. - - List - - 5 takeaways from Jets' Jacob Martin signing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Jets Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Jets Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

F i l t e r   &   S o r t