New York Jets Tight End Upgrades
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It has been a big offseason for the New York Jets organization, and it seems like general manager Joe Douglas has been very aggressive in free agency. The Jets were immediately active in free agency as they prioritized upgrading the tight end position, an area of need for the Jets for quite some time now. The first free agent they went after was C.J. Uzomah, who spent seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2015-21. Uzomah is a talented tight end that offers a rare versatility after the catch, which he demonstrated the most in 2021 while having the best season of his career thus far.
Uzomah offers good size and versatility that can offer the Jets big play ability, as he can go up and catch contested balls and block very well on the line of scrimmage. In 26 games played in 2021, Uzomah hauled in 49 receptions for 493 yards and five touchdowns. This offseason, he signed a three-year, $24 million deal and finally earned himself a payday. He is the top tight end in this offense and will play a big role in what will be a two-tight end set.
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The next offensive free agent to be signed was fellow tight end Tyler Conklin from the Minnesota Vikings. Conklin will be the other main contributor in two-tight end sets on offense and will make a huge impact with his blocking skills in the run game. He is a well-rounded route runner who does an excellent job opening defenders' hips. Last season Conklin had 61 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns. He is more of an ideal threat in one-on-one situations when Wilson can throw a 50/50 jump ball. Conklin and Uzomah are above-average blocking tight ends, which will tremendously aid the run game. These two tight ends will share many reps as they are the top two on the roster.
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The third tight end spot on the depth chart will belong to the rookie third-round pick out of Ohio State, Jeremy Ruckert, a lifelong Jets fan. The 6-foot-5 tight end from Long Island offers a similar skill set to Conklin but may be a more natural route runner. It is the perfect position for the rookie as he can ease into the NFL and have the opportunity to be mentored by these veteran players. In Ruckert's four-year career at Ohio State, he had 54 receptions for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns.
It is important not to forget about fellow tight ends Kenny Yeboah and Lawrence Cager. Cager, who converted from Wide receiver to tight end this offseason, is looking for a fresh start and new opportunity. Yeboah was the highlight of the preseason last year, as he had a game-tying Hail Mary touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles in the last game. Yeboah got his chance to play last year against the Buccaneers when he had two receptions for 36 yards. Yeboah should be someone to keep an eye out for this preseason as the undrafted second-year player from Ole Miss is a special talent.
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The Jets have prioritized directly aiding Zach Wilson's development and making a big second-year leap. As a result, the Jets' need for a tight end (along with other positions) has finally been addressed, and the stage is now set for Wilson to build off the impressive performance from the end of the 2021 season.