The New York Jets know that the 2024 season is a make-or-break year for many in the organization.
It’s why much of their draft class from April was selected in key positions and roles for the franchise going into the start of the season. How is the rookie class faring early in training camp at Florham Park?
New York Jets 2024 Rookie Class Check-In
New York drafted seven players in April’s NFL Draft but also accumulated some talented individuals through the undrafted-free-agent pool. From Leonard Taylor III to Eric Watts to Braiden McGregor, New York has to be pleased with how the undrafted class has looked.
They pale in comparison to the draft class’ success, though, and no one is happier about it than Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who shared his thoughts on several rookies.
Olu Fashanu
Many Jets fans weren’t pleased when New York opted for Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu over Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
Through the start of training camp, Fashanu is showing exactly why the Jets took him with the No. 11 overall pick. He has replaced Tyron Smith at times with the starting lineup and has been very consistent as a run-and-pass blocker.
It’s his ability to soak up the knowledge needed to be the left tackle of the future that has made the Jets very pleased with their first-round pick.
“For Olu to get all the extra reps, he’s going to be a really good football player in this league,” Saleh said.
Morgan Moses and Smith have worked extensively with Fashanu to make sure he is available and ready for the start of the season should something happen to either of them. More importantly, he’s looked the part of a high-upside first-round pick.
Malachi Corley
Unlike most rookies in this class, Malachi Corley hasn’t had many chances to succeed in the Jets’ offense.
However, that changed on Wednesday morning.
Due to injuries along the receiver position, Corley worked with each group of the offense throughout the day and scored three touchdowns. More importantly, the Jets focused on getting him the ball in space in a variety of ways, including catching and running. After practice, Saleh said that he “felt (Corley) on the football field,” but knows there’s still more for him to show.
“One of the things that he’s got to get great at and get great at in a hurry is route running,” Saleh said of Corley. “So, our job is to maintain what he’s strong at and finding different creative ways to get him the ball, but at the same time coaching him and developing them to learn how to run routes… There’s a lot of different things that they have to learn. I think he’s doing a really nice job attacking it.”
However long it takes, Wednesday was a good sign of competency for the Jets’ third-round rookie.
Braelon Allen
The biggest winner of the entire 2024 class to this point? That belongs to fourth-round rookie running back Braelon Allen. At 6’1″ and 235 pounds, Allen is one of the biggest runners in the class. Also, the 20-year-old is the youngest rookie in the NFL.
At Wisconsin, he was known as a bruiser who struggled with fumbles at times. To this point with New York, though, the parts of his game that may have been perceived as a weakness certainly aren’t the case throughout training camp.
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“I feel like they’re ahead of the game with regards to the protection system,” Saleh said Saturday. “Braelon is smooth out of the backfield with his hand, so he’s got a chance. He’s just got to keep working.”
Having a rookie running back who can run powerfully is one thing; having that same player be able to pass block is entirely different, and it makes the Jets very happy.
Isaiah Davis
Having one rookie running back who can pass block is a good thing. Having two is almost unheard of. Allen may be the big talk of camp to this point, but South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis has looked solid as well with the second and third-team offenses.
The main talking point regarding Davis has been his physicality. After the Jets released Nick Bawden on Tuesday evening, the team appears ready to use more athletic tight ends and running backs as “H backs” to this point.
As he continues to learn the playbook, Davis could be seeing a lot more playing time.
Jordan Travis
Travis has been on the Jets’ NFI roster to this point of camp and hasn’t really taken any major snaps or warmups to this point. This, of course, is why Travis was a fifth-round pick in the first place.
Due to his gruesome leg injury suffered in the final weeks of the college football season, Travis — who was once considered a sure-fire Day 2 pick at worst — fell to the Jets.
New York understood that it would be a while before the Florida State product could see an NFL field, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been active in the learning process of the game.
“Everyone’s rehab is a little bit different. He’s doing a great job. He’s working his tail off. It’s just that we want to make sure we give him the time that he needs to recover,” said Saleh. “This was always going to be a long-term project, and he’s in every meeting, he’s at all the walk-throughs, so he’s losing the live reps, obviously, but he’s in good spirits.”
Travis was seen throwing footballs after practice on Wednesday, but it’ll certainly a while before he’s expected to take reps on the field with a team offense.
Qwan’tez Stiggers
The fact that Stiggers made it to the NFL makes him a success story. The CFL Rookie of the Year was away from the game for a bit of time after his father passed away, and he went through mental health concerns as the provider for his family.
Despite the unorthodox way he got here, the fifth-round pick has made the most of his current run with the Jets. He has recorded multiple interceptions and looks the part of a high-upside corner on the outside.
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“He’s a cool kid, man,” Saleh said of Stiggers. “He’s got a savvy instinct to him that you just can’t coach, just a natural feel for football. He’s raw, there’s a long way for him to go, but the cool thing with him is he does have a feel for the game that’s far more advanced than a normal rookie.”
During Thursday’s practice, slot cornerback Michael Carter II walked off the field limping with an ankle injury, and while Stiggers didn’t exactly dominate in the slot, it was his first true test inside, and he held his own.
He’s a player that the Jets are very high on for a late fifth-round selection.
Jaylen Key
For most of the offseason workout activity, Mr. Irrelevant was relatively unknown. From there, though, Key has been all over the field.
The Alabama product has recorded an interception and multiple passes defended over the last few practices. His improved snap count has led him to become a quality depth piece for the Jets’ secondary, including a wide-open spot for the fourth safety this season.
“His football IQ and intelligence, his instinct, his length, his play speed is actually much faster than his time speed, so we’re excited to get him in that spot and give him a chance to compete,” Saleh said of Key back in May.
While he has flown under the radar a bit, the Jets appear more than pleased with what they have gotten in the developmental safety.