By Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
With the Jets officially done their OTAs, who were the stars of camp? Does Christian Hackenberg or Bryce Petty make the list? What about Jamal Adams?
John Munson | NJ Advance Media
Who were the standouts?
The Jets' 10 organized team activity practices are over. Next week, they'll hold a week of mandatory minicamp, then break. The next time the team will be together is when they report for training camp July 27.
So minicamp is the final tune-up before things get real in August. Coming off of OTAs, which players impressed, and which didn't? Who's heading into minicamp with a ton of momentum? Let's take a look.
WHO STOOD OUT?
Which players had a good three weeks?
Dylan Donahue, OLB
Dylan Donahue, one of the Jets' fifth-round picks this year, did everything a linebacker can in a padless, no-contact string of practices to stand out. His best day was this Tuesday. The rookie had a pair of would-be sacks, and leveled veteran running back Matt Forte on a run play. While the coaches gave Donahue a talking-to after, they had to, deep down, like it. Donahue just never stops.
Again, Donahue made his plays without pads where no contact is allowed. But he looked good. No other way around it.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE
Austin Seferian-Jenkins spent a good portion of this offseason getting his life together. He stopped drinking, and lost 25 pounds. In OTAs, he was the most impressive player on the field and caught everything in sight. It's early, but if Seferian-Jenkins can stay healthy, the Jets may actually have a tight end.
Juston Burris, CB
When Kacy Rodgers met the media during OTAs, he said one of his regrets last year was not playing Juston Burris more. He liked what the then-rookie cornerback could do physically, he just struggled to get him on the field. He didn't know why.
It appears Burris leap-frogged several veterans in OTAs, namely Marcus Williams and Darryl Roberts. In the Jets' nickel package, Burris checked in opposite Morris Claiborne, while Buster Skrine manned the slot.
Burris looked good in the three practices open to the media. He made several pass breakups, and nearly came away with a pair of interceptions on Tuesday.
Jamal Adams, S
These are just padless, no-contact practices, but Jamal Adams looked really, really good. He was arguably the best player on the field most days. On May 30 and June 6, he was simply tremendous. He nearly came away with two interceptions, and made a handful of beautiful pass breakups on Josh McCown passes for Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
Morris Claiborne, CB
No one doubts Morris Claiborne's ability to play cornerback. He's just never healthy. Not once has he played a full season in his five-year career.
In OTAs, Claiborne stayed healthy... and looked really good. He intercepted a pass on May 23, and had blanket coverage on receivers several other times. It got to the point where quarterbacks weren't even looking Claiborne's way.
Again, though: Can he stay healthy?
WHO DIDN'T?
Which players could have had a better showing?
ArDarius Stewart, WR
Stewart didn't look bad during OTAs, he just didn't look like anything. The rookie wideout sat out the three media-open practices with a thumb injury.
With Eric Decker gone, the Jets have high expectations for Stewart. He figures to step right in and play. OTAs are a chance for him to get acclimated and figure out the offense. There's only so much a player can do with strictly mental reps. He needs to get out there and do it.
The offensive line
Starters or reserves, it wasn't a solid three media-open practices for the Jets' big men. It's tough to get an accurate read on the quarterbacks when they've got a rusher in their face every play. Yes, it's early. Yes, these were no-contact practices. But the line definitely needs a better showing in minicamp.
Marcus Williams, CB
Marcus Williams led the Jets in interceptions two years ago. He struggled -- as everyone else did -- in 2016. Now, he looks to have fallen a spot on the depth chart.
Last year, Williams was the next cornerback up in the nickel package. Skrine would slide to the slot, and Williams would replace him outside. In OTAs, Juston Burris received all reps in the nickel defense.
The Jets gave Williams a second-round tender this offseason. Not a penny of it is guaranteed. They can cut him at any time, and free $2.75 million. If rookies Jeremy Clark and Derrick Jones come along faster than expected, the Jets could, conceivably, move on from Williams.
Christian Hackenberg, QB
Christian Hackenberg had moments where he looked good. He threw a beautiful 40-yard bomb to Charone Peake for a would-be touchdown on May 30, and delivered a strike to Eric Decker on a goal-line fade Tuesday.
But there was still far more bad. Hackenberg's accuracy issues are still very, very real. In the three OTAs open to the media, Hackenberg unofficially went 21 of 36 with a touchdown, two interceptions and roughly six dropped picks in team drills.
The more alarming aspect of Hackenberg's game are his struggles when no defenders are on the field. His passes are wildly inconsistent in quarterback-receiver drills.
Here's a more detailed report on Hackenberg.
Bryce Petty, QB
As much as Hackenberg struggled, Bryce Petty was worse. The quarterback did not look good in the three media-open OTAs, and was out-repped by Hackenberg on both May 30 and June 6.
Petty's roster spot is no guarantee. If Hackenberg impresses in training camp and the preseason, and the Jets like the upside of someone else at another position, they could cut Petty, and carry just two quarterbacks (Josh McCown, Hackenberg) on the 53-man roster.
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