Rounding Up the Latest New York Jets Offseason Buzz
The New York Jets have just wrapped up one of their most important spring practice sessions in recent memory. Of course, organized team activities (OTAs) aren't meant to be a tool for gauging player performance as much as they're intended to teach the nuances of a new system.
That being said, with so many new pieces all coming together, and with a new regime in the front office and at head coach, the Jets need things to fall together quickly if they want to turn things around in time for the 2015 season.
No one expects the Jets to go from worst to first this year—not with their quarterback situation being what it is. However, if things come together for them, there's no reason they can't make an impact in the playoff picture.
In the meantime, a lot of news is floating around the team, from injury updates to positional battles and everything in between. What's the biggest news around the Jets with OTAs wrapped and minicamp around the corner?
Dee Milliner a Candidate for the PUP List
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With Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie both locked into starting spots and Buster Skrine looking primed for the starting duties in the slot, third-year cornerback and former first-round pick Dee Milliner has kind of fallen to the wayside. That's also thanks to a season-ending Achilles injury that brought an end to his 2014 campaign.
Now, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Milliner could be a candidate to start the season on the PUP list. That would mean he could not return for the first six games of the regular season but would not count against the 53-man roster while he is absent.
The Jets had high hopes for Milliner when they drafted him in the first round in 2013, but the regime that made him a high draft pick has left the fold with the departures of general manager John Idzik and head coach Rex Ryan. Milliner has the skill set to be a fit in Todd Bowles' defense, but he could have a hard time proving it while picking up the playing-time scraps left behind by Revis and Cromartie.
Marcus Gilchrist Should Be Ready for Training Camp
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The Jets won't get much of a chance to see what their new acquisition at safety can do in their defense in the spring, but safety Marcus Gilchrist should be available by the time the weather heats up.
Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media reports that, despite a shoulder injury, Gilchrist should be ready to go for the beginning of training camp.
"Safety Marcus Gilchrist's shoulder injury doesn't seem to be a huge deal," writes Slater. "It looks like it'll keep him out until training camp. That's not the end of the world. If he misses the early part of camp, he will have to play catch-up as he tries to establish chemistry with Pryor."
Of course, this is an important part of the offseason workout program—not in terms of evaluating ability, but in terms of establishing chemistry and learning the system. Gilchrist will be playing catch-up when he returns to the field, but he'll only be out for a short time, which should yield a sigh of relief from the Jets.
Stevan Ridley Could Be Ready for Training Camp
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Stevan Ridley may not be ready for team drills yet, but according to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, he should be a full-go come training camp.
Between Ridley, Bilal Powell and Zac Stacy, the Jets have assembled quite the competition for playing time behind Chris Ivory in their backfield. Ridley is the one who has the most similar skill set to Ivory and could make a nice No. 2 back if he is back to 100 percent.
That being said, the passing game has not been Ridley's forte, and the Jets sorely need someone who can contribute on third downs and in passing situations. That's been Powell's role more recently, and although his skill set isn't an exact fit for a scatback, he could continue to get those snaps based on his experience in that role. In the meantime, Stacy can spell Ivory in the between-the-tackles role.
The Jets are in a position where they can bring Ridley along slowly, and if he is ready to go sooner than they expect, that would be an added bonus.
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Jets Give Brandon Marshall Vote of Confidence with a Raise
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A lot of times during this time of the season, you'll hear about players taking a pay cut to save their job and their opportunity to provide for their families. Not often do you hear about a player getting a pay raise, especially when that player is 31 years old and is now with his fourth team in the past six years.
The Jets traded for wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Chicago Bears, giving up only a fifth-round pick in exchange for the highly productive wide receiver. Now, according to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, the Jets are comfortable enough to give him a three-year, $26 million contract, which is a $1.7 million raise over what he was scheduled to make in that span, as well as an additional $1.3 million in guarantees.
Marshall is coming off the worst season of his career since his rookie season; 2014 marked the first time since his first year in the league that he missed the 1,000-yard mark. It was also the first time since 2011 that he posted fewer than 11 touchdown catches.
The Jets could save every penny of his contract if they cut him in time for the 2016 season, but this contract extension proves they'd rather that not be the case.
Lorenzo Mauldin Could Line Up Anywhere
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The Jets have needed young, fresh legs at the outside linebacker spot for years and finally added a pair in the 2015 NFL draft with the third-round selection of Lorenzo Mauldin.
Where exactly will he line up, as a defensive end or an outside linebacker? And which side of the defense will he man?
According to head coach Todd Bowles, the Jets are feeling all that out as we speak.
"First, we have to see how he handles the point of attack," he said. "If they run the ball at him, how strong he is at the point with the bigger tight ends in the league as opposed to college, how he plays in space when the tight end is not on him, how he reacts to certain things and you kind of get a feel that way to see what his strengths and his weaknesses are."
As for which side, that's also being determined, but the same can be said for any player on the Jets defense.
"Yes, all our (outside) guys right now," he said. "Our outside guys are working both sides."
The Jets could ask him to man either side, depending on the personnel package and the situation. Either way, it'll be good to see a new face out there.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.
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