New York Jets Rookie Profile: Jeremy Clark, Cornerback
The New York Jets hope they have found a late-round gem in rookie cornerback Jeremy Clark out of Michigan.
The New York Jets are in full-scale rebuilding (or tanking) mode right now and there will be a lot of pain for their fans this upcoming season. It’s going to be a tough year. One area of need that seems to be strengthened is their secondary, which was nothing short of terrible in 2016.
Safeties Jamal Adams (first round) and Marcus Maye (second round) were selected in this year’s NFL Draft to bolster the defensive backfield and the Jets are hoping that they have selected a late-round gem in cornerback Jeremy Clark, their sixth-round pick (197th overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Michigan product signed his rookie contract last month and has been participating in minicamp activities and OTAs. He is making progress after tearing his ACL in the fourth game of Michigan’s 2016 campaign, an injury that ended his career with the Wolverines. Clark played both corner and safety in Ann Arbor and started 15 games in Michigan’s secondary, registering three interceptions and nine pass breakups.
Clark has the size (6-3, 220 pound) that should make him very effective in press coverage. He possesses a 33-inch arm length and is known to have excellent ball skills. There is no doubt he would have been drafted higher in this year’s NFL Draft if not for the ACL injury, but he still remains an intriguing prospect with high upside.
Let’s take a look at some of his career highlights with the Wolverines:
What grabs your attention from these highlights is what a strong, physical corner Clark is. He is very athletic and although he does not have top-end speed, he breaks to the football with a quick burst and has decent closing speed. His long arms help him break up potential pass completions and he has good hands, which helps him secure the football effectively.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Clark is also known as a solid open-field tackler with good fundamental technique. He has the potential to be an effective bump-and-run cornerback.
The Houma, LA native can be beaten by route fakes and there are times when he is slow to recover from perimeter blocks. Those aspects of his game need to be worked on in earnest. How quickly he continues to recover from his ACL injury will go a long way in determining his role on the 2017 squad. Expect Clark to play a role on special teams as a runner or jammer and in nickel and dime packages initially as he gets accustomed to the speed and physicality of the NFL.
Training camp does not begin until July 28, but as presently constituted, Buster Skrine is the favorite to open the season at right cornerback. That means that Clark will be vying for playing time with fellow backups Marcus Williams, Darryl Roberts, Dexter McDougle and Corey White at right corner. He has experience at safety as well, but that does not appear to be a part of the plan at this time.
Next: NFL 2017: 20 RBs with best chance at 2,000 yards rushing
There is a great deal of upside to Clark, but like any rookie, it will take time for him to prove his worth and earn his playing time as he recovers from his severe ACL injury. The Jets need so much improvement in their defensive backfield that Clark could play a significant role in the secondary sooner rather than later.