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New York Jets: 3 Players with rising stock after Week 5

By Stephen Smith

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 24: Morris Claiborne
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 24: Morris Claiborne /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Morris Claiborne #21 of the New York Jets break up a pass inteded for Jarvis Landry #14 of the Miami Dolphins on fourth down during the second half of an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The New York Jets defeated the Miami Dolphins 20-6. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 24: Morris Claiborne #21 of the New York Jets break up a pass inteded for Jarvis Landry #14 of the Miami Dolphins on fourth down during the second half of an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on September 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The New York Jets defeated the Miami Dolphins 20-6. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

The New York Jets are one of the surprise teams in the NFL at 3-2. Here are three players with rising stock heading into Sunday’s clash with New England.

The New York Jets are flying high with a three-game winning streak and a share of first place in the AFC East as they prepare to face the New England Patriots this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Are they for real? We’ll find out soon enough.

Gang Green is coming off a lackluster 17-14 victory over the winless Cleveland Browns but they’ll take it and run with it. The team is brimming with confidence. It’s going to be a wild scene at MetLife Stadium — the crowd will be all fired up. It should be a lot of fun to watch.

Let’s take a look at three players whose stock is on the rise after five weeks of play:

3. Morris Claiborne

The Jets weren’t exactly sure what they were getting when they signed the free agent cornerback back in March. The sixth overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Claiborne was essentially a bust with the Cowboys due to injury woes and poor performance. However, the Jets were desperate to upgrade their secondary this past off-season so they took a gamble on the former LSU All-American.

So far that gamble has really paid off. Claiborne has been a rock of stability in New York’s secondary and is coming off the best game of his brief Jets career. The 5-11, 188-pounder led the team with eight solo tackles (nine total) and added two passes defensed. His top highlight though came in the third quarter when he intercepted Kevin Hogan’s pass and returned it 28 yards to the Cleveland 13. That helped set up Josh McCown’s two-yard touchdown pass to Austin Seferain-Jenkins two plays later to give New York the lead for good at 10-7.

The key to Claiborne continuing his stellar play for the Jets is simple: health. He’s always had a world of talent but the injury bug has bitten him quite badly during his NFL career. In fact, entering this season, the Shreveport, LA native missed 33 games with Dallas in five seasons. Gang Green needs Claiborne to remain on the field because he has been a top-notch cover corner so far. That’s exactly what New York was hoping for when they brought him on-board back in March. His stock value is increasing rapidly.

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