New York Jets: Secondary becoming one of the best in NFL
The New York Jets are quickly developing one of the best secondaries in the NFL after additions over the past two offseasons.
When general manager Mike Maccagnan signed free agent cornerback Trumaine Johnson, it marked a turning point for the New York Jets secondary. With one of the premier corners in the NFL now in the fold, Gang Green arguably has one of the best overall defensive backfields in the entire league.
The 28-year old Johnson is the main reason why. He is a lockdown press cornerback. He is in his prime. At 6-2, 213 pounds, the six-year NFL veteran has excellent height and length for a corner. Johnson has compiled 18 career interceptions, three which he has returned for touchdowns, and 67 passes defensed. He will line up with the opponents number one wide receiver. Johnson is New York’s best corner since the prime years of Darrelle Revis, which was way back in 2010-11. That’s a long time ago.
Having a shutdown cornerback elevates the entire secondary. Morris Claiborne can now slide into the No. 2 corner role. That suits him much better at this stage of his career. A former first round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2012, the LSU product played pretty well for the Jets last year. Injuries have always plagued his career but Claiborne played 15 games in 2017. He was slowed somewhat by a foot injury late in the season so his health is always a concern. He is 28 years old, so he is not over the hill yet. Claiborne just has to remain on the field.
Buster Skrine is best suited to being a slot cornerback in nickel and dime packages and Johnson’s arrival allows him to slide into that role. Juston Burris and Darryl Roberts provide adequate cornerback depth.
Don’t be surprised if Gang Green selects another corner in the middle rounds of this year’s draft. Prospects like Nick Nelson (Wisconsin) and Tarvarus McFadden (Florida State) may be available then to provide quality depth.
One of the main reasons the secondary of the Jets will be so formidable in 2018 is the continued development of safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. Despite some growing pains last season, both players had fine rookie campaigns overall. They’ll only get better with more game experience. Both have the potential to be Pro Bowl performers and they haven’t even reached their prime years yet. Rontez Miles and Kacy Rodgers are the current backups at safety on New York’s depth chart.
DeShon Elliott (Texas) and Jordan Whitehead (Pitt) are a pair of safeties that should be available in the middle rounds of next month’s draft if Maccagnan is looking to bolster the roster with prospects with upside.
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The Jets had one of the worst defensive backfields in the NFL just two seasons ago with a washed up Revis leading the way. They allowed 30 touchdown passes, the sixth worst mark in the league. Heading into the 2018 campaign, with Johnson, Claiborne and the two super sophomore safeties, the defensive backfield has quickly turned into an area of real strength. That’s so, so important in the pass-happy world of the NFL.