New York Jets 2019 player profile: Chris Herndon, tight end
The New York Jets may have found a future standout in tight end Chris Herndon. Here we take a look at his player profile.
The tight end position has been a virtual wasteland for the New York Jets over the last several years. With that being said, there might be some light at the end of a very dark tunnel. General Manager Mike Maccagnan selected tight end Chris Herndon with the 107th overall pick (fourth round) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He may have found a gem.
Let’s take a look at Herndon’s player profile, looking back on his 2018 season, then ahead to 2019.
2018 Season Summary
The 6-4, 253-pounder got off to a rocky start during his rookie campaign with just 47 receiving yards in his initial five outings. However, starting in Week 6 against Indianapolis, Herndon tallied a touchdown reception in three straight games. After New York’s bye week in Week 11, the Miami product recorded three games of 50 receiving yards or more, including a season-high 82 yards (with a score) against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 at MetLife Stadium.
Now Herndon is not going to remind anyone of Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates, but when the dust had settled on the 2018 season, Herndon’s numbers were very respectable: 39 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns.
The reception and touchdown totals were tops among league rookies. As the season progressed, Herndon developed a strong rapport with rookie signal-caller Sam Darnold, especially in the red zone. For his efforts, Herndon was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.
2019 Season Outlook
The Norcross, GA native may be suspended to start the 2019 season due to his pleading guilty to DWI, stemming from a June 2018 auto accident. When he is back on the gridiron, Herndon will look to improve on his strong rookie campaign. He and Darnold should continue to build on their chemistry together. If Gang Green is able to add some explosive weapons via free agency and the draft, that will take some of the offensive onus off of Herndon.
2019 NFL Mock Draft: Final pre-Combine first-round projection. dark. Next
The just-turned 23-year old needs to improve his run blocking skills, that will come in time, but his forte is catching the football. If he remains healthy, there is no reason to believe that Herndon cannot become one of the premier tight ends in the entire NFL. His ceiling is rather high and the Jets, with some key free agent signings, should be a much more dynamic offensive unit in 2019. Herndon will be one of the main reasons why.