NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

New York Jets undrafted rookie receiver stealing someone’s job

By Sayre Bedinger

Jul 22, 2023; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Jason Brownlee (16) catches the ball during the New York Jets Training Camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 22, 2023; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Jason Brownlee (16) catches the ball during the New York Jets Training Camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Nobody can resist a great offseason story, especially when your team has an undrafted rookie showing out in practices. The New York Jets may have a real gem on their hands at a position group that has been overhauled over the last two offseasons, especially this year with Aaron Rodgers coming to town.

The Jets have revamped their wide receiver room, trading away former second-round pick Elijah Moore, saying goodbye to Braxton Berrios, and bringing in players like Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb. Despite all of the moving and shuffling, there still appears to be room for a player like rookie Jason Brownlee, who is drawing a ton of attention from Jets media and fans alike as the team approaches its first preseason game of the year against the Cleveland Browns.

The New York Jets will play against the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday night, and by the time some of you are reading this, Jason Brownlee might already be getting talked about in major NFL circles. He’s not even played a preseason game with the Jets at the time of this writing, and he’s already made Sports Center’s top plays…

https://twitter.com/RichCimini/status/1686712960230555650

Brownlee has some pretty exceptional explosiveness, as you see in that clip, and it’s something he can use to his advantage with a 6-foot-3 frame that already gives him an advantage over most defensive backs.

What’s really going to be interesting for the Jets and Jason Brownlee is that he will get the opportunity to play with a former top draft pick, something you don’t often see in the preseason for camp darlings and certainly not in the Hall of Fame Game.

Zach Wilson, who looks like he’s trending toward NFL Draft bust status (sadly), will be starting this game for the Jets and will certainly be looking Brownlee’s way plenty. The Jets will want to manufacture touches for the UDFA out of Southern Miss so they can determine whether or not he’s going to have a regular season role for their team.

Although the Jets could justify keeping six receivers and Brownlee among them, you can’t help but wonder if it’s possible that he would push someone like Corey Davis off the roster via trade. It would require a good offer coming back to the Jets, of course, but that’s a possibility to be on the lookout for.

Let’s not put the cart before the horse, however. Brownlee has been doing well in practices for the New York Jets, but games will be a different beast to conquer. He’s going up against some incredible competition from the deep Jets secondary every day, and the Browns are a team that boasts tremendous depth at corner as well.

This will be a great early test for the rookie.

Home/New York Jets