The final tally totals zero Jets on the PFF Top 50, which is shocking to no one. The Jets have been in the early stages of their rebuild for the past couple of seasons, and their roster is very inexperienced. However, while the Jets are hardly alone in their lack of elite players, they may be on track to have a few soon. So who can we expect to be on PFF’s list, and when can we expect them to make the leap?
The Haves and Have-Nots
PFF annually puts out their list of the top 50 players, and this year it was dominated by three teams who comprise almost 44%. The 49ers (5), Packers (5), and Chargers (4) loom over the rest of the league in the rankings.
The 49ers players are LT Trent Williams, TE George Kittle, ED Nick Bosa, WR Deebo Samuel, and LB Fred Warner. They have done a tremendous job drafting since 2018, considering all included players are home grown aside from Williams. The Packers players include QB Aaron Rodgers, CB Jaire Alexander, LT David Bakhtiari, S Adrian Amos, and ED Rashan Gary. Their draft history is similarly tremendous, although they benefit from Rodgers continuing his elite play 18 years after being drafted. The Chargers boast ED Joey Bosa, QB Justin Herbert, C Corey Linsley, and ED Khalil Mack. While only two are drafted, no one can knock the Chargers drafting skill. One could argue to include S Derwin James or LT Rashawn Slater, so they are doing just fine.
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The AFC teams with no representation on the list are the Jets, Jaguars, Patriots, Texans, and Broncos. The NFC teams are the Panthers, Giants, Lions, Commanders, Seahawks, Bears, and Falcons.
The Jets
Fanbases across the league can argue that some of their top players were snubbed, but frankly, not the Jets. Yet intermingled with the obvious nature of the Jets of the past few years, there is grounded hope for change. The process has been long and arduous, but the final stages of fielding a contending roster have been put in place.
https://twitter.com/nyjets/status/1520795180151889920?s=21&t=pSKkZfO9v0QvKIBTO786pA
Jets GM Joe Douglas spent most of 2020 and part of 2021 dismantling the awful yet expensive roster. Former GM Mike Maccagnan had given out truckloads of ill advised guarantees, and drafted players who either underperformed, or over promised. By the 2021 draft, Douglas had cut almost all of the residual financial burdens, and recouped any assets possible from the mess. Now, after three drafts, the Jets are entering 2022 with loaded with talented but unproven players. The 49ers, Packers, and Chargers are all proof that the draft is the real source for accumulating multiple top 50 players. The Jets have shot their shot, and now it’s time to develop.
Who Can Make the List?
Before mentioning these players, it’s important to note that not all of them will develop into top 50 caliber. They do all have the required talent and potential however. The chances that at least one or two of these players become elite is very reasonable, statistically speaking.
From the 2020 class, there is still a legitimate opportunity for RT Mekhi Becton to emerge as a top tackle. Although he missed most of 2021, he is so freakishly gifted, and so young that he has to be mentioned. From the 2021 class, fans can be genuinely honest with themselves that G Alijah Vera-Tucker and WR Elijah Moore could attain that level. Both players flashed the potential as rookies that earned them their high draft grades. The 2022 class features the greatest potential for future stars. CB Sauce Gardner, WR Garrett Wilson, ED Jermaine Johnson II, and RB Breece Hall each have an opportunity to take the league by storm. They are all young, but have either already flashed in the NFL, or are entering with remarkable pedigree.
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The final mention has to be QB Zach Wilson. As the second overall pick in 2021, he struggled mightily in the first half of his rookie year. It seems perhaps over optimistic to consider Wilson a true contender for the PFF Top 50 list in 2023 based on how much he would need to improve. However, It’s not out of the realm of possibility that by year three, Wilson’s development could combine with his incredible talent to become one of the best young Quarterbacks in the NFL.
So yes, there are zero Jets on the PFF Top 50… but that’s about to change.
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