From Heavy.com: https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/new-york-jets/eric-watts-turning-heads-nfl-practice/ Jets Earned Incredibly High Praise for Its Work on the UDFA Market Jason Fitzgerald from Over The Cap explained that the average number of UDFAs to sign to an NFL team this offseason was 12.5 players. Three NFL teams in particular went above and beyond to bring some new talent in with the Baltimore Ravens (24), Los Angeles Chargers (21), and the Jets (20). Jason_OTC @Jason_OTC·Follow The median number of UDFA’s signed per team so far is 12.5. Ravens lead the NFL with 24 signings, followed by the Chargers with 21 and the Jets with 20. 8:31 am · 11 May 2024 92Reply Read 5 replies The Jets didn’t just attack quantity after the draft, they also got credit for the quality of players they were able to bring in. Thor Nystrom of Fantasy Pros ranked every UDFA class in the league following the draft. During that exercise, he placed the Jets at No. 2 on his power rankings. “I may not have been in love with the Jets’ decisions during the draft itself, but boy did they slaughter the UDFA process. New York signed three prospects inside my pre-draft top-153, and a fourth who I gave a draftable grade. They were edged out by the Chiefs for [the] top UDFA class in my metrics by the slimmest of fractional margins. I am most bullish on EDGE Eric Watts, who started three-of-four active seasons at UConn (the Huskies canceled their 2020 season due to COVID). Watts is not a finished product – but he has measurables that portend to NFL success, and his tape is dotted with flash plays both as a defender and as a special-teamer,” Nystrom explained. “He posted 22.5 TFL over the last three seasons, and, over the last two campaigns, had nine sacks, two blocked field goals, and a blocked punt. On the measurable side, Watts was close to tops in the EDGE class in three very important categories: 40, vertical, and arm length.”
Self-appointed experts reviewing undistinguished nobodies leaves me cold. They're all just prospects and the only way to rate them is on an NFL field with the clock running. I don't believe the team that found two keepers out of ten UFAs did any worse than the team that finds two keepers out of twenty.
That's certainly fair and reasonable. Jason is great with tracking the salary cap for teams and players, but that doesn't mean that he has any special talent assessment skills. I posted it for the data on how many UDFAs the Jets signed as compared to other teams and for the Watts stats.
It’s easy to get excited about stuff like this until you stop and realize that hey, 32 teams all passed on all of the guys…multiple times. They went undrafted. That being said, I think for some odd reason, as much as our draft history pretty much sucks balls, it feels like we’ve done better than most with undrafted players. Off the top of my head, we’ve had great success with guys like Wayne Chrebet, Brandon Moore (I think that’s his name, the guard from back in the Sanchez day), more recently Bryce Huff…all those guys were very good players, and I may be missing more. So yeah, if we get anyone from this class it wouldn’t shock me…
This coaching staff has a good track record coaching up defensive players. For example, Bryce Huff, Quincy Williams and others. I wouldn't be surprised if they develop 1 or 2 of these defensive UDFAs into important roles on the team.
I think JD has done admirably well with UDFs, so there is that. I have no doubt we will again hit on a gem or two
Ditto... It's surprising their effectiveness with these players but can't seem to hit, for the most part, with our regular draft. I guess everyone has to be good at something. Maybe JD should attack the draft like it's one big UDFA exercise. lol! The "fun" aside, they are quite good at it and it's the ONLY reason, barring a total 2-15 season, this tandem will be back as long as they are competitive. The UDFA's, for me, are the best part of the game.
Adam Schefter on X: "Jets are signing free-agent RB Tarik Cohen to a one-year deal, per source. Cohen was one of the NFL’s top return specialists and a receiving threat before injuries derailed his career. Cohen last played in the NFL in 2020, but now will attempt his comeback with the Jets. https://t.co/7lBjqEt1Sc" / X
Worth a crack but I doubt he makes the roster. Return specialist or not, I don’t see how your return specialist isn’t a WR or corner based merely on the fact that Cohen can’t really do anything but return punts and kicks.
Yeah I thought it was interesting that he signed with us…our RB room is crowded already…probably only keep what, 3 or maybe 4 guys? That’s Breece, two draft picks probably both make it, so you’re competing with Israel for that 4th spot i guess…or maybe one of the draft picks goes to the practice squad…I guess if you are looking to make the roster as a RB and then can also return kicks that may be a plus But yah, I was thinking if I were him, I’d probably look to sign with a team that didn’t just draft 2 backs
Cohen is a long shot. But, a 5'6 from North Carolina A&T, to 1,500 all purpose yards with the Chicago Bears, he's definetely comfortable overachieving as a long shot
Ya--he was pushing Jordan Howard for playing time at one point if my memory serves. Definitely happy to see him get a shot.
That's a good question. Let me go do some digging. I think we have a pretty decent hit rate on the UDFA's but how that relates to the draft, in comparison, should prove interesting. Back with answers...
I mean it should be way higher. The fact that it’s even a question shows how bad of a drafting franchise we historically are.
If anyone's actually going to research this I think the last round is a better comparison to UDFAs than the entire draft (including blue chips, elites, future HOFers, etc.) because the seventh rounders got passed over almost as much as the free agents
Still remains to be seen how the new kickoff rules play out, they are drastically different. You definitely need two returners out there, so I think its worth a flier on Cohen to see if he is healthy and has something to add to the kick return game where he has proven to be very good in the past.
