New York Jets try out free agent TE Jordan Matthews

Jordan Matthews tries out with the Jets

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the New York Jets hosted tight end Jordan Matthews for a tryout on Thursday.

Some notable tryouts/visits on the wire today:

RB Alfred Morris visit with the #Giants

WR/TE Jordan Matthews tryout with the #Jets

DT Willie Henry visit with the #Cardinals

WR Tommylee Lewis visit with the #Saints

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 29, 2021

Matthews, 29, is best known for his time as a wide receiver with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vanderbilt product was drafted by Philadelphia with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft and quickly burst onto the scene, catching 152 passes for 1,869 yards and 16 touchdowns over his first two seasons.

After his successful two-year start, Matthews’ career went downhill in a hurry. His production dipped in 2016, and the following season, Philadelphia traded him along with a third-round pick to Buffalo for cornerback Ronald Darby. Matthews posted 282 yards and one touchdown over 10 games in Buffalo.

Since his 2017 season in Buffalo, Matthews has bounced around, spending one offseason in New England, second and third stints in Philadelphia, and two stints in San Francisco, which is where he was last rostered. He finished the 2020 season on the 49ers’ practice squad and saw his contract expire after the year. Matthews played three games with Mike LaFleur‘s Niners from 2019-20 but saw zero targets.

Switching to tight end

Following the 2020 season, Matthews announced that he had put on 30 pounds and is looking to play tight end for his next team. Matthews, who stands at 6-foot-3, is seen weighing in at 236 pounds in this video from July 14.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1415315612172263428

On July 14, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Matthews had attended the Tight End University summit (also attended by the Jets’ Chris Herndon) and worked out for NFL teams as a tight end at the HUB camp, which is an event held for free agents to perform in front of scouts and executives. Matthews is also being repped by agent Steve Caric, who is known for working with big-name tight ends like Zach Ertz and Austin Hooper.

The Jets would give Matthews one of the best opportunities in the NFL to earn a roster spot and playing time as a tight end. New York’s tight end room – featuring Herndon, Tyler Kroft, Trevon Wesco, Ryan Griffin, Daniel Brown, and Kenny Yeboah – is one of the league’s weakest on paper.

In 2020, the Jets’ tight end unit combined for only 43 catches, 409 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns. They did little to improve it, with Kroft and Yeboah being the only additions.

Matthews’ skill set as a wide receiver should translate well to the tight end position. He was always known as a tall, big-bodied wide receiver who could make contested catches and was a weapon near the goal line. From 2014-15, Matthews tied for eighth in the league among wide receivers with 11 receiving touchdowns in the red zone.