It is a great time to try to rank the top 15 players on the NY Jets
It is no secret that the New York Jets received an influx of talent in the 2024 offseason.
From the addition of offensive lineman Tyron Smith in free agency to trading for Haason Reddick, various new players will immediately carry high levels of importance for the Jets. Add in the numerous talented players already on the team, and it becomes one of the most impressive rosters in football.
With so many great players, it becomes difficult to rank them by importance. There could be different ways of valuing positions, production, and potential.
However, it is still a fun exercise to start some discussion in a quiet period of football news. Don’t treat the list as fact but rather as a basis for discussion around the Jets.
Here are my top 15 players on the 2024 New York Jets roster.
15. Morgan Moses, OT
A player like Moses being ranked this low speaks to the talent ahead of him at other positions on the Jets’ roster.
Even at 33 years old, Moses has been one of the most consistent right tackles in all of football for the past few years. He has not had a PFF pass-blocking grade under 75 in the past two seasons, giving up just 48 pressures on 1,008 pass-blocking snaps over that span (4.76% pressure rate). In the running game, Moses was a key piece in Baltimore’s elite rushing attack.
Returning to the Jets, Moses will look to pick up where he left off in 2023. With the ability to produce at a high level in the passing and running games, the veteran will likely give the Jets a floor they have not had at the right tackle position since he left following the 2021 season. He may not have the ceiling of other players on this list, but Moses has arguably one of the highest floors on the team.
14. Mike Williams, WR
Considering the impact he could have on the Jets’ 2024 offense, Williams landing at No. 14 could look silly in hindsight.
The former Charger is a dominant down-the-field threat. Williams has a career ADOT of 14.4, a contested catch percentage of 53.5%, and a 102.5 passer rating when targeted. He also has 31 touchdowns in his career.
Williams is set to become the ideal deep threat on a team that has spent years searching for one. He should also be a productive red zone threat for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The 29-year-old receiver has some injury risk, as he is coming off an ACL injury and has dealt with various short-term injuries over his career. This risk bumped him down the list slightly, as there is a chance his full potential is not reached in 2024.
If he can stay on the field alongside Garrett Wilson and play to his capabilities, Williams will help the Jets win plenty of games against tough opponents next season.
13. Alijah Vera-Tucker, OG
Vera-Tucker has a chance to move up more than a few spots with a complete season.
Talent and production have never been an issue for the former USC Trojan. Ever since being selected by the Jets in the 2021 NFL draft, Vera-Tucker has displayed upper-level run blocking in space. No matter who is running behind him, the offensive lineman clears defenders out of the way and gives his offensive players the best possible opportunities.
In the passing game, Vera-Tucker has held his own at multiple positions. He has performed at an adequate and average level at guard or tackle.
The issue for the offensive lineman has been staying on the field; in the past two seasons, Vera-Tucker sustained two separate season-ending injuries. It has prevented him from hitting the ceiling he has displayed.
2024 is a vital season for Vera-Tucker, as inconsistent play or injuries could lead to a make-or-break 2025. But if he can stay on the field and build upon his previous production, Vera-Tucker could establish himself as one of the better offensive linemen in the NFL.
12. Jermaine Johnson, ED
As a player with a high floor already, Jermaine Johnson is on a trajectory to take another step as a player.
Johnson has displayed a knack for defending the run in his two seasons with the Jets. He is very physical at the point of contact and does a good job setting the edge. As a pass rusher, Johnson took another step forward in 2023. He had 56 pressures and nine sacks (six full, three half), considerably improving his rookie season numbers.
Johnson is a crucial asset on the team’s defensive line at his current level, providing a high floor. With increased pass-rushing production, he could become one of the better players at the position in the league.
11. D.J. Reed, CB
On many other teams across the NFL, Reed would easily be a top-10 player in terms of talent and production.
Bouncing between the Seahawks and 49ers before arriving with the Jets, the cornerback has established himself as one of the better cornerbacks in the league. With Sauce Gardner on the other side of the field, teams are much more willing to test the 5-foot-9-inch defender on various routes, yet Reed usually responds to the challenge. Over the past two seasons, he has recorded 21 passes defended while allowing just 0.78 yards per cover snap.
Reed has utilized his athleticism and sticky coverage skills to be a great player for the Jets in his tenure, and he should be a pivotal contributor to the defense once again in 2024.
10. Michael Carter II, CB
Carter II gets the slight bump over Reed because I value a talented slot cornerback over a team’s second outside corner, especially considering the modern NFL.
Carter II has blossomed into an excellent coverage corner over the past two seasons, having a combined ten pass breakups and two interceptions. In 2023, he only allowed 0.54 yards per cover snap when lined up in the slot, which was seventh-best in the NFL.
Combined with Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, Carter helps to form arguably the best cornerback trio in the entire league. He should continue to help the Jets have one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2024.
9. C.J. Mosley, LB.
He may not be the same player he was early in his career, but C.J. Mosley is still one of the best players on the Jets.
In his 2023 season, Mosley had a 90.6 PFF coverage grade, the best out of all qualified linebackers in the NFL. This grade was anchored by Mosley’s five pass breakups, one interception, and two forced fumbles while allowing just one touchdown reception.
Mosley had 105 tackles and 60 defensive stops. He had seven pressures as a pass-rusher, notching a sack and two quarterback hits.
Add his significant leadership role on the team’s defense to his on-the-field accomplishments, and there is no question that Mosley is one of the most important and talented players on the team’s roster.
8. Quincy Williams, LB
If Mosley is the steady presence in the middle of the field for the Jets, then Quincy Willaims is the heat-seeking missile who can change the complexion of games by himself.
Constantly developing since arriving in New York, Williams burst onto the scene in 2023. He had the second-best coverage grade out of all linebackers in the NFL, trailing only Mosley. He had an interception and led all linebackers with eight pass breakups.
Williams had 106 tackles and led all defensive players with 80 defensive stops, adding two sacks and two forced fumbles.
While he still has moments of overrunning plays and missing tackles, Williams elevated himself to become one of the best players in his position. Alongside Mosley and the rest of the Jets’ defense, Williams can help keep the Jets’ defense elite and highly productive.
7. Haason Reddick, ED
Losing Bryce Huff in the offseason was an extremely significant loss. However, the addition of Haason Reddick should help to mitigate it and possibly be an upgrade.
Reddick has been an extremely consistent player since 2020, his final year in Arizona. The veteran has posted at least 11.0 sacks in each of the past four seasons and ranks fourth in the NFL with 50.5 total sacks over that span. Reddick has also provided at least 40 pressures in each of the past four seasons, including at least 67 in each of the past two.
Outside of his extreme pass-rush presence, Reddick offers some versatility. He started his career as an off-ball linebacker and was still occasionally used in coverage after moving to the edge, playing 328 coverage snaps over the past four seasons (career-low 42 in 2023).
Contract issues notwithstanding, Reddick is set to be an extremely valuable piece to the Jets’ defense as a pass rusher who can close out games.
6. Garrett Wilson, WR
Falling slightly outside of the top five of the rankings, there will be no reason to keep star wide receiver Garrett Wilson outside of the top three if he continues on his trajectory.
Wilson does everything that is needed from a star wide receiver. Need a five-yard catch to be turned into a 20-yard gain after the catch? Wilson can do it. Want a contested catch over a defender’s head? Wilson has it covered. Want precise route running that gives quarterbacks a target an open receiver on almost every play? Wilson might be the best at it.
Even with arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL, Wilson began his career with two consecutive seasons of over 1,000 yards. With Aaron Rodgers back in the fold? Buy as much stock in Wilson as you can.
5. Tyron Smith, OT
Of all the Jets’ signings in the 2024 offseason, Tyron Smith is arguably the most significant in the short term.
Even in his 13th season, Smith was one of the best pass-blocking offensive linemen in the entire league. He had the best PFF pass-blocking grade out of all qualified tackles, guards, and centers at 89.3. His 3.4% pressure rate ranked second-best among left tackles and he only allowed one sack on 536 pass-blocking snaps.
Additionally, Smith has been an adequate run blocker, looking particularly effective on gap concepts. The veteran can still clear paths for runners behind him, albeit not with the same consistency he had in his earlier career.
Injuries have somewhat derailed Smith, as he has not played a full season in multiple years. But even if the veteran tackle starts 13 of the team’s 17 games, his immensely high floor will be vital in helping the Jets’ offense find success in 2024.
4. Aaron Rodgers, QB
Yes, Aaron Rodgers is number four on this list. However, he is undoubtedly the most critical piece to the Jets’ success in 2024.
Stats cannot always do the future Hall-of-Famer justice, but they are impressive nonetheless. He has 12 seasons of over 4,000 passing yards and 10 seasons of over 30 passing touchdowns.
Rodgers has an uncanny cerebral ability, identifying coverages immediately thanks to his experience and smarts on the field. It allows him to switch plays at will, putting his offense in the best situation possible on almost every play.
While the Jets have the necessary talent on offense, it does not matter if the quarterback play is inadequate. As their prized trade acquisition, the Jets will only go as far as Rodgers can take them.
3. Breece Hall, RB
In only two seasons, Hall has proven he is one of the premier running backs in the NFL.
Returning from a torn ACL in 2023, the Iowa State product had 1,585 yards from scrimmage. He rushed for 993 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt behind porous blocking. He added 591 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver, leading running backs with 76 receptions.
Hall was able to put up these numbers with an abysmal offensive line and quarterback situation. With both of those fixed heading into 2024, the star running back can put up a season befitting of the best running back in the league.
2. Quinnen Williams, DT
It was ultimately a coin flip between him and Sauce Gardner for the number one spot, but the younger Williams brother slots in at number two on the list.
A star since his days at Alabama, Quinnen Williams has developed into an elite force in both the running and passing games. Over the past two seasons, Williams has recorded 122 pressures and 74 defensive stops, posting overall PFF grades over 90.0 in each season.
As a pass rusher, Williams has exploded in the past two seasons. He had a PRP (pass-rush productivity, which is a PFF stat that uses a formula that combines sacks, hits, and hurries relative to how many times they rush the passer) of 8.7, trailing only Chris Jones. He also had a pass-rush win rate of 19.5%, which is the third-best of all defensive tackles.
Williams is arguably the engine of the Jets defense. With him powering the defense line again in 2024, the team should see success on that side of the ball again.
1. Sauce Gardner, CB
In a very competitive field, the number one player on the 2024 New York Jets is none other than Sauce Gardner.
Through his first two seasons, Gardner has been arguably the best cornerback in the NFL. Since 2022, he ranks first among cornerbacks in passer rating allowed (63.0), yards allowed per cover snap (0.53), percentage of targets resulting in a first down or touchdown (21.8%), and PFF coverage grade (92.1).
His production has earned him two first-team All-Pro selections and two Pro Bowl selections. It also has drawn the ire of opposing fans, many of whom do not enjoy the dominance Gardner has shown.
With rumblings about him traveling with receivers in 2024, Gardner might have a chance to elevate his play even further. He has already shown play worth of being the best cornerback in the league, meaning another step forward would solidify his standing as the best player on the Jets and at his position.