Rookie minicamp has concluded across the league, and now teams like the New York Jets can move on to the next phase of their offseason program.
Organized Team Activities.
OTAs are scheduled to kick off for teams around the league this week, including the Jets. It’s time to break down exactly when New York will be practicing, and which players will need to have plenty of eyes on them.
When Are Jets OTAs?
- OTA Workouts: May 20–22, May 28–30, June 2–5
- Mandatory Minicamp: June 10–12
Unlike last season, the Jets are expected to have their full roster in attendance during mandatory minicamp and OTA workouts over the next few weeks. The current schedule gives the Jets plenty of time to continue their instruction on one of the youngest rosters in the sport.
Players To Watch
Not every OTA practice is equal for some players. For a few players, their standing on the team is pretty safe. For others, they are doing whatever they can to earn a roster spot ahead of training camp position battles.
As OTAs get closer to kicking off, there are three players fans should be keeping an eye on more than others.
Malachi Corley
It’s usually coaching and front office malpractice to give up on a third-round receiver after just a single season, but that’s where we may be with the Western Kentucky product.
Head coach Aaron Glenn has no loyalty to a player he didn’t draft, especially one who struggled to get on the field last season for a five-win Jets squad. The former “YAC King” will be competing with a highly questionable but talented receiver room moving forward.
The fact that the new Jets regime drafted a fourth-round receiver in Arian Smith shows that Corley has his work cut out for him.
Will McDonald
After a 10-sack season in his sophomore campaign, McDonald’s skill set leaves his roster spot all but secure for the Jets.
This OTA session is still an important one for him. New York is in need of quality edge rushers across the board, and they don’t really have any at this point outside of McDonald and Jermaine Johnson.
Johnson is coming off a torn Achilles, though, so the pressure will be on McDonald not just to get after the passer, but also prove he can be an every-down player going forward.
Brandon Stephens
For a player who signed a three-year free agent deal with the Jets during the offseason, Stephens’ role on the team was thought to be secure this season and beyond. With the draft selection of Azareye’h Thomas in the third round, though, those guarantees may no longer be there.
Glenn has consistently said that every position will be competing for starting time this year. The fact that the Jets actually have quality depth behind Stephens now shows that they are serious about this competition.
If Stephens isn’t careful, he could very well see his starting role evaporate throughout OTA workouts.
