Tight end has been a need for the New York Jets all year long. They made a big pickup by drafting Mason Taylor in the second round, but they still needed a second reliable tight end to run Tanner Engstrand’s offense.
Months went by, and the second tight end pickup never came. The Jets hoped that either Jeremy Ruckert or Stone Smartt would stake their claim to the TE2 role, but neither player stepped up.
Ruckert is a former third-round pick but continues to struggle as both a pass catcher and blocker. The blocking issues are particularly troubling for the Jets, who are expected to run the ball often this season.
Smartt can be a mismatch weapon in the slot, but with a sub-230-pound frame, he is not your typical in-line tight end.
Following the roster cutdown deadline on Tuesday, the Jets finally made another addition to the tight end position, claiming former Indianapolis Colts third-round pick Jelani Woods.
Woods had 25 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns in his 2022 rookie season. He has not played another regular season game since then, due to season-ending injuries in 2023 (hamstrings) and 2024 (toe).
In this year’s preseason, Woods stood out, catching seven passes for 75 yards.
Is Woods immediately the Jets’ second-best tight end?
Can he be trusted as a blocker, receiver, both, or neither?
In the latest episode of Blewett’s Blitz, we analyze everything there is to know about Woods’ game. His blocking, route running technique, effort, and receiving capabilities are all there on the All-22 film, waiting to be unpacked.
Seen below is the full Jelani Woods film review and scouting report (strengths and weaknesses).
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