New York Jets

Now that they have their quarterback, the New York Jets can focus on retaining their safety.

General manager Joe Douglas told reporters Saturday that the team hopes to come to an agreement with Marcus Maye on a long-term deal. 

The Jets gave Maye the franchise tag in March. If they don't come to terms on a new contract by July 15, Maye will earn $10.6 million for the 2021 season.

"It's still a priority to keep Marcus here long-term," Douglas said Saturday, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. "We have had productive texts back and forth with his agent. We're hoping to really dive into this now that the draft's over."

Maye, the team's second-round pick out of Florida in 2017, has started all 16 games in three of his four NFL seasons. He was limited to six games in 2018 amid foot, thumb and shoulder injuries. 

Despite a dismal season for the Jets overall in 2020, he had a career-best campaign. He broke up 11 passes and forced two fumbles, with a fumble recovery, two sacks and 88 tackles. 

Maye is the second safety in as many years with which the team has struggled to come to terms. New York traded Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks last offseason after the sides could not agree on a deal. 

HEIGHT: 6'4 3/4"

WEIGHT: 306

     

POSITIVES

—Twitched up mover with the ability to generate considerable torque and rotational power

—Excels in zone concepts where he can fire out of his stance laterally to cover up DL on the first level on combo blocks, stay thick on half a man and create displacement on angle blocks

—Effectively uses his backside hand to slow down inside counters and stretch defenders on wide zone concepts

—Provides a thump on adjacent defenders when uncovered in pass protection

     

NEGATIVES

—Can get overwhelmed at the point by bigger DL because of a slender, lean frame without a lot of mass, sand or girth

—Unrefined use of angles and spatial awareness to intersect defenders in space, too often misjudges depth and timing of the contact point

—Hands get too wide at the point of attack, limiting his ability to generate quick, consistent leverage when needed

—Needs to learn how to re-leverage and reset his hands quicker and more consistently to stay centered on a block

—Can look lost in pass protection against simple two man games and blitzes, needs to decipher information more quickly pre- and post-snap

     

2020 STATISTICS

—Seven starts

     

NOTES

—25 career starts

—Started his college career at Notre Dame and appeared in six games before transferring in 2017

—Dealt with pneumonia after contracting COVID-19 in the fall, causing him to miss four games

—Named the Notre Dame offensive scout team player of the year in 2015

—47 game varsity starter in high school at center

—Ranked as the top center in the nation as a senior and was the first player from Idaho to be named the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year twice

—Nephew of former Pittsburgh Steelers RB and ESPN analyst Merril Hoge

     

OVERALL

Hoge comes from a decorated background as a dominant center recruit out of the state of Idaho with one transfer before finally settling in at BYU in 2017. Hoge has a slender and extremely lean build with plenty of twitch and explosiveness in his body that results in some eye-catching displays of torque and power on the field.

He’s a capable zone run-blocker with the athletic ability to develop in pass protection, but he has an unrefined, frantic playing style that leads to being out of position and off schedule too often. Over time, and under capable coaching and refinement, there’s an outside shot Hoge can crack a lineup, but most likely he will need multiple years of seasoning before that’s a possibility.

     

GRADE: 6.4/10 (Round 7)

OVERALL RANK: 263/300

POSITION RANK: IOL30

PRO COMPARISON: Ross Reynolds

     

Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

HEIGHT: 6'2 3/8"

WEIGHT: 251 lbs

      

POSITIVES

—Has a very fast and violent trigger once he recognizes plays.

—Is a high-effort player, which is how he tallied so many sacks in 2019.

—Violence transitions to the tackling game, where he does not allow much knockback.

—Long frame has the potential to be "where he wins" at the next level.

—Tough at the point of attack, but doesn't reset the line of scrimmage.

       

NEGATIVES

—Does not have great bend, which is a major issue for a lighter edge-rusher.

—May be limited to outside rushes, as inside counters are difficult to find on film.

—May not have the overall athleticism to play 3-4 outside linebacker, limiting him to 4-3 defensive end.

—Plays a full-man too often when pass rushing.

—Can lose contain fast to the edge.

       

2020 STATISTICS

23 TKL, 2 TFL, 1 PBU

      

NOTES

—Brother played basketball for Oregon State, swaying his commitment.

       

OVERALL

In 2019, Hamilcar Rashed Jr. was coming off of one of the hottest years in college football after his 22.5-TFL and 14-sack season. Unfortunately, many of those plays stemmed from cleaning up messes made by teammates off pure effort and motor, a trait that does not consistently translate to NFL production.

In 2020, he notched only two TFLs and no sacks, a massive disappointment after recording 35 TFLs and 16.5 sacks in his prior two seasons at Oregon State. Rashed should be viewed as a borderline rosterable edge defender who has some upside if he can fill out his frame and get stronger so his power rushes are the staple of his game.

       

GRADE: 6.7/10 (Round 6)

OVERALL RANK: 228/300

POSITION RANK: EDGE29

PRO COMPARISON: Alex Highsmith 

       

Written by B/R NFL Scout Justis Mosqueda

HEIGHT: 6'3⅛"

WEIGHT: 310

     

POSITIVES

—Is the size of a nose tackle with the athleticism of an under tackle.

—Prototypical size for an NFL defensive tackle.

—Flashes penetration skills that are rare in the college game and valued in the professional game.

     

NEGATIVES

—Is not as stout in the run game as you would think with his frame.

—Was only a one-year starter for Arkansas.

—Is rotated out frequently; conditioning of his legs can be an issue.

     

2020 STATISTICS

35 TKL, 6.5 TFL, 1 SK, 1 PBU, 1 FF

     

NOTES

—Was a potential tight end recruit as a prep.

—Cousin of former NFL defensive end Cedric Reed.

—Team captain in 2020, his first season as a full-time starter.

     

OVERALL

Jonathan Marshall is a penetrating defensive tackle who played his best football at the end of his college career. Once thought to be a potential offensive player, Marshall is now solely focused on the defensive side of the ball, with size and athleticism to play all across the defensive interior. Relatively inexperienced, he is a rosterable defensive tackle with upside that is rare to find for developmental projects.

     

GRADE: 7.2/10 (Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 137/300

POSITION RANK: DL14

PRO COMPARISON: Khyri Thornton

     

Written by B/R NFL Scout Justis Mosqueda

HEIGHT: 5'10 1/8"

WEIGHT: 179 lbs

        

POSITIVES

—Does not shy away from contact. Shows good tenacity.

—Has very good play speed and straight-line speed.

—Good open-field tackling.

—Does well with his reads and reaction to routes. Gets out of breaks quickly for short to medium routes.

        

NEGATIVES

—Lacks strength. Can get stuck to receivers in the run game.

—Poor awareness. Slow to fill in the run at times.

—Has some hip tightness, which can cause him to be slower when opening.

—Can struggle in off-coverage and too much space.

        

2020 STATISTICS

54 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PBU

      

NOTES

JUCO transfer: 2019 and 2020 at Kentucky

     

OVERALL

Echols is an undersized player with a scrappy play style. With his size and lack of length, he struggled in run support at times, getting pushed around and stuck to blocks. He can make mistakes at crucial times in the game, because of him not fully understanding the situation.

Echols runs well, with the ability to match up with most receivers. Flashes ball skills but lacks the overall production needed. Echols may have to move inside to the slot, while initially working to find a role on special teams.

       

GRADE: 6.1/10 (Fringe Backup Potential—Round 7)

OVERALL RANK: 279/300

POSITION RANK: CB32

PRO COMPARISON: Jerraud Powers

        

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'3 1/4"

WEIGHT: 215 lbs

        

POSITIVES

—Quick feet for his size and good acceleration moving forward.

—Triggers downhill fast and under control in the run game.

—Delivers a solid blow on contact through tackles.

—Man cover skill. Matches up well with tight ends

—Versatile player, able to play deep or in box.

—Has good awareness in underneath zones.

        

NEGATIVES

—His eyes and overaggressive nature can get him in trouble with poor run/pass reads.

—Will play out of control at times.

—Choppy backpedal when deep.

—Below-average strength for his size.

         

2019 STATISTICS

101 Tackles, 2 INT, 1 TD, 3 PBU, 1 FR, 3 FF

      

NOTES

—Only played in two games in 2020 and wore a knee brace on his left knee.

       

OVERALL

Nasirildeen is athletic at 6'3" 215 pounds, playing the hybrid safety position. He plays with a high motor that takes him sideline to sideline and the physicality to run through ball-carriers on contact. Toward the end of the 2019 season, Hamsah tore the ACL in his left knee, which ultimately caused him to miss all but two games in the 2020 season.

Pre-injury Nasirildeen was an explosive player who had the ability to use his size and athletic ability to be a force in the run game, as well as align out to cover tight ends. Post-injury he showed to still be able to play the run but looked to lose a bit of the explosiveness he once had. As he continues to build strength, I would guess he would return to 2019 form for the upcoming season.

During the Senior Bowl, Nasirildeen showed at times that the further he was from the line of scrimmage, the less efficient he worked. Although he still needs to develop his backpedal and deep-coverage ability; I'm looking for a team with a Cover 3 defense to bring him on.

        

GRADE: 7.2/10 (Future Role Player/Spot Starter- Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 138/300

POSITION RANK: S6

PRO COMPARISON: Kam Chancellor

       

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

The New York Jets selected Michael Carter on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL draft...twice.

After taking North Carolina running back Michael Carter in Round 4 on Saturday, the team picked Duke safety Michael Carter II in Round 5 later in the day. 

For the first time in NFL history, a team has selected two players with the same first and last name in the same draft.

(We don't actually know if this is true, but we're busy and just going with it.) pic.twitter.com/TzdMpbohTl

— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 1, 2021

The players quickly had fun with it on Twitter:

What’s good!! 🤣 https://t.co/SbBYrBGgCU

— Michael Carter II (@mcarter2nd) May 1, 2021

Having the same name is strange enough, but the fact that the two played at ACC rivals just a handful of miles apart down Tobacco Road makes this a truly bizarre situation.

Let's just hope it was an intentional strategy by the Jets and not just an area scout saying they really liked Michael Carter before forgetting which one. Maybe they weren't paying much attention in the draft room and just named someone already picked, like that one friend in the fantasy football live draft does every year.

Either way, the coaching staff might have to create some nicknames to avoid confusion once training camp comes around.

HEIGHT: 5'9⅝"

WEIGHT: 184

      

POSITIVES

—Very good straight line speed. Able to catch ball-carriers in the open field.

—Scrappy player that is willing to support the run.

—Shows cover ability and ball skills to see and react to the ball.

—Tackles well in space.

     

NEGATIVES

—Undersized, can struggle setting the edge.

—Lack of length can show when competing for the ball.

     

2020 STATISTICS

11 Games: 41 Tackles, 2 INT, 8 PBU

     

OVERALL

Carter is a versatile player who has had snaps at the safety, nickel and outside corner positions. He is an athletic undersized safety with quick feet. He moves like a corner in coverage at times, with a smooth backpedal and quick breaks. He has shown to have very good speed as well. Though he is undersized and has trouble overcoming shortcomings at times. With a lack of playmaking ability, Carter will add depth to a room.

    

GRADE: 6.0/10 (Fringe Backup Potential—Round 7)

OVERALL RANK: 282/300

POSITION RANK: CB34

      

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'1 3/4"

WEIGHT: 216 lbs

       

POSITIVES

—Active player with motor to go sideline to sideline.

—Physical player who uses hands well to defeat blocks.

—Excellent strength to hold up at the line of scrimmage.

—Instinctual player with good awareness.

—Very good foot quickness for size—has explosive first step.

—Solid wrap tackler. Gets the ball-carrier on the ground.

         

NEGATIVES

—Top-end speed and change of direction are in question to play in secondary.

—Occasionally loses his initial angles in the run game.

—Struggles in man-to-man coverage.

—Primarily a box player.

         

2020 STATISTICS

11 Games: 75 Tackles, 1 sack, 3 PBU, 2 FR

        

OVERALL

Sherwood is a thick-bodied safety who plays with a high motor. Though his body type fits more of an undersized linebacker, he has displayed the footwork and ball skills needed to compete in the pass game. He arrives at the ball with bad intentions and does his best work when coming down into the box.

As a defender who works best moving forward, he has the strength to fight off linemen and the first step acceleration to chase down most ball-carriers; although there are times where he has lost angles. He struggles as a deep safety and in man against quicker, faster athletes. Would be best suited in a scheme as a box safety or could potentially add weight and play at the linebacker spot at the next level.

        

GRADE: 6.8/10 (Career Backup/Rotational Player—Round 5)

OVERALL RANK: 202/300

POSITION RANK: S17

PRO COMPARISON: Barry Church

       

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Former North Carolina running back Michael Carter will have a shot at immediate fantasy football relevance after being selected by the New York Jets on Saturday in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Carter joins a backfield without a defined pecking order, so he'll likely take part in an open competition with Ty Johnson, La'Mical Perine, Tevin Coleman, Josh Adams and Pete Guerriero throughout training camp and the preseason for a high spot on the Week 1 depth chart.

New York Jets RB Michael Carter has 29 runs of 20+ yards since 2019

1st among all RBs in CFB pic.twitter.com/FdVtSetkng

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) May 1, 2021

The Jets' lackluster rushing attack in 2020 was best summed up by 37-year-old Frank Gore leading the team in carries with 187. Gore may land in the Hall of Fame one day, but he doesn't have the juice left at this stage of his career to serve as such a vital part of an offense.

So Carter walks into pretty much the most favorable situation a rookie running back could hope for, especially one who didn't come off the board until Day 3 of the draft.

The 21-year-old Florida native was a dual-threat weapon across his four years at UNC. He compiled 3,404 rushing yards, 656 receiving yards and 28 total touchdowns in 44 games for the Tar Heels. He found the end zone 11 times in 2020 despite splitting the backfield with Javonte Williams, a second-round pick.

In September, he discussed placing a greater emphasis on proving himself as an asset in the passing game en route to a career-high 256 receiving yards.

"It's just being versatile in that aspect," Carter told reporters. "Because you look at the new age running backs, [Christian] McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Zeke [Elliott] even. Guys like that, that are the best players in the league. Aaron Jones, I can't believe I missed Aaron Jones, like special talent and because he's so versatile."

That figures to benefit him as he tries to at least carve out a niche as a rookie.

Coleman represents the biggest competition in terms of a possible three-down role. Johnson and Perine will likely compete for early-down work, while Adams' playmaking ability could make him a threat for passing-down assignments as he becomes more comfortable working out of the backfield.

https://twitter.com/JCaporoso/status/1388527685400412162

It's a wide-open race, however, and with likely only four roster spots available for running backs, there will be several of the Jets' options who don't make the final cut.

Michael Carter on the Jets makes him pretty interesting from a fantasy POV

— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) May 1, 2021

Carter is a virtual lock to make the team as a rookie, and, given the non-zero chance he ends up as the high-volume starter, he deserves attention very early in dynasty leagues that draft rookies annually.

His value in redraft leagues is far more difficult to project at this stage. He's certainly worth a mid-round flier until the Jets' backfield comes into better focus.