Wilkerson, Ivory, Furguson, Harrison, Kerley, Gilchrist &.. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

with training camp coming up and the season around the corner (okay, a very long corner), I thought I'd take a look at the spotlight players who will be under the microscope this year. Obviously any player who isn't guaranteed a roster spot will have a lot to play for, but I wanted to take a look at the higher profile players here. I'm going to keep it on the short side, so the less heralded players are getting lumped together at the end.

 

Here we go :

 

Muhammad Wilkerson, 25, 1 year - $6.696M

Wilkerson is probably the most obvious choice for this list. He has been a force on the DL for years and though he has yet to make the Pro Bowl, his appearances on the NFL's Top 100 shows the respect the league has for him. He's one of the best at his position and he is on the final year of his rookie contract, a fifth year option, and has been on the warpath for a contract for over a year now. While the Jets could franchise tag him next year, it would be hard to absorb the likely $13-15M cap figure with the Jets already likely to be pressed up against the cap in 2016. Signing him to a long term deal in the off-season next year would dramatically lower that cap hit while giving Wilkerson the instant payday that he wants, so it's likely that a deal could get done if both parties can agree on a number. The problem is that Wilkerson may want a ridiculous sum of money despite lacking the credentials of someone like J.J. Watt or Ndamukong Suh. If he wants to even approach Watt money, which would be a pretty big overpay anyway, he will have to have a monster season.

 

Geno Smith, 24, 2 years - $2.97M

This is Geno Smith's final shot to prove himself in the NFL. In his third season with a receiving corps that finally might exceed average, Geno Smith is out of excuses. This is the make or break year for his career and if he were to lose the position to Ryan Fitzpatrick at some point during the season, it is unlikely Geno Smith's career could ever rebound. I'm not going to get into all of it because you probably already know, but this season is as big for Geno as for just about any other player in the NFL. His career is on the line and he needs to win some games.

 

Demario Davis, 26, 1 year 1.69M

Expectations were high for super Demario when he was drafted, but he has never quite lived up to them. Davis has proven himself to be a capable starter, but is far from an elite player. He has been a very cost effective cog in the Rex Ryan machine over the last 3 seasons, but now that he is on the last year of his rookie contract, it's hard to predict what his value will be on the open market. He's flashed his ability at times, but it's hard to see him getting big money without a breakout year in 2015. He's in prime position to exceed playing with one of the NFL's best defensive lines ahead of him and some of the NFL's best corners behind him. Considering that this is a contract year for a young player who still has a lot to prove, this should be the most important year of Davis' short career.

 

Chris Ivory, 27, 1 year $2.75M

At 27 years old, Ivory is finally in position to get a contract after sitting behind other players and dealing with nasty injuries. His value is not particularly high considering his limitations and injury history, but he will probably get more than he's currently making if he hits the FA market. A big year could do a lot to boost his FA stock before his payday, but he may be sharing his carries with multiple running backs considering the number of backs with starter experience on the roster. It will be a big year for him financially, since he has never had a big payday and this is likely his best, and as a 27 year old running back possibly his last, opportunity.

 

D'Brickshaw Furguson, 31, 3 years - $40.1M

The Jets have been in a tough position with Brick for a long time. Brick was given a massive contract in 2012 after several Pro Bowl level seasons, but he has not lived up to the price tag. He is currently the 5th highest paid LT in the NFL according to Overthecap.com, yet he is not a top 10 player at his position by any stretch of the imagination. After 2015, Brick's salary bumps up to over $8M.5 and then over $11M while his guaranteed money actually shrinks. Despite having a cap charge of over $14M in 2016, the Jets might have a tough decision with Brick because they simply have no one else who can play LT and Brick would be incredibly difficult to replace at one of the NFL's most important positions. If Brick falls apart this season, there's very little chance the Jets decide to keep him. If he excels, he should probably be back if he's willing to take a pay cut. It's a big year for a guy who has fallen off at an age where many tackles start to break down.

 

Antonio Cromartie, 31, 4 years - $32M

Despite signing with the Jets just last off-season, Cromartie will permanently be on the hot seat. Cro took a deal with literally nothing guaranteed after 2015 despite the fact that he'll be playing CB at over 32 next season. To make matters worse, a lot of Cro's success is based on his elite athleticism, which is starting to decline as he ages. He has compensated by becoming better in other aspects of his game, but it's likely that his decline will be steep when Father Time inevitably wins. With large cap hits of $8M, $8M, and $9M over the next 3 years, Cromartie will need to prove himself every year. Meanwhile, the Jets have several young corners with a lot of talent, such as Buster Skrine, Dee Milliner, and Dexter McDougle. If one of these players did enough to show that they could play alongside Revis at a fraction of Cromartie's cost, he could be let go without a second thought (except by fans.) While Cro may have gotten a lot of money for his services, he will have to put up very solid seasons to remain a Jet.

 

Damon Harrison, 26, 1 year - $2.36M

Despite quickly becoming the forgotten man in the Jets incredibly stacked defensive line, Harrison has proven himself to be an exceptional run stuffer and a quality nose tackle. He will be a free agent next year and after working his butt off for years as an UDFA, he will likely get a sizable paycheck for the first time in the NFL. While he may not be retained by the Jets, Harrison will certainly have many suitors in free agency who have a need for a role player like Harrison. This year will likely be a major factor in determining his value on the market next year. I think I speak for most Jets fans when I say if another team snatches him up in free agency, I'll be sad to see him go and wish him the best, but the Jets won't be devastated considering the depth.

 

Sheldon Richardson, 24, 2 years - $5.94M (with a 5th year option)

Richardson is not in a contract standoff just yet, but his vocal and boisterous nature leads me to believe that he will be a handful come contract time. Apart from claiming that he wants "Suh Money" for himself, he has done a lot to put his foot in his mouth this off-season. After claiming the Jets could be the best defense and the best team in the NFL, Richardson got hit with a 4 game suspension for failing multiple drug tests. Not only does this mean that the Jets will be without their star lineman for the first 4 games of the 2015 season, but also that Richardson will probably face a full year suspension if he were to slip up again. For a player just 2 years into his career, that is a very dangerous concern to have hanging over you. Richardson's bombastic nature also doesn't help him appear particularly well controlled, though I do love his confidence and motor. If Richardson doesn't come back swinging after his suspension and continue developing with a monster year, his stock could take a serious hit in the years to come.

 

Nick Folk, 32, 3 years - $8.4M

Folk earned a large contract from Idzik after a career year in 2013 in which he was often referred to as a "Folk" hero due to his ability to hit clutch kicks. In all honestly, Folk has never been much better than an average kicker in the NFL and 2013 was somewhat of an anomaly. With no guarantees and an average salary approaching $3M, money usually reserved for top 10 or even top 5 kickers, it's really hard to justify his salary. Without much competition in 2015, he probably doesn't have to worry, but because his salary continues to rise in 2016 and 2017, he will really have to have a good year to make anyone believe he is worth the money he got from Idzik.

 

Jeremy Kerley, 25, 4 years - $14M

Kerley has been a fan favorite for years because of his consistency on the field and his personality off of it. He's been arguably the best receiver on the Jets not named Decker for the last few seasons and his absence was immediately apparent whenever he missed games due to injury. Idzik ended up rewarding Kerley mid-season last year with a contract that, while team friendly, seems to really overpay for Kerley's talents. After a down year in 2015, not aided by some really unfortunate luck with penalties and timeouts, Kerley needs to bounce back to solidify his spot on a roster that now features Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, and Devin Smith. If the Jets become extremely strapped for cap space, Kerley could become a cap casualty as a post June-1st cut next year and could also be put on the trading block. While he has a good shot of retaining a roster spot for at least one more year, things could get dicey if he doesn't bounce back this year.

 

Marcus Gilchrist, 25, 4 years - $22M

Gilchrist was recently signed to a surprisingly lucrative contract by the new administration. It's possible that Bowles and Maccagnan see potential in Gilchrist that others do not, but Gilchrist really only has one year to prove it. Gilchrist's base salary skyrockets from $1M to $5M in his second year and to $6M for each of the next two seasons. He doesn't have a lot of guarantees, so if he bombs in year 1, he could be cut with 3 of 4 years remaining on his contract with only $1.875M in dead money. He's going to have to prove that he's worth the money that was invested in him or he could very quickly be on the market again. His chances of returning for at least 2016 are pretty good, however.

 

Other notable players with something to prove in 2015

Breno Giacomini (RT), Jeff Cumberland (TE), Oday Aboushi (G), Bilal Powell (RB), Calvin Pace (OLB), Jason Babin (OLB), Stevan Ridley (RB), and many more.

 

>  http://www.ganggreennation.com/2015/7/13/8939117/ny-jets-a-lot-to-play-for

[kelly]

more re Cro...

 

~ ~  No. 11: Antonio Cromartie

Last year’s ranking: Unranked (not on team)

Position: Cornerback

Age: 31

How acquired: Signed as a free agent on March 12

Years left on contract: 4

2015 Salary Cap figure: $7 million

 

Looking back at 2014: The last time many Jets fans saw Cromartie, he was struggling through a bad 2013 season that was hindered by a hip injury. The Jets released him after that season and he went to Arizona, where he had a bounce-back season with the Cardinals.Playing under Todd Bowles in Arizona, Cromartie made 48 tackles and had three interceptions. He has recorded at least three interceptions in every season since 2009.Pro Football Focus rated Cromartie as the 45th cornerback out of 108 graded. Quarterbacks had a 74.9 rating against him and completed 59.3 percent of their passes. In PFF’s “coverage” statistic, which measures how often cornerbacks are in coverage versus how many receptions they give up, he rated 10th out of 73.Cromartie is a notoriously poor tackler, but he graded out in the middle of the league in many of PFF’s tackling metrics.

 

Outlook for 2015: Bowles must have liked what he saw from Cromartie because he brought him back to the Jets with him. Cromartie will start in the familiar spot opposite Darrelle Revis, a position that brings tremendous pressure. Teams avoiding Revis surely will test Cromartie often.The biggest knock on Cromartie during his first stint with the Jets was his inconsistency. As former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine once put it, you never knew week to week if you were going to get the good Cro or the bad Cro.Cromartie desperately wanted to rejoin the Jets, being very open during the offseason about his desire to return. He should be a happy camper this year being back in New Jersey, where he kept his home. The Jets hope Cromartie, along with Revis, can help some of the younger defensive backs become better professionals. That will bear watching. Cromartie rubbed some younger players the wrong way during his previous stint with the Jets.Even though he received a four-year contract, the Jets can move on quickly if they desire. There is no guaranteed money in the deal after this season, so the Jets can dump Cromartie after 2015 if he struggles.

 

> http://nypost.com/2015/07/14/antonio-cromartie-asked-to-get-picked-on-across-from-revis/

[kelly]

No. 10: Chris Ivory

Last year’s ranking: 9

Position: Running back

Age: 27

How acquired: In a trade with Saints on April 26, 2013, for a fourth-round draft pick

Years left on contract: 1

2015 Salary Cap figure: $2.75 million

 

Looking back at 2014: Ivory led the Jets in rushing for the second straight season, gaining 821 yards on 198 carries and six touchdowns. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry and topped 100 yards in a game twice.Former offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had a maddening tendency to go away from Ivory when it seemed like the Jets should just ride him. The Jets always seemed to want to get Chris Johnson into the game, which cost Ivory some carries. There were four games in which Ivory carried the ball fewer than 10 times. That is unacceptable.The former coaching staff worried about Ivory getting injured, which was one reason they tried to limit his carries. It appeared to work with Ivory playing in 16 games for the first time in his career.Pro Football Focus rated Ivory 39th out of the 57 running backs they graded. A deeper look at their analysis shows Ivory is a pretty good runner, but the other parts of the job kill his grade. Ivory rated as the 10th-best running back on running plays, but he was 56th out of 57 in pass blocking.Passing plays always hurt Ivory. He is neither a good receiver nor a good pass blocker. That puts him on the bench on nearly every third down. In the PFF stat “pass blocking efficiency,” Ivory ranked 61st out of 62 running backs.There is no questioning Ivory’s running ability. He is fun to watch when he gets rolling. He never shies away from contact and always seems to be running downhill.He had 487 yards after contact, according to PFF, the 16th most in the league. He forced 52 tacklers to miss, the fourth-highest total, and finished 5th in elusive rating, a stat designed to measure a runner’s ability independent of his blockers.

 

Outlook for 2015: The Jets have a crowded backfield with Ivory, Stevan Ridley, Zac Stacy and Bilal Powell. How the running backs split the load will be one of the bigger stories of training camp. Ivory has shown he deserves to be the lead back. He has been very good over the past two seasons while always splitting carries.During the spring, the Jets used Ivory in spread formations a bunch, lining him up as a wide receiver. Spring is sometimes just experimental, but maybe Chan Gailey thinks he can make Ivory a bigger part of the passing game. If Ivory can become a complete back, he has the potential to be one of the best in football.

 

> http://nypost.com/2015/07/15/will-jets-remain-shy-of-workload-to-make-chris-ivory-elite/

[kelly]

No. 8: Damon Harrison

Last year’s ranking: 7

Position: Nose tackle

Age: 26

How acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2012

Years left on contract: 1

2015 Salary Cap figure: $2.35 million

 

Looking back at 2014: Harrison is the most unsung of the Jets’ defensive linemen, but he has become an essential piece of that unit. Harrison does a great job clogging up the middle and is the main reason the Jets’ run defense finished fifth in the NFL last year.Harrison had 55 tackles, and Pro Football Focus ranked him the 14th best nose tackle/defensive tackle out of 81 they graded.The website has a statistic called “stop percentage,” which measures how many stops (plays that constitute an offensive failure) a player registers per snap. Harrison was No. 1 in this category. He was fifth in stops and third in run defense at the position behind Marcell Dareus and Ndamukong Suh.Harrison did not have a sack and was not really a factor against the pass. Harrison did not play in sub packages, making him a two-down player.

 

Outlook for 2015: Harrison is entering a contract season, and the Jets face an interesting decision. It is going to be impossible for the Jets to keep all of these young defensive linemen. Is Harrison going to be the one they let walk away  ?   Harrison had less of an impact than Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson over the past two seasons, but he is an integral piece of the Jets defense. Under Todd Bowles, Harrison’s role should not change much. If Harrison can improve as a pass rusher, he could really increase his payday as a free agent.If Mike Maccagnan can somehow find a way to keep Harrison, it would continue a great story for the team. The Jets took a chance on Harrison out of tiny William Penn University in Iowa and he has become one of the best nose tackles in football. He went from stocking shelves at Wal Mart to the NFL and he is on the verge of getting a big contract.

 

> http://nypost.com/2015/07/17/if-damon-harrison-gets-any-better-jets-face-money-crunch/