![]() On a deep defensive line, he worked mainly with the second and third teams, often as the wide-9 defensive end. Which AFC East team can beat the Bills?.Calais Campbell seeks titles in NFL, poker.Johnson (Round 1, 26th overall)īecause the offseason was basically a passing camp - no run game, no live pass-rushing drills - it was difficult to get a good read on Johnson. "He’s going to have to continue to learn how much more physical this level is, and that’s going to be especially when we put on the pads, and you go through that daily ringer going against our secondary," offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said.īarring injury, Wilson will have a big-time role in the receiving corps. At 6-foot, 183 pounds, Wilson isn't the biggest receiver. It's a different world when there's a cornerback in your face, looking to knock wideouts off their route. The big question: How will he respond when the game gets physical? There was no bump-and-run in offseason practices, providing easy releases for the receivers. In fact, he's planning to remain in Florham Park during the six-week break to work with the conditioning staff. Wilson has exceeded their expectations in that respect. ![]() The pre-draft vetting process is intensive, but you never really know a player until he's in your building. The coaches like the focus he shows in meetings rooms. Wilson is smooth and fast with sticky hands. The Jets like his versatility because he can play inside and outside, a huge plus in a scheme that demands receivers to master more than one position. Rookie receiver Garrett Wilson impressed Jets coaches with his versatility and focus. Long term, Wilson could turn out better than both, if he reaches his full potential. Brown, who was dealt from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles, before taking Wilson - the top receiver on their draft board. The Jets made an offer for San Francisco 49ers star Deebo Samuel and looked into A.J. "Probably less than most." Garrett Wilson (Round 1, 10th overall) "He’s going to have his lumps and his rookie moments, which they all do, but at the same time there’s not going be a lot of them," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. Like any rookie, he will get confused by certain route combinations and formations, but he displayed an uncanny ability in practice to adjust midplay to situations where the offense purposely tried to throw him off. When he intercepted a Zach Wilson pass in the end zone, he reached up and snatched it out of the air.ĭespite his inexperience, Gardner has enough raw talent to stick to top receivers in man-to-man coverage. Gardner is 6-foot-3, with 33 1/2-inch arms. Safety Jordan Whitehead said Gardner reminds him of former NFL star Richard Sherman because of their similar build. "I thought it would be the other way around, but it's not." "They call a lot more stuff in the league," Gardner said. He started that practice in college, where he accumulated nine penalties over his final two seasons. In one open practice, he wore puffy gloves - picture oversized oven mitts - as a way to improve his hand placement and to prevent grabbing. When he makes a mistake, he goes immediately to his position coach for an explanation. They like his football aptitude and his willingness to learn. A permanent promotion is only a matter of time.īeyond the obvious physical traits, Gardner impresses with his intangibles, according to the coaches. Reed and Brandin Echols sidelined with injuries, Gardner got a lot of reps with the starting defense. All four are expected to play significant roles as rookies, combining with last year's draft class to form a foundation.Īfter wrapping up four weeks of non-contact practice last Wednesday, each rookie has made their initial on-field impressions on teammates and coaches. The Jets believe they got playmakers in Hall and Wilson, along with two dynamic defenders in cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and defensive end Jermaine Johnson II. "Playmakers, baby," general manager Joe Douglas said on draft night.ĭouglas' comment, captured in the Jets' new, in-house documentary, "Flight 2022: New Heights," came after the selection of running back Breece Hall in the second round. ![]() It wasn't a textbook route by Wilson, slightly out of position, but he demonstrated such concentration and body control that he was able to adjust and make a big play.Ī play that could serve as a harbinger for the ballyhooed Class of '22: Their top four draftees, learning on the fly, might veer off script at times, but they can compensate with pure talent. In a 7-on-7 period, rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson ran an intermediate crossing route and made a twisting catch on a pass from quarterback Zach Wilson that was behind him. The play happened in the New York Jets' next-to-last practice.
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