8. David Bass, LB, Missouri Western State
On 1 Jets Drive, it’s all about the Bass.
Okay, let me put that joke back in 2014 where it belongs real quick. In all seriousness, the Jets don’t have a pass rusher on the team that opponents fear. That means that there are ridiculous amounts of pressure on the Jets secondary to overcompensate.
Nobody will ever mistake David Bass for Von Miller, but he still could be of help. In spot duty last season, he reeled in three and a half sacks. If every role player could spit out that production, the Jets pass rushing woes wouldn’t be as dire.
7. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington
How is this man on a sleeper list? I mean seriously.
But I’ve talked to people around the league and the respect factor still isn’t there for Jermaine Kearse. That seems hard to believe for a guy that was “thrown into” the Sheldon Richardson deal. That seems even harder to believe when you consider Jermaine had a career year in receptions (65), yards (810) and touchdowns (five) last season.
The thing to pay attention to during Jets training camp is the connection between Kearse and future starting quarterback Sam Darnold. Kearse isn’t a No. 1 wide receiver, but he’s a reliable No. 2 or No. 3 and having that security blanket is huge.
6. Henry Anderson, DL, Stanford
This list is intended to present names that maybe you have to give a discount double check too. This is a guy the Jets traded for during the 2018 NFL Draft. My gut reaction says this is a major win for the Jets.
Anderson is a 3-4 end who was getting forced out of the Indianapolis Colts new 4-3 scheme. So the Jets got him at a bargain and he can be a key rotational piece on the defensive line this season. One of the most interesting training camp battles for me is on that defensive line opposite of Leonard Williams.
