The New York Jets are set at a few positions heading into the 2024 NFL season, but a couple will birth intense battles for starting nods.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine acknowledged the talent-filled Jets roster and spotlighted the safety slot as the one position that is in line to see the fiercest competition as the offseason escalates (h/t Nick Ziegler of Yardbarker):
“That’s why rounding out the unit by finding their starting safeties is going to be a key storyline in training camp. Head coach Robert Saleh told the media it would be an open competition for the safety jobs with Chuck Clark, Tony Adams, and Ashtyn Davis serving as the primary competitors,” Ballentine wrote.
Jets: SS Jordan Whitehead’s departure has opened the door for competition at safety
With SS Jordan Whitehead no longer in town, the safety slot has a new alpha dog role whose shoes need to be filled. Whitehead was the only Jets safety to start in all 17 games last year. Though, Adams and Davis started in 15 and five contests respectively in 2023. They both have strong chances to retain featured roles in the secondary.
However, the Jets have other defensive backs on their depth chart that could upset the apple cart. Not only is Clark entering New York’s fold as a safety who notched four defended passes in 2022, his last full season when healthy with the Baltimore Ravens, but this year’s No. 257 overall pick Jaylen Key will also have his shot to contend for time at the spot. However, seniority may prevail over him, at least from the onset.
The Jets’ secondary will need its safeties on their job to heighten their Super Bowl odds
Sauce Gardner, arguably the best cornerback in football, and D.J. Reed, are returning to the Jets on the outside. They’ll need their free and strong safeties ready to roam in between the gaps to support their initiative to shut down opposing aerial attacks in 2024. New York has the bodies. The right combination of them will only magnify what’s forecasting to be a season with real Super Bowl hopes behind it.
