Content available exclusively for subscribers
Let’s break down some of the tenders . . .
Robby Anderson got a second-round tender, allowing him to sign an offer sheet, but it’s unlikely another team will want to give a second-round pick for him.
While he’s got a lot of talent, he’s had some off-the-field issues, and is a 175-pound receiver who doesn’t win a lot of 50-50 balls. But he’s terrific on uncontested go-routes and also at driving cornerbacks back by threatening to go deep, and cutting off the routes. He makes a lot of hay on these cut-off routes because they have to respect his deep speed.
It’s best for the Jets to keep him on a one-year deal this year, keep dangling the carrot, and have him work his butt off, behave, play well with his eye on the prize – a long-term deal. One-year deals are amazing incentives for players, especially ones with checkered paths.
Aside from giving Anderson the second-round tender, the Jets tendered nine exclusive-rights free agents – QB Davis Webb, WR Deontay Burnett, RB De’Angelo Henderson, OL Ben Braden, DL Bronson Kaufusi, linebackers Frankie Luvu and Anthony Wint, CB Jeremy Clark and S Doug Middleton.
Let me say something about each of these players.
Webb is an enigma to me. He certainly looks the part at 6-5, 230 with a good arm, but I have no idea if he can be an effective NFL QB. He played in two college spread offenses – Texas Tech and Cal – very, very simple systems with limited reads. He works hard, but has he evolved from college spread QB to an NFL QB? I have no idea and I don’t think the Jets have an idea. Next preseason will shed some light on this. Bryce Petty couldn’t wean himself off what he did at Baylor. A lot of guys can’t do it. Maybe Webb can, but we have to see it. If he hasn’t, the Jets will need to go out and find a veteran backup (which they might do anyway).
Burnett is underrated. He doesn’t look the part. He looks like he’s never seen a weight room, almost frail looking when you see him up close, but he’s a gamer – he knows how to get open and has good hands. And obviously he has great chemistry with Sam Darnold having played with him at USC.
Speaking of underrated, this brings me to Henderson. This running back is way better than most people realize. I love low center of gravity backs, and at 5-7, 207 pounds, with muscles on top of muscles, this guy can be a nightmare for tall defenders to tackle. They used to call Doug Martin the “muscle hamster,” and that is what this guy is like. And not only is he powerful, but runs 4.49.
Braden is a corn-fed mid-western lineman, born and raised in Michigan, played at Michigan, who has great size, thickness and power and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Don’t be shocked if this guy competes for a starting guard spot with the Jets this year. They have toyed with Braden at offensive tackle, but he’s best suited to play in the interior.
I will get into the rest of the ERFA players on Friday.
March 7, 2019
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Friday.