With a new head coach -- Aaron Glenn -- and a new roster of assistant coaches soon to be added, there are likely to be exciting opportunities for Jets players as they put the 2024 NFL season behind them and look ahead to a new beginning.
On defense, three young players -- CB Qwan'tez Stiggers, S Tony Adams and DL Leonard Taylor III -- each took a novel route to the NFL and the Green & White. And although they each mostly played complementary roles this past season, they all see room to stretch their legs in the future.
Qwan'tez Stiggers: Next Season 'I'm Coming Here to Start'
Stiggers took an unlikely road to the NFL and to the Jets. Drafted in the fifth round of last April's NFL Draft (No. 176 overall), Stiggers grew up in Atlanta in a household of more than a dozen children.
He was a 0-star recruit out of high school, accepted a scholarship to Lane College in Jackson, TN, but never played because he opted to return home after his father died in September 2020. His football journey continued in an indoor league and then in the Canadian Football League before he was drafted by the Jets.
"I'd say, just being here in the building, just look around," Stiggers, 23, told team reporter Caroline Hendershot reflecting on his rookie season. "A couple months ago, I was washing trucks, now I'm in an NFL building. So I say, that's probably my biggest takeaway, just being able to be in the building."
Playing behind veteran D.J. Reed and a former Defensive Rookie of the Year in Sauce Gardner, Stiggers had 49 snaps (4.27%) on defense, but had a bigger role on special teams, taking 215 snaps (49.77%).
"So before I got here, like every opportunity I've got, I've started and coming here I have to just sit and learn behind the guys in front of me," he said "I would say it's like a blessing in disguise. So I feel like coming here I had a great opportunity. I've just been in my rookie year in the NFL. So, I'm blessed. My journey to get here, you'll never hear this story again."
Looking ahead, Stiggers said he plans to spend the offseason working on his fundamentals.
"Next year, I'm coming here to start," he said. He added: "I want to be one of the best cornerbacks in the league for the years to come."
Tony Adams: 'Back to the Drawing Board'
The Jets' defense was No. 4 this past season in passing yards allowed across 17 games (192.6) and No. 6 in passing yards per play (6.29). And Adams, who joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois when he signed after the 2022 NFL Draft, played a big role at safety. Yet Adams (who turned 26 on Jan. 24) said he needs to do more.
"I just personally believe that you got these expectations in your head, and you know who you're supposed to be, and when you don't reach that you got to go back to the drawing board," Adams told Hendershot. "So that's what I'm going to do this offseason, go back to the drawing board and fix things I need to fix to be the player I know I am."
Among the Jets' players on defense this past season, Adams was fifth in snaps taken (766/66.72%) as the backfield had to deal with injuries to players like slot CB Michael Carter II and veteran safety Chuck Clark. Adams played in 15 games, starting 11.
"But the cool thing to see is the undrafted free agents and the rookies growing like when you see that you know your coach is doing a good job and you are leading them in the right direction," Adams said. "And out of a 5-12 season, I think that's the bright spot."
He added: "I'm going to attack this offseason like never before. This is going be my best offseason yet."
Leonard Taylor: 'All the Little Details Matter'
Taylor, 22, went undrafted last year out of Miami before signing with the Jets in May and landing a spot on the 53-man roster after a strong training camp and a strong performance in preseason games. At 6-3, 305, he brought added heft and strength to the interior of the defensive line.
"Got my first sack in London [vs Minnesota on Oct. 6], so I was pretty excited about that," he told team reporter Ethan Greenberg. "So, I feel that I left a statement for those other teams who passed me up."
Overall in 14 games last season, Taylor took 261 snaps on defense (22.74%), made 24 total tackles, had 4 TFL and a pass defended.
"Just coming from college, transfer to the pros, it's like all the little details matter," Taylor said. "So if you don't get off the ball, the play might not go as you plan."
Looking ahead to the offseason, he added: "Definitely got to get bigger.. Definitely got to get stronger, faster, so I'm pretty excited for that. Just perfect my craft so I could be great in this league for a long time."
