Six of the Jets' seven draft picks were in action Saturday as the Green & White opened up the preseason with a 20-17 win over the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. Below is a recap of how several first-year players performed.
LT Olu Fashanu (Rd. 1, No. 11)
Fashanu, 21, got the start at left tackle and played the entire first half. He took 25 snaps (45%) on offense and 3 (11%) on special teams. The Jets' best offensive series came at the start of the second quarter, a seven-play 80-yard touchdown drive. Fashanu helped lead the way by sealing the edge on a 24-yard run by rookie RB Braelon Allen.
Fashanu shook off an early false start penalty and ended up having a productive afternoon. Protecting both QBs Tyrod Taylor and Andrew Peasley's blindsides, Pro Football Focus gave Fashanu an 83.8 pass block grade – the highest on the team.
"He is a young rookie, and we were just making sure he's getting as many reps as possible," HC Robert Saleh said. "Obviously, it would be a great year if this is the extent of his playing time, so we want to make sure we're getting him opportunities."
WR Malachi Corley (Rd. 3, No. 65)
Corely, 22, flashed his abilities as both a receiver and a kick returner. He also had a teachable moment on a punt return, surrendering yards instead of catching the ball. He played 18 (33%) snaps on offense and led all Jets in receptions (4). His 33-yard KR after the opening kickoff was the longest return of the game.
"I thought he did a really nice job in the kick return game. Punt return game, he had a chance to field that one – he has to be able to catch the one he let land," said HC Robert Saleh.
Corley finished with 27 yards receiving, a majority of which came on a bruising 15-yard catch and run late in the second quarter. Andrew Peasley threw a pass in the direction of TE Zach Kuntz, Kuntz cradled the ball before it was punched out into the hands of Corley, and the rookie broke a pair of tackles and picked up a first down. The catch led to a 56-yard field goal by K Greg Zuerlein to end the half.
"In the pass game, you can see when he [Corley] touched the ball, he's a heavy, heavy runner," Saleh said. "A very violent runner. Really excited to get him more opportunities moving forward. He's definitely going to be a big part of the offense."
RB Braelon Allen (Rd. 4, No. 134) & RB Isaiah Davis (Rd. 5, No. 173)
Allen and Davis set the tone on offense for the Jets starters, combining for 94 scrimmage yards.
Allen, 20, did most of his damage on the ground, carrying the ball 6 times for 54 yards. He created two explosive runs (rushes of 10-plus yards) including carries of 16 and 24 yards on the Jets' first touchdown drive.
"Braelon didn't disappoint when he got to the second level," Saleh said. "It is painful [for the opposition] to just touch the human and it was really cool to see him out in the open field today."
Davis, 22, contributed to the pass game with four receptions for 33 yards. He had a long reception of 24 yards early in the second quarter that set up a 12-yard touchdown catch by WR Jason Brownlee. In addition, he returned one kickoff 29 yards.
CB Qwan'tez Stiggers (Rd. 5, No. 176)
Stiggers, 22, put on a well-rounded performance in his preseason debut. The former Canadian Football League standout played 34 (48%) defensive snaps and 10 (37%) on special teams. He had 4 tackles, 3 on defense and 1 in punt coverage. He registered a tackle for loss after reading a run play perfectly off the edge and bringing down RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. for a 1-yard loss.
S Jaylen Key (Rd. 7, No. 257)
Key, 24, had 6 tackles including 3 on the opening series. On first and goal from the five, Key met veteran Pro Bowl running back Austin Ekeler in the whole and stuffed the bruising tailback for no gain. In the second quarter, Key had a near interception on pass floated by Commanders QB Jeff Driskel. Key laid out to make the catch, but it tipped off his helmet.
DL Leonard Taylor III III
After being signed as an undrafted free agent in May, Taylor III, 22, flashed with two tackles for loss, a QB hit and the Jets only sack. Late in the fourth quarter, Taylor III beat the left guard and center with a quick inside out move and tossed Driskel down for a sack.
"Just keep building," said HC Robert Saleh of Taylor. "He's come on strong as of late, especially the last week or so. He's going to have two more opportunities to put on some good tape, not just in the game, but his practice, his practice habits, all of it. All of it has been trending upwards."
QB Andrew Peasley
Peasley, 24 years old and an undrafted free agent signing, took over for QB Tyrod Taylor midway through the first quarter and impressed while completing 8 of 11 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Peasley showed poise and decisiveness throughout his stint. On first down from the Washington 12-yard-line early in the second quarter, he dropped back and tossed a fade pass to Jason Brownlee in the left corner of the endzone for the touchdown.
"Both of those young quarterbacks, Peas (Peasley) and [Adtian] Martinez," Saleh said. "I thought they both did a great job. I thought Smitty (WR Brandon Smith) did a great job staying alive on that scramble drill. Overall, I thought both quarterbacks executed really well, especially in situational football, the receivers did a great job coming down with those balls."
