Jets hoping to rejuvenate dead tight end position

As the New York Jets prepare for the upcoming season, their tight end situation has more clarity and well, should be rejuvenated this time around.

The tight end position has been a non-existent one for the New York Jets the last several years. One would have to go back to the Dustin Keller era from 2008-2011 to find the last time the Jets generated consistent production from the position.

Since then, the Jets have had the position manned by the likes of Jeff Cumberland, Kellen Winslow, Jace Amaro, Zach Sudfeld and Kellen Davis. Amaro was supposed to be the savior as a second round pick back in 2014 but he failed to live up to his potential and was cut after just two seasons.

Last September, the Jets brought in Austin Seferian-Jenkins after Tampa Bay released him following a DUI in addition to other off the field issues. Seferian-Jenkins didn’t turn many heads during his time with the Jets last year but a lot of that can be a direct correlation of former offensive coordinator Chan Gailey who refused to incorporate the position into his game plan.

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Now, 20 pounds slimmer and in a new offense under coordinator John Morton, Seferian-Jenkins looks primed to become the playmaker many thought he would be coming out of college.

He got off to a great start by lighting up OTA’s and hopefully, he continues to impress during training camp and preseason.

Seferian-Jenkins will have to sit out the first four games of the regular season for a suspension related to his DUI last September. But once the 6″6 258 pounder is back on the field when the Jets take on the Cleveland Browns, he’ll likely be one of their main targets.

With the departure of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker this offseason, the Jets will be looking for guys to pick up the slack and Seferian-Jenkins will be right at the top of the list. Quincy Enunwa is a quality receiver but unproven commodities such as Robby Anderson, Ardarius Stewart, Chad Hansen, and Jalin Marshall round out the pecking order.

Unless rookie fourth round pick Jordan Leggett lights the world on fire, Seferian-Jenkins will definitely be the starting tight end upon his return. As to which it should be very exciting to see just how far the fourth year pro has come.