Chad Hansen could be biggest sleeper of training camp

With training camp on the horizon, Chad Hansen could be the biggest sleeper of the summer and be the brightest spot at wide receiver for the New York Jets.

At this point in time, the wide receiver corps of the New York Jets have a lot of question marks on it. Will Robby Anderson be suspended to begin the season? Can Quincy Enunwa bounce back after being sidelined all of last year due to a severe neck injury? Will Terrelle Pryor be able to transform back to a top offensive weapon like when he was with the Cleveland Browns?

Your guess is as good as mine but there is, however, one wide receiver that has already started to make a name for himself this offseason. Wide receiver Chad Hansen has had a strong showing in organized team activities as well as mandatory minicamp. It’s at a point now where once the training camp competition begins at training camp, Hansen could easily be the biggest sleeper of the summer thanks to the overall potential of his skillset.

Due to the upcoming two-game suspension of wide receiver ArDarius Stewart for PEDs, Hansen just bumped up on the Jets depth chart. If Hansen can continue where he left off from during OTAs and minicamp, he could very well prove to be more than capable of handling more reps and responsibilities at wide receiver.

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Last season, Hansen was buried on the depth chart but here and there showed glimpses of his route running and ability to make a play once the football is in his hands. In 2017, Hansen totaled 94 receiving yards, nine receptions, and failed to score a single touchdown. Entering this upcoming season, it’s expected that if everything falls into place, Hansen should be given more chances to prove his worth on the gridiron.

Ideally, the Jets starting wide receiver corps could feature Hansen at the No. 3 or No. 4 spot depending on what happens with Anderson. Jermaine Kearse is a solid No. 2 receiving option so it’s expected he’ll be in the top three. If Enunwa doesn’t resemble the player he once was, Hansen could very well see a major role as early as Week 1 of the regular season.

Hansen, if given such a golden opportunity to start the season off at No. 2 or No. 3, could easily make the most out of it and start off with a strong momentum. Of course, it all depends on how he does throughout the summer but the excitement is there that he can turn into an incredible story that started in California. In just two seasons with the Golden Bears, Hansen totaled 1,498 receiving yards, 111 receptions, and 12 touchdowns.

Keep your eyes on Hansen all throughout training camp and preseason action as he will likely stand out from the rest. If the wide receiver corps of the Jets turn out to be nightmarish, Hansen could very well be the only bright spot in a positional group filled with a lot of hope but possibly not enough reality.