New York Jets: 3 key cogs crack ESPN Top 100 players list for 2019

Several key members of the New York Jets cracked the ESPN Top 100 players list. Here are all the details and what they’ll do in 2019.

Ahead of the 2019 season, ESPN doled out their annual top-100 player rankings.

For these rankings, ESPN consulted a panel of over 40 NFL experts. This list was primarily constructed and ranked with the major arguing points being potential greatness to be displayed in 2019 rather than positional value or even past performance.

Some interesting nuggets from the list:

• 30 of 32 NFL teams had at least one player represented, the Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans were the only two teams omitted.
• The New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs tied for the league lead with seven players cracking the list apiece.
• On top of the rankings, each player that made the list received a “2019 outlook, ESPN Stats & Information provided a signature stat, and fantasy analyst Mike Clay projected a stat line for this season,” per ESPN.

Three New York Jets players cracked the list. Two were 2019 offseason acquisitions and one is a mainstay star. Here’s the full analysis on every Jets player that made the list via ESPN:

91. C.J. MosleyILB | JetsAge: 272018 rank: 81

The Jets wanted Mosley so badly in free agency that they gave him $17 million a year, a then-record for an off-the-ball linebacker. He’s the quarterback of the defense as a smart, tough-tackling machine, and it’s no accident that he has made four Pro Bowls. The Jets expect him to galvanize a unit that has talent on all three levels. — Rich Cimini

Signature stat: Mosley has 21 pass breakups in his career, which is fourth-most among linebackers since 2014.

2019 projection: 129 tackles, 1.0 sack.

This addition is looking better and better the more time passes. While the acquisition was costly, it was necessary. You can’t put a price tag on changing a locker room and culture. Jamal Adams wanted dogs on this team and the Jets front office added some.

Especially when you consider the key loss of linebacker Avery Williamson, Mosley is going to fill that void and some. Everyone criticizes his ability in pass coverage yet the signature stat (above) speaks for itself.

61. Jamal AdamsS | JetsAge: 232018 rank: NR

Adams is one of the premier box safeties in the league — fast, instinctive and tenacious. He lines up as a quasi-linebacker most of the time, allowing him to dominate at the line of scrimmage. Problem is, he doesn’t make enough plays in pass coverage (one interception in two years) to be considered an elite, two-way safety. — Rich Cimini

Signature stat: Adams’ 44 stops — tackles resulting in a successful play for the defense based on yards to go by down — last season led all defensive backs in the NFL, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

2019 projection: 107 tackles, 1 INTs.

Jamal is the only true New York Jets star on this list, the others were acquired talent. Adams is the fearless face of the franchise (outside of Sam Darnold) for this squad. He’s one of (if not) the best safety in the league, he needs more takeaways, but that’s nitpicking.

55. Le’Veon BellRB | JetsAge: 272018 rank: 7

The Jets expect to get the 2017 version of Bell: a dynamic runner and receiver who can take the pressure off Sam Darnold and create favorable matchups for other skill players. Bell will be a big factor in the passing game, lining up outside the backfield. But can the Jets’ pedestrian offensive line provide the running room he had in Pittsburgh? — Rich Cimini

Signature stat: According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Bell had a 14.1% stuff rate (carries for no gain or loss) during his past two seasons in Pittsburgh, best among RBs with 100 rush attempts in that span. Jets RBs were stuffed on 26.2% of their carries in 2018, worst in the league.

2019 projection: 1,654 scrimmage yards, 9 TDs.

Le’Veon was another player the team paid a lofty price for it was well worth it. The green and white desperately had to improve the talent around Sam Darnold and they did so in 2019. If Bell can be the player he was in year’s past, everyone on the offense will be better.

These three players will be the straws that stir the drink for the Jets in 2019. But it also highlights the key problem for the Jets: they need more talent.

If the squad didn’t acquire Mosley or Bell, they would’ve only had one player on this list. One of our writers provided five Jets that could crack the NFL Top 100 list in 2020, you can check that here.