New York Jets 2019: Ranking the 53-man roster — #38 Harvey Langi

The New York Jets season is over so it’s time to evaluate the 53-man roster. Let’s continue this daily ranking with #38, linebacker Harvey Langi.

Harvey Langi is a New York Jets baller worth rooting for.

The New England Patriots totally fell in love with versatile BYU linebacker and bestowed on the 2017 UDFA a fat $100,000 bonus. He began his rookie season on New England’s roster as a backup linebacker before a horrific October 2018 car wreck with a drunk driver, in which he and his wife Cassidy got extracted by the “jaws of life.”

The Pats cut the 27-year-old born Havea Hikuleo Langi during 2018 final cuts and got snapped up by old Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan.

This preseason, the 6-foot-2, 250 pounds linebacker came out strong, catching the eye of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and running first-team reps. Then he suffered a knee injury that he’s yet to fully overcome — thus accounting for his pedestrian 58.9 PFF rating.

Langi has had his New York Jets moments.

Last month against the Redskins, the special teams ace nearly tore off the leg of Washington punter Tress Way. But since that ‘Skins game, Langi has seen his snap counts evaporate — only on the field for punts and kickoffs — and he was a healthy scratch in the Baltimore blowout loss. He’s been so non-impactful that in the Jets’ six wins, “44” has played just 2% of those total defensive snaps, including healthy scratches for two or the final three games

This season, the Jets have two high-motor Polynesian UDFA edge-rushers — Langi from Tonga and Frankie Luvu from Samoa. Neither has seized their moment in green-and-white, and both could be on the outside looking in for 2020.

#53 Trumaine Johnson    #52 Ryan Kalil     #51 Kelechi Osemele     #50 Quinnen Williams    #49 Chuma Edoga    #48 Frankie Luvu      #47 Sam Ficken     #46 Nate Hairston     #45 Brandon Shell     #44  Jordan Willis    #43 Vyncint Smith    #42 Kyron Brown    #41 Bilal Powell   #40 Maurice Canady     #39 Darryl Roberts