New York Jets 2019: Ranking the 53-man roster — No. 8 Jordan Jenkins
By Steven Blush
Another New York Jets season is in the books which means it’s time to evaluate this 53-man roster. This daily ranking continues with No. 8, Jordan Jenkins.
Jordan Jenkins came to the New York Jets from Mike Maccagnan’s disastrous 2016 NFL Draft, selected after Darron Lee and Christian Hackenberg. The ex GM’s third-round pick (83rd overall), a 6-foot-3, 260-pound Georgia Bulldog weak-side linebacker, started for Gang Green’s as a rookie from Week 1.
After a middling NFL career introduction, Jenkins has amassed consecutive career-best seasons. Jenkins said of his 2019 campaign:
“This year was a stress-free mindset for me. I really changed the way I went about approaching this season and playing this season. I really kept a level head and controlled what I could control. I didn’t get on Twitter or anything like that. I really focused on football and being with the guys.”
Jordan’s future in green-and-white remains a question mark.
Sure, he’s a tough old-school baller, a strong locker room presence, and a credible media spokesman, and a stand-up guy. And he maximizes his opportunities by making big plays.
JJ’s solid 66.9 PFF ranking of 2019 relates to his team-leading eight sacks, to go along with 21 combined tackles, and two forced fumbles — and fails to take into account his playing hurt with a nagging calf strain.
Bart Scott savaged Jenkins and his “lay-up production” but it’s difficult to decipher whether Scott is being brutally honest — or just a tad jealous over not still playing that same position on any given Sunday.
Forbes seconded Scott’s opinion, stating his stats “are a product of good fortune as opposed to a package of pass-rushing athleticism and savvy that deserves big money on the open market…The pattern is obvious—Jenkins simply isn’t good enough to beat starting-caliber NFL offensive linemen on enough of a consistent basis to command a lucrative free-agent deal, and it would be foolish for Douglas to give him one..”
Most importantly, the fact New York Jets defensive guru Gregg Williams played the three-year starter less than 65% of the defensive snaps in 12 of his 14 games, speaks volumes. Williams must recognize his “Will” backer’s inability to seal the edge, which makes Jenkins a liability in certain packages.
Jenkins will be looking for big money — which he may or may not receive from another sack-starved franchise. But if the price is right, his return — in situational rotation — makes perfect sense for the New York Jets moving forward.