Jets’ weakest position group is putting in some extra offseason work

The New York Jets have reasons to be concerned about their tight end room entering the summer. After all, it's arguably the team’s weakest and most unproven position group heading into 2025. But that hasn’t stopped the unit from putting in some extra offseason work.

Four members of the team’s tight end corps — Mason Taylor, Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smartt, and Zack Kuntz — are attending this year’s Tight End University summit, a three-day NFL offseason program founded by George Kittle, Travis Kelce, and Greg Olsen.

With a total of 75 tight ends from around the league expected to participate, the Jets will account for more than five percent of the total attendees.

That may not mean much when the pads come on at training camp next month, but it’s still a noteworthy show of investment from a group with a lot to prove. And if the Jets’ young tight ends are going to surprise people this season, it’ll start with efforts like this.

The Jets' tight ends are hoping to change the narrative in 2025

While Tight End University won’t determine what the Jets' depth chart looks like come September, it does offer a snapshot of how seriously the Jets’ tight ends are taking the offseason.

Taylor headlines the group heading to Nashville, and there’s good reason for that. The rookie second-round pick is viewed as the presumed starter heading into training camp, largely because he joined what was likely the weakest tight end room in the NFL this past April.

Ruckert remains the de facto incumbent, but his first three NFL seasons haven’t been a disappointment. The so-called blocking specialist coming out of Ohio State hasn’t proven reliable in that area, and he’s made minimal impact as a receiver, tallying just 35 catches for 264 yards in 41 career games.

Despite seeing a career-high 393 offensive snaps in 2024, his blocking and receiving abilities both remained inconsistent. The new coaching staff may give him a clean slate, but it’s hard to envision a significant leap from a player who hasn’t taken one yet.

Smartt, signed away from the Chargers this offseason, adds a different flavor to the group. A converted college quarterback and wide receiver, Smartt brings athleticism and receiving upside, but he’s unlikely to contribute much as an in-line blocker.

In many ways, his addition feels like a one-for-one flip with Tyler Conklin, who signed with Los Angeles after three mediocre seasons in New York. Smartt’s hybrid skill set may carve out a situational role, but he's unlikely to push Taylor for the "starting" job.

Then there’s Zack Kuntz, the 6-foot-7 athletic freak who has yet to do much of anything in his NFL career. A seventh-round pick in 2023, Kuntz spent all of last year on the practice squad.

He has the size and testing numbers to be a mismatch nightmare, but he hasn't really developed into an actual NFL player to this point. With a new staff in place, this summer may be his final shot to prove he belongs.

It’s only June, but if nothing else, the Jets’ tight ends are doing what they can to put in some extra work and maybe, just maybe, surprise a few people this year.

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