3 NY Jets players who were vastly underutilized in 2023

The NY Jets entered the 2023 season with genuine Super Bowl aspirations following the offseason acquisition of Aaron Rodgers. Unfortunately, any hopes the Jets had of fulfilling those aspirations disappeared after Rodgers tore his Achilles just four plays into the season.

In reality, the Jets were likely never serious Super Bowl contenders, even with a healthy Rodgers. The Rodgers injury exposed numerous weaknesses on the Jets' roster and highlighted a slew of offseason missteps by general manager Joe Douglas.

From poor free-agent signings to an underwhelming 2023 draft class, Douglas likely had his worst offseason to date with the team last year. It's not all his fault, however. There are a few players on the roster who the coaching staff probably could've gotten more out of.

Let's take a look at three players on the Jets roster who were underutilized in 2023.

3. Bryce Huff, DE, NY Jets

The Jets never expected Bryce Huff to develop into the budding star pass rusher that he is today. That's why the team has been actively planning to replace him over the last couple of years.

While Huff was given a larger role in 2023, it should be noted that his uptick in playing time wasn't immediate. Huff played fewer than 40 percent of the Jets' defensive snaps in five of the first seven games of the season.

Despite the Jets giving Huff more reps, the former undrafted free agent still only played 42 percent of the team's defensive snaps in 2023. That's fewer snaps than Solomon Thomas.

Ultimately, the Jets don't seem to realize what they have in Bryce Huff. He's one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and a true three-down star defensive end. Another team will likely pay him as such this offseason.

2. Ashtyn Davis, S, NY Jets

Few players on the Jets roster were more improved in 2023 than Ashtyn Davis. The former third-round pick had been toiling away on special teams for the majority of the last few seasons, fighting to stay on the roster every summer.

Davis had been written off as another mid-round Jets draft bust. He was a core special-teamer, sure, but the hopes of him one day developing into a genuine defensive contributor seemed to be in the past.

But Davis proved that narrative wrong this past season. The Cal product maximized his snaps and took over as the full-time third safety by the midway point in the season. He essentially assumed the role the Jets envisioned for Adrian Amos.

Davis finished the season with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries despite only playing 19 percent of the Jets' defensive snaps. There's a strong argument to suggest he should've been given more playing time as well.

Jordan Whitehead struggled mightily in 2023, leading all NFL safeties in both missed tackles and touchdowns allowed. When Davis stepped in for Whitehead following his injury in Week 18, we saw a glimpse of what could've been.

Davis was the only safety in the NFL to receive a PFF coverage, run defense, and tackling grade of 75.0 or higher in Week 18. He allowed zero catches on three targets while playing a season-high 49 snaps. He also added a run stop, two pass breakups, an interception, and zero missed tackles.

It was arguably the best game played by a Jets safety all year. The Jets should've given Davis an opportunity to start earlier in the season, and they'd be wise to bring him back in 2024.

1. Will McDonald, DE, NY Jets

The Will McDonald pick was a head-scratcher for the Jets at the time, and it hasn't aged better in the months following it. McDonald played sparingly as a rookie, and while he flashed at points, he didn't do much to justify the selection.

The Jets passed on numerous other needs and a host of talented rookies who contributed this past season in favor of their fifth-string defensive end. McDonald is expected to take on a larger role in 2024, but it will likely come at the expense of Bryce Huff.

The Jets seem intent on letting Huff walk in free agency, with the plan that McDonald can replace his production. The only problem is we barely got to see what McDonald can do this past season.

McDonald played just 184 total defensive snaps all year — the fewest by a Jets rookie first-round pick since Vernon Gholston. He didn't play more than 30 percent of defensive snaps in a single game and was even a healthy scratch at one point.

That's bad roster management. Throw in the fact that McDonald was an old rookie (he's basically the same age as Huff and Jermaine Johnson), and you have a soon-to-be 25-year-old — who you invested a significant asset in — who remains a question mark.

There's a chance that McDonald can still become the player the Jets drafted him to be. He's clearly a very talented pass rusher, and head coach Robert Saleh has a strong track record of developing defensive talent.

Wouldn't it have been nice to know more about the guy before being forced to make a significant decision on Huff's future, though? McDonald should have played more in his rookie season.