4 NY Jets players who can surge up the depth chart in training camp

4. Ashtyn Davis, S, NY Jets

A third-round pick in 2020, many thought Ashtyn Davis would be the heir apparent at safety. Star safety Jamal Adams was seemingly on his way out at a contract impasse with the team eventually being traded on July 25, 2020. His running mate, Marcus Maye, was also in the last year of his rookie deal, though he stuck around until 2021.

The uber-athletic Davis was thought to be a replacement for Maye, manning the free safety position with the speed necessary to play centerfield in the modern NFL. As a rookie, Davis got his opportunities, playing in 10 games with six starts but was ultimately inconsistent.

In 2021, Davis again was given the chance to prove his worth as a starter. He struggled however often making the wrong reads in coverage and taking poor angles to ball carriers, negating his speed and athleticism and letting up big plays in the process.

By 2022, Davis was primarily a special teamer playing just 13 defensive snaps all season. The writing appeared to be on the wall for the former University of California product. However, the narrative changed in 2023.

Last season, the Jets made an adjustment to play more big-nickel with a safety replacing a linebacker on the field. Davis often was that pseudo-linebacker, a role change from the rangy ballhawk on the back end that he was originally projected to be.

Still mostly a reserve, Davis thrived in this role. He played only 19% of defensive snaps but was seemingly always there for a big play. Davis tallied three interceptions while also recovering three fumbles on the year.

The presumptive starters at safety are former UDFA Tony Adams and veteran Chuck Clark, the former had an up-and-down 2023 campaign and the latter is returning from an ACL tear that cost him the entire 2023 season.

That means the door is open for Davis to snatch a starting spot and realize the promise that made him a relatively high draft pick in 2020. Moving full-time to strong safety with ample opportunities to play in the box might be the best play and could allow him to shoot up the depth chart and claim a starting spot with a strong training camp.

From the next generation of foundational pieces to underdogs you can't help rooting for and finally to a potential redemption story, the above four players are ones to watch as training camp heats up this summer.

Any or all of them could rocket up the depth chart and claim starting spots or key roles in 2024 and beyond.