5 biggest winners (and 2 losers) from NY Jets 2024 OTAs

Loser: Israel Abanikanda, RB, NY Jets

No player on the Jets' roster has seen their stock plummet more over the last couple of months than Israel Abanikanda. The second-year running back was seen as the Jets' de facto RB2 behind Breece Hall just two months ago. Now, he might find himself on the outside of the roster bubble looking in.

Not only did the Jets add two running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft, but both of said rookie running backs are already ahead of Abanikanda on the depth chart if spring practice rotations are to be trusted. It's not just Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, either.

Even Tarik Cohen, a player who was signed roughly a week ago and who hasn't played in the NFL in nearly four years, received more run with the first-team offense than Abanikanda. That's about as strong of an indictment as you're going to get in OTAs.

There's still time for Abanikanda to turn things around, but all indications are that he's fighting an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster. The spring was not kind to the former Pittsburgh standout.

Loser: Allen Lazard, WR, NY Jets

Allen Lazard's first season with the Jets was an unmitigated disaster. The Jets signed Lazard to serve as their WR2 going into the 2023 season, but the former Green Bay Packers wideout struggled mightily and found himself benched on multiple occasions.

The hope has been that Lazard might be able to rebound in his second season in New York, especially with Aaron Rodgers returning. Those hopes took a hit following Lazard's lackluster spring.

Lazard once again struggled with drops, including a pair of miscues on throws from Rodgers in a disaster day a couple of weeks ago. The former UDFA did little to change the narrative during OTAs.

The Jets are stuck with Lazard on their roster for one more season, but he's headed toward another year of weekly inactives unless he manages to show some life this summer.