5 NY Jets players who improved their stock at OTAs
By Justin Fried
4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, NY Jets
It's hard to say that Aaron Rodgers' stock actually improved this spring, seeing as though the future Hall of Famer didn't really have anything to prove. But as far as first impressions go, Rodgers has nailed it.
Despite not attending voluntary OTAs for years in Green Bay, Rodgers showed up for all 10 Jets OTA practices this spring. Even while he was sidelined nursing a calf injury, Rodgers opted to help coach on the sideline rather than sit at home and rehab his injury.
On the field, Rodgers has wasted little time establishing chemistry with new No. 1 wide receiver Garrett Wilson (more on him later). He's praised a number of the team's young wide receivers, said all the right things to the media, and looked the part in practice.
It's still early days in Rodgers' Jets career, but even the most optimistic of Jets fans have to be at least a little pleasantly surprised by just how well things have gone to this point.
3. Jason Brownlee, WR, NY Jets
Jerome Kapp isn't the only undrafted wide receiver making a name for himself. Former Southern Miss standout Jason Brownlee popped up a few times this spring and also earned a shoutout from Aaron Rodgers himself.
Brownlee hauled in perhaps the catch of the spring on Friday, snagging a one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone. The rookie wideout had his left arm pinned down by Jets cornerback Javelin Guidry, but he was still able to adjust mid-air to secure the Zach Wilson-thrown touchdown.
Brownlee very much fits a similar mold to that of fellow Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims. At 6-foot-3, 202 pounds, Brownlee was the leading receiver at Southern Miss for three consecutive seasons and one of the most high-profile undrafted signings the Jets made.
In fact, the Jets actually handed him the fourth-most guaranteed money of any undrafted player this year. The Jets clearly have high hopes for Brownlee, and his spring performance certainly helped boost his stock entering the summer.