5 NY Jets players with the most to prove in 2023

The NY Jets have all of a sudden gone from a promising young team to a genuine Super Bowl contender in the AFC, and with a new quarterback in town, the expectations from the fans, front office, and the league are sky high.

Thankfully, the Jets believe they have the mix of youth and experience to make success a reality, and even with an incredibly tough schedule that features the likes of Buffalo, Kansas City, and Philadelphia, the confidence is where it needs to be.

If the team is to back up all the expectations, however, they'll be relying on some big-name veterans. With so much on the line, which players on this roster have the most to prove heading into one of the most important seasons in Jets history?

5. Jermaine Johnson, DE, NY Jets

The Jets seemingly drafted three stars in 2022 with Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner, and Breece Hall, and one name full of potential that always goes overlooked is Jermaine Johnson — someone the team traded back into the first round to draft.

The rookie played in 14 games and picked up 2.5 sacks in his limited snaps, but with the Jets drafting Will McDonald and re-signing Bryce Huff, if Johnson wants to increase that playing time, he will have plenty to prove from the moment training camp officially begins.

Still, there's a reason why New York moved back into the first round for their third pick in 2022. They believe in his speed and upside, so they'll be looking for him to take a big leap forward in terms of impact and production in 2023.