5 NY Jets players who can step into a bigger role in 2024

Heading into a highly anticipated 2024 NY Jets season, there are multiple players who could see an increased role. Every successful team has wild card pieces that improve from one year to the next.

Some you see coming, and some you don't. Some turn into superstars before your eyes, and some simply make an impact that you didn't think they would.

It's imperative for the Jets to have some of these performances. Coming off a 7-10 season, last year's production alone won't cut it. There will need to be some leaps taken from 2023 to 2024, as there is for every team that wins.

For the Jets to get where they want to go, they will need some of those breakout performances. Let’s take a look at five players, in no particular order, who could take a significant leap this year.

1. Israel Abanikanda, RB, NY Jets

This may come as a surprise being that many have questioned Israel Abanikanda’s future in New York. But depending on how things play out, Gang Green may need him to take on at least some of the collective rushing load.

We’ve obviously seen Breece Hall get hurt before, and we truly have no idea what rookies Braelon Allen or Isaiah Davis will bring. Whether Abanikanda has to increase his carries due to an injury, or just because it turns out he is the best option at RB2, it is possible that he will need to step up his game this season. 

The Jets were high on him coming out of the draft, and it's hard to judge a season in which he only appeared in six games. We have to remember that this is still a 21-year-old kid. And it appears internally that the Jets still have some confidence in his potential.

Coming off of injuries and only 22 carries for 70 yards last year, there is nowhere to go but up. I'm not saying it's a guarantee that he will play a big part in this season's hopeful success, but don't be surprised if he is getting meaningful snaps and making somewhat of an impact.

2. Xavier Gipson, WR, NY Jets

The one and two wide receiver spots are certainly already spoken for, but the No. 2 spot may be on shaky ground, as it is occupied by a habitually injured veteran in Mike Williams. His fragility leads to the logical conclusion that he won’t play 17 games this season.

If this turns out to be the case, someone will need to step into that spot, and Xavier Gipson could be that guy. With Allen Lazard under-impressing last year, Gipson has all the opportunity in the world to surpass him on the depth chart.

The Jets' receiving corps is solid, but it isn't exactly murderer's row. The only other real competition on the horizon is rookie Malachi Corley. But once again, you never know exactly what you'll get from a rookie.

If Gipson doesn't have a breakout year, it will have to be the next guy on our list. 

3. Allen Lazard, WR, NY Jets

I’m not saying that last season was a fluke and that Allen Lazard will easily return to his successful ways in 2024, but similar to the logic with Xavier Gipson, one of these two will likely have to take on a bigger role.

A world does exist where these two do not have to bear any increased workload. Between Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Tyler Conklin, and (hopefully) Mike Williams, there may be no need for Aaron Rodgers to look their way all that much.

However, I find it hard to believe that will be the case. As I said previously, we are bound to see some games without Mike Williams. In that case, someone will have to slide in, and even if Williams does stay healthy, two strong receivers do not make up a full receiving corps. At least not a good one.

Unless rookie Malachi Corley is a revelation, or Jason Brownlee suddenly turns into Randy Moss overnight, the Jets will need Gipson or Lazard to improve from last year's campaign. We all know how much Rodgers likes Lazard, so he will definitely have his opportunities.

4. Ashtyn Davis, S, NY Jets

Based on Chuck Clark’s season-ending injury last June, it is safe to say that his health is, at the very least, questionable.

The hope is that he will be able to hold down the strong safety position all season. He is a talented player, who had an iron-man-like reputation prior to his injury, but an ACL tear is no joke, and even if he does stay on the field, Ashtyn Davis will likely have to take some of the snaps while Clark gets back into playing shape.

When the Jets drafted Davis in the third round in 2020, fans thought he could make a significant impact in the secondary. A hard-hitting menace at California, his NFL future seemed promising. But so far in his career, he has started only a handful of the 54 games he has appeared in.

Davis has battled injury and overall has had a mediocre impact at best. The talent still seems to be there, he just has to stay on the field.

While Davis probably hasn’t lived up to Jets fans’ hopes so far in his career, this season is his chance to make amends and become an important cog on a Super Bowl-contending team.

5. Will McDonald, DE, NY Jets

With no more Bryce Huff or John Franklin-Myers, the Jets could use a big year from Will McDonald. The former Iowa State standout should see significantly more snaps and has a great opportunity to prove why he was a first-round pick.

We all know that Robert Saleh can never have enough defensive linemen, so McDonald will have every chance to break out this season.

If the Jets' defense is going to live up to the hype, they will need to fill the holes left by Huff and Franklin-Myers. This makes McDonald's role absolutely crucial.

It's not hyperbole to say that he can be the difference between a really good defense and a great defense — and to win a Super Bowl, they will need a great defense.