5 NY Jets players whose stock is on the rise this summer

The NY Jets are less than 24 hours away from their second preseason game of the 2023 season. Since the Jets played in the Hall of Fame Game, they are one of only two teams that will participate in four preseason games this summer.

That gives the team an extra opportunity to evaluate their roster. It also gives players fighting for roster spots or starting jobs more time to make their case.

The Jets have already seen a number of players on their roster make an impact this summer. Some of those players have improved their stock to the point that they're shooting up the depth chart.

Let's take a look at five Jets players who have seen their stock rise this summer.

5. Chazz Surratt, LB, NY Jets

A former third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, Chazz Surratt was signed to the Jets practice squad last September, which is where he'd spent the entirety of the 2022 season.

Fast-forward to this summer and Surratt is very much in the mix at linebacker. The former college quarterback has flashed in practice and was one of the standouts from the team's first preseason game last week.

Surratt is competing with the likes of Jamien Sherwood and Zaire Barnes for the weak-side linebacker job, and while he may not be able to earn a starting role, he's making a strong push for a roster spot.

The Jets might only carry four or five linebackers, but Surratt might just make the cut right now. The next step for him is getting healthy — he hasn't practiced since suffering an injury in the Jets' preseason opener.

4. Malik Taylor, WR, NY Jets

Undrafted rookie Jason Brownlee stole the show early this summer and seemed well on his way to solidifying himself as the Jets' WR6. Don't overlook someone like Malik Taylor, though.

Taylor has quietly put together a very impressive summer, and he was on the receiving end of Zach Wilson's 57-yard bomb in last Thursday's preseason game.

He's no stranger to Aaron Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett, either, having spent time with both in Green Bay. Taylor's speed and experience with Rodgers and Hackett could see him push for a roster spot.

There's no guarantee that the Jets carry six wide receivers, but if they do, Taylor might have a slight edge over Brownlee right now. He's helped his case a lot over the last few weeks.

3. Zonovan Knight, RB, NY Jets

Zonovan Knight entered the summer in competition with Michael Carter and, to a lesser extent, rookie Israel Abanikanda for the primary backup running back spot in New York.

Carter was the incumbent and likely favorite for the job, but Knight has done everything in his power to prove he deserves the role. The former undrafted rookie has been the best running back in camp for the Jets this summer.

Amidst rumors that the Jets could sign a veteran running back, Knight is looking to prove that he deserves to be Breece Hall's primary backup.

It's too early to say if he's done enough, but Knight has absolutely improved his stock. At the very least, he seems to have secured a roster spot even if the Jets sign a veteran running back. The same probably can't be said about Carter.

2. Jermaine Johnson, DE, NY Jets

The Jets traded up to select Jermaine Johnson in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the expectation that he would play an important role in their defense for years to come.

Johnson's rookie season was uneventful, but the former Florida State star did manage to impress in limited snaps. Going into his second season, the Jets clearly expect him to take on a larger role.

Johnson has been working with the first-team defense for most of the summer, notably ahead of Carl Lawson. Lawson has been dealing with a back injury and has missed the last few practices, but even when he was healthy, Johnson was getting more work with the starters.

The Jets will likely rotate all of their defensive ends, but Johnson is making a strong case to play more than the 34 percent of defensive snaps he played last season. Few players on the roster have been more impactful in training camp.

1. Tony Adams, S, NY Jets

The Jets added two veteran safeties this offseason in Chuck Clark and later Adrian Amos. Amos was seen as Clark's direct replacement following the veteran's season-ending ACL injury. That might not be the case, though.

Former undrafted free agent Tony Adams has received the bulk of the first-team snaps this summer. Adams is a favorite of the coaching staff who has consistently been making plays in practice.

It's no coincidence that the Jets opted not to play Adams in the team's first preseason game. He's penciled in as the team's starting free safety right now.

From roster longshot to presumed backup to likely starter, Adams' stock has skyrocketed over the last year. This summer, he's seemingly locked down a starting role.