5 underrated NY Jets players who could make a massive impact next season

The NY Jets have managed to put together a roster that seems primed to contend for a Super Bowl in 2024 if all goes according to plan. The team went into the offseason with a number of roster holes to fill, and to this point, it's hard to fault the work of general manager Joe Douglas.

Douglas has supplemented a young core of budding stars with a host of veteran additions this offseason, creating a well-rounded roster with few notable weak spots.

The Jets legitimately have one of the more talented rosters in the NFL, at least on paper. On such a loaded roster, there are bound to be players who get overlooked. Those are the players we'll be taking a look at here.

The following five players may be flying a little under the radar right now, but all of them have the potential to play a key role for the Jets in 2024.

5. Tyrod Taylor, QB, NY Jets

The Jets have consistently undervalued the backup quarterback in recent years, and in 2023, it finally came back to bite them. Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles four plays into the season, forcing the Jets to lean on Zach Wilson and a host of other less-than-stellar QB options.

The Jets sought to correct their prior wrongs this offseason, signing veteran backup Tyrod Taylor to a sizable contract in free agency. Taylor will serve as Rodgers' primary backup, giving the Jets a capable quarterback insurance policy for the first time in years.

The hope is that Rodgers can stay healthy throughout 2024, but it can't be ignored that he's a 40-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles. It should also be noted that only nine quarterbacks in the entire NFL started all 17 games last season.

Quarterback injuries are at an all-time high, and if Rodgers is forced to miss time at any point next season, the Jets will be thankful they paid top dollar to secure one of the better backup QBs in the league.

4. John Simpson, LG, NY Jets

The Jets added three new starting offensive linemen to their roster this offseason. The team re-acquired veteran right tackle Morgan Moses in a brilliant trade with the Baltimore Ravens. The Jets also signed All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith in free agency.

Smith and Moses are the highlight additions, but fans shouldn't be quick to overlook the team's other new offensive lineman, John Simpson.

Simpson revitalized his career in Baltimore last season, starting all 17 games at left guard following a disastrous stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. The former fourth-round pick flashed the potential to be a plus-starter last season, and he could get there if he cleans up his penalty issues.

The arrow is firmly pointed up on Simpson's career trajectory. He might surprise some people this season.

3. Allen Lazard, WR, NY Jets

It's hard to imagine Allen Lazard's first season with the Jets going any worse than it did. The former Green Bay Packers wide receiver struggled in every aspect of the game, fell out of favor with the coaching staff, and found himself a healthy scratch on multiple occasions.

Lazard was never worth the four-year, $44 million contract the Jets handed him last offseason, but it's not crazy to say he's better than what he showed in his first season with the organization.

At his best, Lazard was a big-play red-zone threat in Green Bay. He's always struggled with inconsistencies, but in the past, Lazard would pair his aggravating drops with highlight-reel grabs.

Lazard is going to have to work overtime to regain the trust of the coaching staff, but with Aaron Rodgers returning, this feels like a situation that's destined for positive regression. He should be better in 2024.

2. Chuck Clark, S, NY Jets

One of the savviest moves of the Jets' entire 2023 offseason was the Chuck Clark trade. The same is true about the 2024 offseason for the team's decision to re-sign him earlier this month.

Clark, who had never missed a game due to injury in his entire Jets career, suffered a torn ACL during OTAs, sidelining him for the entire 2023 season. The Jets' safety room struggled at points last year, and it's fair to suggest that they missed Clark.

The former Baltimore Ravens defensive captain is one of the best tackling safeties in the NFL, an area that should hopefully improve following the departure of Jordan Whitehead.

Clark raises the floor of the Jets' safety room significantly and should play an important role in the team's defense in 2024. The fact that the Jets have him under contract this season for less than $2 million is the cherry on top.

1. Tyler Conklin, TE, NY Jets

Tyler Conklin is one of the most underrated players on the Jets' roster. In what was a disastrous offensive season for the Jets, Conklin quietly put together the best year of his career.

The Central Michigan product finished with 61 catches for 621 yards — both of which were career highs. His 71.0 catch rating was the fourth-highest among all tight ends in the NFL, per ESPN Analytics.

Conklin's 1.6 percent drop rate was the second-lowest of any tight end with at least 50 targets last season. He also hauled in nearly 67 percent of his contested catch attempts, the third-highest among all qualified tight ends.

Conklin has quietly developed into an excellent supplementary option in the Jets' passing game. He could be primed for a breakout season with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback in 2024.