7 NY Jets whose stock is soaring after 2024 mandatory minicamp

OTAs have come and gone. Mandatory minicamp is in the books. The NY Jets have completed the spring portion of their offseason program — next stop: training camp.

Jets players will have over a month off before the team reconvenes for training camp in late July. The first official day of Jets training camp is scheduled for July 23, giving players plenty of time to rest up ahead of what promises to be an eventful 2024 season.

But before we get to training camp, it's important to take a look back at what already happened this spring. Which players improved their stock? Which players saw their stock plummet?

Let's take a look at seven of the biggest Jets standouts from spring practices now that mandatory minicamp is officially over.

7. Tyron Smith, LT, NY Jets

The Jets are understandably being cautious with Tyron Smith this season, keeping the future Hall of Fame left tackle on a limited practice plan to ensure he stays healthy throughout the course of the year.

That plan already took shape this spring, with Smith sitting out for a few practices during OTAs and minicamp. When he was out there, however, Smith looked every bit like one of the best left tackles in the NFL.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt insisted that Smith was "utterly dominant" this spring, noting that the 33-year-old was rarely beaten during individual or team drills.

Combine that with his obvious leadership and Smith is one of the most valuable and important players on the Jets' roster. There are no signs of rust or age affecting his performance — the Jets will do everything to keep him healthy this season.

6. Eric Watts, DL, NY Jets

Eric Watts should be the early favorite to be this year's undrafted training camp darling. The Jets gave Watts a hefty $250,000 in guarantees, more than any other undrafted player on the roster, with the belief that he could compete for a roster spot this summer.

Watts wasted little time making his presence felt, notching a pair of would-be sacks during the team's three open-media OTA sessions. He carried over that momentum into a strong showing at minicamp that saw him routinely find his way into the backfield.

Watts will have a real opportunity to earn a spot on the team this summer, as his 6-foot-5, 274-pound frame could make him an ideal replacement for John Franklin-Myers.

While much of the post-draft undrafted hype went to former Miami five-star recruit Leonard Taylor III, it's Watts who has the inside track to a roster spot right now. He could be the Jets' next undrafted gem.

5. Kenny Yeboah, TE, NY Jets

Speaking of former undrafted players, don't sleep on Kenny Yeboah this year. The former Ole Miss star was one of the more notable and underappreciated standouts of the spring for the Jets.

Yeboah received a lot of reps with the first-team offense, sometimes even working ahead of Jeremy Ruckert, and made his snaps count. The highlight of his spring came on a 60-yard touchdown from Aaron Rodgers during OTAs in which he burnt the first-team defense up the seam.

The Jets seem to like Yeboah as more of a one-to-one backup to starter Tyler Conklin, with Ruckert working more of a hybrid tight end/H-back role this spring. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues into the summer.

Not only does Yeboah feel like a lock for the 53-man roster, but he has a real chance to carve out a role in the offense this season. The Jets have to be pleased with the progress he's made.

4. Qwan'tez Stiggers, CB, NY Jets

The Jets didn't really know what to expect from fifth-round rookie Qwan'tez Stiggers this spring. After all, this is a player who ever played college football and two years ago was playing in the semi-pro Fan Controlled Football League. His highest level of competition to this point had been one year in the CFL.

How would Stiggers look when compared to other NFL talent in practice? The answer: pretty darn good.

Stiggers more than held his own working with both the second-team and first-team defenses at points this spring. He made a number of highlight plays including a pick-six during OTAs and another interception during Wednesday's minicamp practice.

It's unlikely Stiggers will play a huge role in his rookie season, but the rookie cornerback is making a push for the Jets' CB4 job. He could play his way into the Jets' future plans with a strong summer.

3. Garrett Wilson, WR, NY Jets

Garrett Wilson was probably the most impressive player at Jets OTAs. Yes, we already know that Wilson is a star, but it's become abundantly apparent to those within and outside the organization that he's a true superstar just waiting to break out.

Wilson was reportedly the "best player on the field" most days this spring, including a dominant final practice of minicamp on Wednesday. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year hauled in multiple deep passes on Wednesday, including one where he streaked past D.J. Reed.

Wilson has managed to haul in 178 catches for 2,145 yards and seven touchdowns over the first two seasons of his career despite being saddled with the worst quarterback play in the NFL.

If Wilson is able to enjoy even league-average quarterback play in 2024, he should be considered one of the favorites for Offensive Player of the Year. There is no ceiling to what this man is capable of — spring practices were just another reminder of that.

2. Braelon Allen, RB, NY Jets

Talk about hitting the ground running. Rookie running back Braelon Allen entered OTAs in a competition for the Jets' RB2 job with the likes of Israel Abanikanda and Isaiah Davis.

It's hard to win a position battle in the spring, but Allen did just about everything he could to ensure that happens. The rookie is the odds-on favorite to be the Jets' primary RB2 this season.

Allen ripped off multiple long runs, flashed his upside as an underneath pass-catching option, and even hauled in a deep 50/50 ball down the sideline from Tyrod Taylor during OTAs.

Breece Hall should be the focal point of the Jets' offense, but Allen is going to play a role in 2024. He's quickly made a strong first impression and is well on his way to earning a regular spot in the offense.

1. Xavier Gipson, WR, NY Jets

While rookie third-round pick Malachi Corley received much of the pre-OTAs hype, it was actually second-year wide receiver Xavier Gipson who emerged as the team's No. 2 wide receiver with Mike Williams still rehabbing a torn ACL.

Gipson was one of the stars of the spring, making more plays downfield than any Jets receiver not named Garrett Wilson, per The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt. He was a regular starter in the Jets' first-team offense during OTAs and minicamp.

The Jets have raved about Gipson's progress over the last year, and he seems to have the inside track to the starting slot receiver job. Corley will get on the field eventually, but right now it's Gipson's job to lose.

The former undrafted rookie will enter the summer as a penciled-in starter, and it's going to take a strong showing from Corley to wrestle the job away from him.