NY Jets: Can Bryce Hall take the next step in 2021?

The NY Jets drafted second-year cornerback Bryce Hall in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Hall, now 23-years-old, battled injury at the collegiate level, causing his draft stock to plummet his selection towards the middle-half of Round 5.

This past season, Hall recorded 36 tackles, three pass defenses, and one interception through eight games played.

The Jets seem to be putting all of their chips in on Hall's expected improvement in 2021, as the team has yet to sign a veteran to add to an inexperienced cornerback group.

The cornerback room consists of Blessuan Austin, Bryce Hall, Javelin Guidry, Justin Hardee, Michael Carter II, Corey Ballentine, Lamar Jackson, Jason Pinnock, Brandin Echols, Zane Lewis, and Elijah Campbell.

Plenty of inexperience to go around, though, the team is betting on this group showing true signs of growth through the summer months leading up to September.

The NY Jets are expecting big things from Bryce Hall in 2021

Bryce Hall played under former Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for the majority of his rookie season. Williams was tasked with developing Hall into an eventual starting-caliber player.

It wasn't long before Hall was awarded valuable reps starting seven games down the stretch in his rookie campaign.

When the Jets hired head coach Robert Saleh back in January, general manager Joe Douglas envisioned a true leader and developer that would be able to take his team to the next level. That includes, but is certainly not limited to, player development.

Saleh is a true defensive assistant at heart, he knows what it takes to become a successful starting outside cornerback. The Jets believe they have that in Hall — it's up to Saleh and his staff to coach Hall up enough to reach his full potential.

While the Jets are hoping Bryce Hall and the rest of New York's secondary can help carry the load on defense, adding an experienced veteran to a young cornerback corps may be the way to go for Gang Green.

Don't expect the team to look in that direction quite yet, though, as head coach Robert Saleh has made it clear the Jets are aiming to give the majority of reps to their current group throughout the remaining portions of OTAs and early parts of training camp.