NY Jets: John Franklin-Myers off to a hot start in 2021

The NY Jets defense has somewhat surprisingly impressed so far in 2021, and while much of the attention has gone to the team's overachieving cornerbacks, one player who should not be overlooked is John Franklin-Myers.

Franklin-Myers has gotten off to a blazing hot start in 2021 recording a sack in each of his first two contests. His 81.4 Pro Football Focus grade is the highest among any player on the Jets roster, and with good reason too.

Only three players have managed to record two or more sacks, two or more tackles for loss, and a forced fumble through the first two weeks of the season.

Those three players are Chandler Jones, Nick Bosa, and John Franklin-Myers.

John Franklin-Myers has been one of the NY Jets best players through two weeks

Franklin-Myers was arguably the Jets' biggest breakout player from a year ago. Despite an abysmal year from the franchise, Franklin-Myers was one of the lone bright spots for the Jets in 2020.

The former fourth-round pick finished with a PFF grade of 71.5 that ranked 35th out of 126 qualified interior defensive linemen. His 13 QB hits were tied for second on the team behind Quinnen Williams and he added three sacks to his stat line as well.

Franklin-Myers was a rock-solid player in 2020, and considering that he was little more than a waiver-wire gamble the prior year, no one expected that type of performance.

It's easy to forget, but Franklin-Myers was at best a bubble player going into the summer of 2020. Now, he finds himself as one of the Jets' best players with a sizable payday likely in his future.

It also helps his case that he's playing significantly more on the edge this year after playing exclusively on the interior in the Jets' 3-4 scheme in 2020.

The Jets' new defensive scheme has allowed Franklin-Myers to play more of a hybrid edge defender/interior role and he hasn't disappointed.

Through two weeks, no Jets defensive lineman has been on the field more than Franklin-Myers who's played over 70 percent of the team's defensive snaps. That's an incredibly high number for any defensive lineman.

It's just further evidence of just how much the Jets value him. The coaching staff knows he's one of their best players right now, and he's proving that every Sunday.

If Franklin-Myers continues to produce at this rate, he should cash in on a new contract in the near future. Hopefully it's from the Jets.