Re-grading NY Jets' 2023 NFL Draft class after one year
By Justin Fried
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Jarrick Bernard-Converse, DB, NY Jets - Round 6, Pick 204
Jerrick Bernard-Converse is another rookie who was plagued by the injury bug in 2023. The LSU product missed the first half of his rookie season after injuring his foot in the summer.
He returned to appear in eight games for the Jets, becoming a fixture on special teams. Bernard-Converse finished the year with two total tackles, also playing four snaps on defense.
There's a chance Bernard-Converse could play a larger role in 2024, as he's currently the third safety on the Jets' depth chart, but it's hard to take anything away from his nondescript rookie season.
At the very least, he did develop into a regular special-teams contributor, so that gives him a slight nod over someone like Barnes. I wouldn't be surprised if Bernard-Converse's arrow is pointing up after the 2024 season. The Jets are high on his versatility.
Grade: C
Zack Kuntz, TE, NY Jets - Round 7, Pick 220
Jets fans were understandably excited when their favorite team drafted a player who was quite literally the most athletic tight end in NFL history. Zack Kuntz set a new RAS record with a perfect 10.0/10.0 score, ranking him No. 1 among all 1,104 tight-end prospects since 1987 in overall athleticism.
Still, it was abundantly clear he was a project from day one, which is why it wasn't a huge surprise when he was released as part of final roster cuts. Kuntz spent most of the season on the Jets' practice squad, appearing in just one game.
That game happened to be the Jets' regular-season finale, where Kuntz played two offensive snaps and four special-teams snaps. He did not record any stats.
Kuntz enters the 2024 season fighting for a roster spot behind the likes of Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, and Kenny Yeboah. His path to the 53-man roster might have to come on special teams.
Grade: N/A
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