Position: Running back

Frontrunner: Israel Abanikanda

Competing: Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight

It will be fascinating to see what kind of player Breece Hall is once he’s medically cleared and back on the field. It’s normal for players to play a year after an ACL tear. They’re just not usually the same player for an additional 12 months (unless you’re Adrian Peterson).

So while the Jets will feature Hall, those behind him will have a role for this reason, too. Carter is a fan favorite and a leader in the locker room, but his on-field production last year left much to be desired. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. That’s among the reasons the Jets drafted Abanikanda, another home-run hitter, in the fifth round.

Carter, Abanikanda and Knight, who flashed last season, will all compete for playing time. It shouldn’t be long before Abanikanda separates himself from the group. The Jets love home-run hitters. Abanikanda averaged 6.0 yards per carry and rushed for 20 touchdowns last season at Pitt.

Position: Safety

Frontrunner: Adrian Amos

Competing: Ashtyn Davis, Jarrick Bernard-Converse

The Jets (justifiably) let Lamarcus Joyner walk in free agency. They traded for Chuck Clark (Ravens), only to have him suffer a season-ending injury during voluntary workouts. That led to the signing of Amos, who, at the moment, is expected to start opposite Jordan Whitehead.

An interesting name to watch in this group is Bernard-Converse, a sixth-round pick out of LSU. He played cornerback in college, but the Jets see him as more of a safety (think about the conversion they were making with Jason Pinnock). The Jets have the luxury of going with some youth at safety because of how good Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed are, so the job very well could be Bernard-Converse’s if he impresses during the offseason and training camp.

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