Bent, theJetsBlog.com Follow on Twitter

Last week, the Jets announced they had signed 16 undrafted rookies to their roster. Those 16 attended the rookie orientation over the weekend, along with the six draft picks, and will take the field for organized team activities next week.

NFL teams can usually count on getting some level of contributions from their undrafted free agents, and sometimes you can find a real diamond in the rough. For example, Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay went to the Pro Bowl last year and JC Jackson played a big role for the Super Bowl champion Patriots, starting five games.

The Jets weren't quite so lucky, but Frankie Luvu proved to be a promising find. The 22-year old edge defender played in 14 games, starting one, and recorded 22 tackles and three sacks in a rotational role. The Jets will be hoping he'll make further strides this year.

Having reviewed the 16 undrafted free agents signed this year, here are the six players we feel have the best chance of making an impact.

Wake Forest WR/PR Greg Dortch

Dortch has a good chance of playing a key role as a return specialist this year if he can make the team. With Andre Roberts gone, the alternatives are all young players without much NFL experience. Recent addition Quadree Henderson is probably his main competition. Dortch ran back two punts for touchdowns last year, but can also return kickoffs.

In addition to his return abilities, Dortch was also a productive slot receiver as he had a 1,000-yard season last year, catching 89 passes. He is extremely small though, as he is listed at 5-foot-7 and 173 pounds.

Appalachian State RB Jalin Moore

Moore faces an uphill climb to earn a roster spot with the Jets, but according to NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, he could have more potential than the rest of this year's undrafted signings. Jeremiah recently named Moore to his Undrafted All-Star Team. Dane Brugler from The Athletic was also a fan, as Moore was his 10th ranked running back before the draft.

Moore is working his way back after his 2018 season was cut short by a dislocated ankle. Prior to that, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in two straight seasons, including over 1,400 in his sophomore year.

Akron CB Kyron Brown

The cornerback position seems to be one where there could be some spots available and, based on his college film, Brown could potentially elevate himself into that mix if he impresses early.

Brown is a competitive corner with good size, length and physicality. He also posted excellent numbers at his pro day, including a 39-inch vertical leap. Brown broke up 19 passes over the last three years and intercepted six more.

Tennessee DE Kyle Phillips

Edge defender is another position where there will be competition to lock down a role. Phillips probably has a better chance of earning a spot than the other undrafted edge defender the Jets signed - Justin Alexandre from Incarnate Word - but the small school prospect Alexandre is more of an unknown quantity.

Phillips only had seven sacks in his college career, although he registered a career-high four in his final season. On film, he has flashes of athletic ability that show tantalizing potential. He's sure to have caught the Jets' attention at his pro day, where he ran an impressive 4.65 at almost 280 pounds.

Boston College WR Jeff Smith

As Robby Anderson has shown, an undrafted player with speed has a real chance to turn heads. Smith ran a blistering 4.34 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day and had excellent workout numbers across the board. While his college production was modest - with just under 2,000 yards from scrimmage - he showed his playmaking ability by contributing 24 touchdowns.

Anderson would go on to establish himself as a starter, so perhaps Smith could carve out a role for himself on offense or special teams.

Having started off his career as a quarterback, Smith remained as the team's holder on the placekicking unit throughout his career. He could be the kind of player that sees the field in special packages and on gadget plays.

NC State OL Tyler Jones

Jones is another player with fans in the scouting community, as he made it onto the 2019 All-Undrafted Team for Draft Network's Kyle Crabbs. Pro Football Focus also shared a statistic that revealed Jones allowed the eighth-lowest pressure percentage in this year's class.

Jones played both tackle and guard at NC State, but also recently said on social media he can play center. While challenging for the starting center role as a rookie is unlikely, a player with that kind of versatility has a good chance of sticking around.

Popular in the Community