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Which under the radar players have been making an impression at minicamp?
For obvious reasons, much of the attention at the Jets' mandatory minicamp has been centered around players like Le'Veon Bell, Sam Darnold and Jamal Adams. These, after all, are the players whose performance in 2019 will be most influential in shaping the Jets' destiny.
However, with head coach Adam Gase confirming 100 percent attendance and only a few players sidelined due to injury, there are plenty of other players who are competing for roles. Let's consider some of the less high-profile names who have made an impression.
WR Deontay Burnett
The top three wide receiver spots seem secure with Quincy Enunwa extended at the end of last year, Robby Anderson signed to a one-year RFA tender and Jamison Crowder added in free agency. However, roles and roster spots behind those three are wide open.
Burnett, who caught four passes for 61 yards in Chicago and five for 73 in the season finale in New England, got his minicamp off to a strong start with a couple of touchdowns while working with the second unit on Tuesday. Burnett has a chance to establish himself as the number four receiver, with Josh Bellamy, Deonte Thompson and a few inexperienced youngsters being his main competition.
S Rontez Miles
Every offseason seems to begin with Miles battling to retain his spot, but the Jets' longest-tenured defensive player seems like a good bet to be on the team for a seventh season. He boosted his case by intercepting a Darnold pass off a deflection in Tuesday's practice.
Miles is currently working with the first team defense, as the team brings Marcus Maye back slowly from offseason shoulder surgery. Doug Middleton, the other main candidate to be the number three safety, has been working with the second unit.
CB Derrick Jones
Jones may have fallen behind in the race for roster spots at the cornerback position after missing some practice time last week as he had a wrap on his leg. With a starting role potentially up for grabs, he'll hope to get himself back in contention as soon as possible.
He made some progress on that front with some good plays on Wednesday, including pass break-ups on successive throws towards the end of practice. Jones showed promise in extended action in last year's season finale, so it is vital he remains healthy to make the most of whatever opportunities come his way.
S Jeremy Clark
Clark, who - like Jones - was selected in the sixth round of the 2017 draft, now seems to be permanently playing the safety position. However, he's currently competing with Brandon Bryant for a spot on the second unit.
Clark reportedly had a good practice on Wednesday, boosting his profile with an interception of a Trevor Siemian pass.
TE Daniel Brown
With Jordan Leggett having been recently released and Neal Sterling sidelined during the first couple of days at minicamp due to injury, that creates an opportunity for a player like Brown. He made the most of this, as he made several catches in an impressive performance on Tuesday, according to Dan Leberfeld of Jets Confidential.
Brown, a converted wide receiver, played for offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains in Chicago, so the coaching staff has some idea of his capabilities.
CB Kyron Brown
Brown, an undrafted rookie, is another player in with a chance of earning a role. He's been getting reps along with the more experienced Arthur Maulet on the second unit and may earn himself further opportunities in the team's wide-open cornerback race.
Brown was another player who picked off Siemian in Tuesday's practice. As we wrote earlier this offseason, the rookie is one of the undrafted players with a realistic shot at making an impact in 2019.
Conclusions
The bad news for any of the youngsters who've shown up so far is that this often happens at this stage of the offseason, only to then not materialize into any greater opportunities for the player once the pads go on at training camp. Veteran players often go through the motions at this stage and may not be fully in shape until a week or so into camp, giving the youngsters, many of whom are in the shape of their lives, a temporary advantage.
Nevertheless, with a new coaching staff in place on both sides of the ball, this is still a great time to make a strong early impression. Perhaps one or two of these players will enter training camp in a higher position on the depth chart than they otherwise would have and can then carry this momentum into the opening days of training camp at the end of next month.