Gang Green Nation
There is a lot you can say about the Jets’ ugly Week 5 performance against the Dallas Cowboys. Little of it will be good.
One thing that seems noteworthy to me is the extent to which the Jets are leaning into a youth movement.
Let’s take a look at their rookie class. The following players participated in at least one-third of the snaps in Sunday’s loss.
Offense
Armand Membou 82 snaps; 100%
Mason Taylor 69 snaps; 84%
Arian Smith 46 snaps; 56%
Defense
Francisco Mauigoa 50 snaps; 83%
Tyler Baron 25 snaps; 42%
Malachi Moore 23 snaps; 38%
Now let’s take a look at second year players.
Offense
Olu Fashanu 75 snaps; 91%
Isaiah Davis 33 snaps; 40%
Defense
Braiden McGregor 28 snaps; 47%
Jowon Briggs 25 snaps; 42%
That gives the Jets 10 players seeing significant snap totals who are either rookies or second year players. Of course some of this is due to injuries. If Jermaine Johnson and Quincy Williams were healthy, the snap totals for Baron and Mauigoa would likely be lower.
Still, this shows that the Jets really are leaning into youth in 2025. I know it’s not quite apples to apples to compare one game to an entire season, but in 2024, Olu Fashanu was the only rookie to see at least one-third of the snaps, and Will McDonald and Joe Tippmann were the only second year players.
It’s not exactly a secret that the Jets became an older, veteran oriented team in the Aaron Rodgers years. Now in a reset, young guys are getting opportunities to play.
I want to make sure I convey nuance here. I don’t think playing young players extensively absolves the Jets of all the errors we see on the field. They aren’t only being committed by these rookies and second year guys. I also don’t think it gives the coaching staff a free pass.
I do, however, think we might underestimate a tad the role youth and inexperience are playing in the seemingly undisciplined play we are watching with the Jets. There are a lot of young players out there who are still figuring out how to play in the NFL. On a better team, they wouldn’t be on the field. They would be learning in practice. The Jets have so little depth that these guys are forced into action.
If we are being honest, a lot of the young players seeing action for the Jets this year won’t make it in the NFL. The Jets have six rookies in their regular rotations. This isn’t like 2022 where they had a bunch of extra early picks. Most of them are low level prospects. The hope from the coaching staff is a few of these guys might grow from these game reps. Maybe the team finds a contributor or two from its collection of late round picks. Maybe somebody even surprises them by taking this opportunity and showing starting potential.
That’s the hope at least. Whether it actually plays...
