If we're being honest, this is a roster that has some holes on it, but that could make the Jets a land of opportunity at positions like tight end, wide receiver, and the defensive line. That's if unheralded players are able to step up. We're talking Jets players who could surprise us in 2025 today on Locked On Jets.

You are Locked on Jets, your daily New York Jets podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network,

your team every day. Welcome, this is the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.

Welcome, this is the Locked-on Jets podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team

every day. It is Thursday, May 8th, 2025, and I'm your host, John B from gangreneanation.com.

Thank you so much for making the show your first listener, first watch every day.

A big shout out to you every day,ers. This is a daily podcast covering the New York Jets with new episodes each day through the week, Monday, through Friday. And today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase. Well, today's show we're going to talk about positions of weakness for the New York Jets, at least positions we think are weaknesses right now, and why those perceived weaknesses

could create opportunities for unexpected players to take bigger roles than we might otherwise

think. And let's begin by talking about a position the Jets drafted early in 2025, and that's tight end. And I think we can begin

the tight end discussion by guessing that Mason Taylor is going to be the top guy there.

You know, Jets drafted him in the second round. It was a room that at least on paper looked very

weak. I think when you draft a guy early in round two at a position group that's extremely weak,

you can typically presume the rookie is going to step into the starting lineup. We discussed this

a bit yesterday. I think that expectations for Mason Taylor should probably be kept in check

for year one. This is a player who's very much developing in a better situation. In fact, on most teams in the league, he would start out as the second tight end, maybe even the third tight end. And that would be good for him because he could run limited routes. He could kind of get his feet wet in the league without too much being asked of him. Unfortunately, for where the jets are right now, they're going to need a little bit more out of him. So, you know, this is a guy who still's kind of, I think, developing a route tree. He's still learning how to block. I think in the early part of the season, you know, expectations should be very, very limited for Mason Taylor. And it's when you do that, if a player exceeds your expectations, it's a pleasant surprise.

If he doesn't, then you know, you know he's got a long way to go. His career, you know, he's just getting started and what hopefully will be a long career. And as I mentioned yesterday, I do think that the early reps for Mason Taylor will probably benefit him in the long run. He's going to get an opportunity early in his career. and the Jets don't really have a lot of obvious players outside of Garrett Wilson and maybe

Breeze Hall who are going to demand a heavy target share in the passing game. So it can be plenty of opportunities for him as a rookie. And it's the type of thing where you may not get much in year one, but he may benefit year, two, year, three, year four from all the opportunities he gets year

one. It may be the type of thing that speeds up his developments. But after Mason Taylor,

it's a kind of an open competition for that second tight end spot. I presume Jeremy Rucker would

have the inside track just because, you know, he's been on the team before. But, you know, I don't know.

It is a new coaching staff.

And I feel like a new coaching staff gives everybody a fresh start.

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