Scouting Travaris Cadet
Yesterday, the Jets announced that they had signed former Saints running back Travaris Cadet. Cadet was a player they were interested in back in March and worked out when he was released by the Saints in final cuts.
The 28-year old Cadet is listed as 6'1" and 210 pounds and is an undrafted rookie out of Appalachian State. He spent most of his five years in the NFL with the Saints, but has also played for New England and San Francisco. He's a pass catching specialist and return man.
Background
Cadet was originally recruited to Toledo but ended up transferring to a junior college. He later transferred to Appalachian State and played three seasons there.
Cadet's best season at Appalachian State saw him amass 989 yards from scrimmage while catching a career high 34 passes. However he went undrafted in 2012.
He made the Saints roster and saw plenty of action as a kickoff returner over his first season, although he only had eight offensive touches (for 54 yards and a touchdown) in his first two years.
Cadet's role increased in 2014, as he caught 38 passes. However, he left the Saints after the season and joined New England. He was only active for one game with New England, who released him at the end of September. He then signed with San Francisco, playing four games with them before again being released and finally ending up back in New Orleans for the last two games.
His role increased again with the Saints in the 2016 as he caught 40 passes and scored a career high four touchdowns, including one in each of the last three games of the season.
This year, he was injured during preseason and only played in the last game, although he did produce well with 73 yards on 11 touches and 37 yards on five punt returns. Having lost his spot to rookie Alvin Kamara, Cadet was released in final cuts again.
Let's look in more detail at what Cadet brings to the table, based on in-depth research and film study.
Usage
Cadet was originally recruited to Toledo as a wide receiver and he has advanced pass catching skills for a running back. He'll often line up out wide or in the slot and runs a variety of routes. He'd often see action in two-back sets with the Saints.
Cadet also threw 36 passes in his college career and one at the NFL level.
Measurables/Athleticism
Cadet didn't attend the combine but his pro day numbers weren't bad. He was slightly below average in terms of speed and strength with a 4.64 40-yard dash and 16 bench press reps but had a 120" broad jump and good agility numbers.
Running Ability
Cadet is somewhat unique insofar as that he excels as a receiver and doesn't get to carry the ball very often. In fact, he has more receptions (102) than rushing yards (84) in his career, averaging just over three yards per carry.
At the NFL level - including in preseason - he's never had a run of 20 yards, although he did have a 45-yard run negated by a holding penalty in his rookie year.
In college, he averaged 4.3 yards per carry as a senior after averaging over five yards per carry in his first two years with the Mountaineers. However, in his only game against top level opposition, he was held to six yards on seven carries against Virginia Tech.
Obviously a lot of the passes he catches are simple dump-offs, which acts as an extension to the running attack. While he's listed at 6'1", he runs with a low center of gravity and can be elusive in space or lower his head to finish a run strong.
Here's an example of a good run for a first down:
Fumbles have been an issue, as he's fumbled the ball four times in 91 carries in regular season and preseason action, including on this play late in a tied game:
Short Yardage
Cadet hasn't really been used much as a short yardage runner and doesn't have any rushing touchdowns in regular or preseason action, although he had 15 in three years at Appalachian State. However, they'll often use him on short passes near the goal line and he displays a good nose for the goal line in those situations.
Receiving Threat
As noted, Cadet has advanced route-running skills for a running back, breaking sharply on outs and button hooks and showing an ability to make convincing double-moves and find a soft spot underneath. Here's a nice whip route to lose the defender (Patrick Peterson) and get to the goal line:
It's also noticeable that once he catches the ball, he transitions quickly and naturally into becoming a runner, often making the nearest defender miss or driving ahead for extra yardage.
Cadet has also been a downfield threat with 100 yards on three downfield catches at the NFL level, including this one on an out-and-up from the slot:
In addition to his route running, Sean Payton has praised his hands, which he displays well here:
However, he did drop a career-worst four passes last season.
Blocking
Due to his route running skills, Cadet isn't left in to block very often but hasn't had too many mistakes when he has. He gave up a sack to Vontaze Burfict in blitz pick-up in 2015 while with the 49ers and was beaten for a strip sack by Henoc Muamba in a preseason game.
On occasion, he would be required to run block out of a two-back set, as on this play:
Special Teams
Cadet's initial role with the Jets might be to take over as the kick-off returner. He averaged a solid 26.6 yards per return over his first two seasons. While his numbers haven't been quite as good since then, his skill-set lends itself well to open-field running:
Cadet has only fielded eight punts in regular season action, with five fair catches and just three return yards. However, he's seen more action in college and averaged 6.6 yards per return with a long of 21 in preseason action.
His special teams contributions don't end there though, as he's also seen action as a blocker and worked as a vice and a gunner. He has 13 career special teams tackles.
Instincts
Cadet displays good open field running instincts, although his low yards per carry averages suggest that perhaps his vision in the backfield is not on the same level. Coaches and teammates have described him as extremely smart with a good football IQ.
He has had one false start in his career.
Attitude/Demeanor
Payton has also praised Cadet for his strong work ethic and was clearly impressed with his versatility. He sounds like a good character guy overall.
Other than the false start mentioned above, his only NFL penalties were an offensive pass interference call and an illegal block in the back on special teams.
Injuries
Cadet hasn't had major problems with injuries, missing time with a shoulder injury in his rookie year, a foot injury in 2013 and a toe injury last year.
As noted, he was injured during preseason, missing the first three preseason games. The nature of the injury was undisclosed but he had what was described as a minor tweak at the start of camp.
Scheme Fit
Cadet's pass catching abilities mean that he fits in really well with the Jets and, of course, he'll have worked closely with John Morton and in a west coast offense. Cadet used to run routes with receivers so there's a direct link to when Morton would have been his receivers coach in 2015 and 2016.
His more advanced receiving skills are reminiscent of Elijah McGuire's which could make him an even better mentor for the rookie than veterans Bilal Powell and Matt Forté.
Conclusions
Cadet is a fascinating player who the Jets might be able to use to create mismatches on offense while they develop McGuire into a player with whom they can begin to do the same sort of things.
In the short term, he's a more established kick-off returner than anyone currently on the roster (by a mile), so that's a role he will probably step right into on Sunday.