DraftFix: More on this year's reported round eight UDFA haul

by Site Admin

Based on reports, the Jets have agreed to terms with as many as 17 undrafted free agents. There may even be more than this that have yet to be reported.

Some of the reports may yet prove to be false (one suggesting the Jets had signed Malik Reed from Nevada has, in fact, already done so). However, with the Jets hosting an in-house rookie orientation program this year instead of an on-field rookie mini-camp, there won't be any tryout players this year, which often get inaccurately identified as signings.

Let's briefly look at each of the 17 names reported so far in more detail.

Wake Forest WR/PR Greg Dortch:

Dortch was a guy we had mentioned as one of the best punt returners in this year's class so he has a great chance of earning that spot. He returns both kicks and punts and scored two punt return touchdowns in 2018. He's not just a return man though, as he is also an excellent slot receiver, catching 89 passes for over 1,000 yards and eight scores last year.

Alabama LB Jamey Mosley:

Mosley is a headline name because he's CJ Mosley's brother but he didn't get to play much at Alabama. He only had 18 tackles and a sack at Alabama, mostly playing garbage time reps as an edge defender. However, he had an impressive pro day, running a 4.7 40-yard dash at 6'5" and 240 pounds.

LSU S John Battle:

Battle started seven games alongside Jamal Adams in 2016 when Rickey Jefferson was injured. He's been more of a deep safety with the Tigers but does match up in coverage from time to time and intercepted three passes in nine games last year. He's athletic (4.60 pro day 40-yard dash) with ball skills, but his instincts need refining. He made some contributions in kick coverage.

Arkansas S Santos Ramirez:

Ramirez is regarded as more of a hard-hitting strong safety. He showed some athleticism with a 38-inch vertical and 123-inch broad jump at his pro day. He has some good length and apparently doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He had a career high 87 tackles last season.

Appalachian State RB Jalin Moore:

Moore - who was Dane Brugler's 10th-ranked running back - is a tough runner. However, unlike the other backs on the Jets' roster, he doesn't offer much in the passing game. He rushed for over 1,400 yards as a sophomore and had another thousand-yard season in his junior year but saw his senior year cut short by a dislocated ankle.

UCF T Wyatt Miller:

Miller played right tackle for three years, before moving to left tackle for his senior year. He didn't give up a sack until UCF's bowl game against LSU, but his seven penalties equalled his total from his first three seasons. Miller's pro day numbers were underwhelming across the board, but he did take some reps there snapping and pulling so maybe he could be a candidate to move to center.

Akron CB Kyron Brown:

Brown was one of our favorite sleepers this year, as he's a physical and competitive corner with good height and ball skills. He had outstanding coverage numbers when targeted over the past three years, including six interceptions and 19 passes defensed and only had 10 penalties in his four seasons, despite his physical play.

Troy DT Trevon Sanders:

The 6'1" and 320+ pound Sanders is a space-stuffing defensive lineman who played most of his reps as a nose tackle last season. He does also have six sacks and an interception over the last three seasons, though. He ran a 5.2 40-yard dash and did 22 bench press reps at his pro day.

Fresno State LB Jeff Allison:

Allison has been a productive but undersized linebacker over the past two seasons, as he racked up 126 tackles in his sophomore year and 132 as a junior. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the Mountain West Conference last season. Having entered the draft early, he attended the scouting combine but posted disappointing numbers that may have contributed to his going undrafted:

He reportedly ran faster at a recent private workout having opted not to re-run at his pro day.

FSU DT Fred Jones:

Jones started eight games in 2018 and set career highs with 26 tackles, two sacks and three passes defensed but he's mostly just been a rotational player in college. His uncle is former Jets linebacker Marvin Jones. He's a 300-pounder who fits best as a 3-technique defensive tackle and shows some explosiveness:

Boise State EDGE Jabril Frazier:

Frazier had been considered a draftable prospect for a while, but his senior year (5.5 sacks) and underwhelming pro day numbers didn't help him. He did 22 bench press reps but his broad and vertical jump were poor. Despite being somewhat undersized, Frazier probably did his best work against the run in 2018, with a career-high 50 tackles.

Tennessee DE Kyle Phillips:

Phillips didn't become a starter until halfway through his junior year and only had modest production at Tennessee with four of his seven career sacks coming in his senior year. He ran an impressive 4.65 at 277 pounds during his pro day workout and had some flashes of athleticism on the field:

Appalachian State DT Myquon Stout:

Stout has an excellent name for a defensive tackle and does play with good leverage, but he was an undersized tackle in college. However, he had bulked up to 292 for his pro day and had 28 bench press reps and showed some explosion with a 32-inch vertical. He had four sacks in four years with the Mountaineers, so is considered more of a run defender.

Incarnate Word DE Justin Alexandre:

Alexandre is a 256-pound small-school edge rusher who racked up 55 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 2018. Gil Brandt rated him as the eighth-best remaining defensive end at the end of the draft. He posted 23 bench press reps at his pro day but his agility numbers were below average.

USC T/G/C Toa Lobendahn:

Lodendahn, who has obviously played with Sam Darnold, has excellent versatility, having started games at center, guard and left tackle. He was the starting center in 2018 but graded out badly with 11 penalties, although he didn't give up a sack. He had played better as the left tackle in 2017. Lodendahn had a decent pro day with average numbers for broad and vertical jump and an outstanding 36 bench press reps.

Boston College WR Jeff Smith:

The 6'1" Smith started off his college career as a quarterback, but converted to wide receiver in 2016, although he almost had as many carries as pass receptions over his last three years. He posted modest numbers in college with just under 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in four years, along with 404 yards and six touchdowns as a passer. His 4.34 40-yard dash underlines how speed is his primary attribute.

NC State T/G Tyler Jones:

Jones played tackle and guard in college and claims to be able to play the center position as well, although he obviously had no need to with Garrett Bradbury in the program. Over the past two years, he started every game at left tackle and only gave up one sack. Jones was another combine invitee, although he posted mixed results: