The Jets have been praised for their big hits in the 2022 NFL Draft. They drafted the Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year in WR Garrett Wilson and CB Sauce Gardner. They also traded back into the first round to select Jermaine Johnson, who has been incredible in 2023, along with RB Breece Hall in the second round and DL Micheal Carter in the fourth.
But what about 2023? How have some of their rookies fared this season? Are there any standouts this time around? Here, we’ll take a look at some of the top rookies for the Jets in the first half of the 2023 NFL season.
OL Joe Tippmann
Far and away, the best rookie so far has been Joe Tippmann. The Jets’ second-round pick has already started games at center and right guard and is among the top half of qualified centers in terms of grades from Pro Football Focus. The Jets took Tippmann to be the center of the future and the future has come now following injuries to Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer. The Jets have another piece to build around up front.
WR Xavier Gipson
Xavier Gipson, the undrafted rookie from Stephen F. Austin, earned the punt return role in training camp, beating out Mecole Hardman and more or less rendered him useless on the Jets’ roster. Gipson solidified his spot when he returned a punt 65 yards in overtime to defeat the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Now, in addition to his special-teams contributions, Gipson is now the No. 3 wide receiver on offense, surpassing Randall Cobb.
DE Will McDonald
Will McDonald fills this third spot almost by default because most of the other rookies have barely seen the field, if at all. Carter Warren just recently came off injured reserve, Israel Abanikanda has yet to be active for a game at all this season, Jarrick Bernard-Converse has been inactive since coming off the physically unable to perform list, Zack Kuntz is on the practice squad and Jason Brownlee has been active for one game.
McDonald at least is in the books with a half-sack this season but has not been active for every game this season and could be inactive due to injury in Week 10. He’s simply buried on the depth chart, but at least is active when on the field, which is more than a bunch of the other rookies can say to this point.
