Jets' Tight Ends Will Battle for Touches in 2023

Will Aaron Rodgers's presence boost the position group's level of production?

Whether it was Marcedes Lewis or Robert Tonyan, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has shown the propensity to target the tight ends in the passing game.

Now, with the New York Jets, Rodgers has a deep tight ends group at his disposal, but there are many mouths to feed on an offense that features receivers Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman.

Amongst the tight ends, there'll be serious competition for a role in the Rodgers-led attack.

Veterans Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah, who are both heading into the second season of three-year deals, are locked into roster spots and are the favorites to emerge as a favorite target of Rodgers. 

Conklin was the Jets' second-leading receiver, behind only Wilson, with 58 receptions for 552 yards (87 targets) last year. Uzomah, who totaled 232 yards on 21 catches (27 targets) in 2022, looked sharp during OTAs and has been developing a rapport with Rodgers off the field, too.

After battling through injury during a disappointing rookie campaign, 2022 third-round draft pick Jeremy Ruckert is a contender to emerge as a contributor in Nathaniel Hackett's scheme. 

"I’m excited about Ruck [Ruckert]," said Jets' third-year head coach Robert Saleh. "You know, I never want to put too much stock in OTAs because I’ve found a bunch of bobbleheads running around with helmets on, no pads, but Ruckert was battling a year-long foot injury that he had, so he’s healthy. He’s really attacked the offseason. He looks fluid. He looks athletic."

Then, there' 2023 seventh-rounder Zack Kuntz, a 6-foot-7 unicorn who posted a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) during pre-draft testing

"Usually when you get into those rounds, the back half of the draft, you just want guys who are big," said Saleh at the Jets' rookie minicamp in early May. "You’re looking for something freakish that you can work with and he’s got great mindset. He’s got tremendous athleticism, size and all of that stuff, so for us, it was very easy when he was there."

NFL writer Eric Edholm examined 12 crowded position groups around the NFL and provide guesses as to "how will touches shake out?" The Jets' tight ends group landed on a list that also featured the Kansas City Chiefs' receivers and Buffalo Bills' running backs.

From "2023 NFL season: How will touches shake out within crowded position groups?":

New York Jets

TIGHT END

Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah, Jeremy Ruckert, Zack Kuntz

With all the wide receiver talent the Jets have collected, tight end might not be a featured position in the pass game for Aaron Rodgers. But I would be surprised if Rodgers didn’t form a connection with at least one player at the position. Even with all the great wideouts at Rodgers’ disposal over the years, a Packers tight end posted 30 or more catches 13 times in Rodgers’ 15 seasons as the starter in Green Bay.

Tyler Conklin, the top receiver of the Jets’ tight end group a year ago, is the clubhouse leader to be that option again. But don’t count out 2022 third-rounder Jeremy Ruckert, who was an underrated receiver at Ohio State, even after his one-catch rookie season.

C.J. Uzomah could function much like Marcedes Lewis did for Rodgers in Green Bay -- a tough, dirty-work guy who is rewarded with the occasional goal-line gift. Also, I wouldn’t write off seventh-rounder Zack Kuntz and his rare athletic gifts, even if he has a lot of maturing needed in his game and probably won’t win over Rodgers if that process is slow going. 

— Eric Edholm

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