New York Jets News: Braylon Edwards, Konrad Reuland
The New York Jets decided to bring back wide receiver Braylon Edwards late last month, and the 30-year-old veteran should give the Jets some stability at the back end of the depth chart if he is able to make the roster. With Santonio Holmes set to miss some games due to a Lisfranc injury that is slow to heal and Stephen Hill an uncertain commodity, I would be shocked if Edwards misses out on the roster. He hasn’t been productive over the past couple of seasons, but he’ll just be a steady veteran on the back end of the roster.
New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17) runs with the ball during training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports
Edwards still doesn’t lack for confidence, though, and that’s a good thing from this perspective. According to ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini, Edwards believes he can play at an elite level, “I’m starting to get into camp shape, that groove, that vibe. Now is the chance to really go after it and really show these guys I still have it and that I can play at an elite level to help this team win games.”
Obviously, Edwards is no longer even close to being elite and his only elite season was that crazy 16-touchdown year of 2007, but the Jets don’t need or expect him to be elite. In fact, what Edwards needs to prove is that he can still be a productive receiver in this league, because it has been a couple of seasons since he impressed us in 2010 with 53 catches for over 900 yards and seven touchdowns. I don’t even think he’ll produce at that level, but what Edwards needs to do is be productive and efficient when thrown it. The Jets should be happy that he has confidence in himself, and maybe that will help him out in 2013.
New Jets starting tight end Jeff Cumberland looks ticketed for a solid season with Dustin Keller now starting for the Miami Dolphins, and we’ll see if Cumberland can even break out. But Cumberland isn’t the only young tight end worth watching in the coming seasons, as 26-year-old Stanford product Konrad Reuland is starting to make a name for himself with a strong training camp thus far.
According to Cimini, Reuland, an undrafted free agent in 2011, “has earned” a spot on the Jets 53-man roster on the strength of his camp performances. He received significant time last season and looks like a quality young player that the Jets can develop on the back end of the depth chart, so the Jets would be wise to keep Reuland around. Signing Kellen Winslow Jr. didn’t help Reuland’s chances, but who really knows how long Winslow can hold up. As for Reuland, he caught just 11 passes last season for 83 yards, but he has good size at 6’4″, 260 pounds. Reuland is also a weapon in the red zone, and Cimini praised his versatility. However, he had some ups-and-downs (mostly downs, but it was his first year) as a blocker last season.