Breaking down the Jets at CB: Depth chart, camp battles, and keys to success heading into 2020 NFL training camp

As NFL training camp is only a few weeks away, head coach Adam Gase is ready to finally get in the building with his players to start evaluating and putting together his roster.

GM Joe Douglas made some big improvements to the roster on both sides of the ball, which will lead to some heated camp competition.

So over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some of those position groups as well as some key players who will be pivotal in the Jets' success or failure during the 2020 season. Let’s continue with a unit that surprised many in 2019, but still needs some work...

CORNERBACKS DEPTH CHART (in order)

- LCB: Pierre Desir (FA addition), Nate Hairston, Bryce Hall (rookie), Bennett Jackson
- RCB: Arthur Maulet, Bless Austin, Quincy Wilson
- SLOT: Brian Poole, Shyheim Carter (rookie)

2019 REVIEW

It’s amazing how DC Gregg Williams got anything out of this group that was battered with injuries, and Trumaine Johnson – one of its highest-paid players – was benched halfway through the year as he awaited his deal to be terminated.

Johnson and Darryl Roberts were the starters for the Jets in Week 1, but Johnson would only last until Week 8 of the season before he was benched. For Roberts, injury would strike in the second half of the season, as he missed Weeks 10-12. That would force players like Hairston, Maulet and the rookie Austin to step up and pick up the slack.

On paper, the depth for the Jets at this position was very questionable, but Williams managed to get great play out of them despite the circumstances. Overall, the Jets were 17^th in pass defense with 236 yards allowed through the air per game. They also had a modest turnover differential of -4 (25 touchdowns allowed to 21 takeaways).

So, while it wasn’t pretty at times, Gang Green tested its depth players and asked them to step up when the starters went down – a theme the defense unfortunately knew all too well last season.

CAMP BATTLE TO WATCH

With Johnson cut and Roberts moving on to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Jets went into the offseason needing to revamp the entire position. So Douglas quickly picked up Desir, the former Indianapolis Colt who was surprisingly cut. He didn’t waste any time getting the veteran on board to fill out one of the projected starter slots.

But that slot opposite him is wide open, and a camp battle will most likely ensue to see who gets the job. So who has the upper hand? Maulet and Hairston figure to be the top contenders, but another Colt in Wilson signed with the Jets as well. And there’s the case of Austin, a seventh-round pick who could’ve easily have been taken in the first round if it hadn’t been for his college injuries. He played well in his starts last season.

Of course, Douglas could make things harder with the surplus of cap room he still has in his back pocket. Logan Ryan has been a name floated out there, and he even admitted a New Jersey reunion makes sense. Maybe Douglas wants to see what he has in camp first before bringing someone else in, but a player like Ryan would figure to be a starter right away.

Either way, all of these corners are looking to be featured on the 2020 roster, so where they land on the depth chart will be fun to watch. That list up there could easily shift around.

THREE KEYS TO SUCCESS

Consistent starters, please: Yes, it’s always great to see that your depth can produce when asked to play in a larger role. But that’s obviously not what Williams wants to deal with all the time. Desir and and unnamed player will need to remain on the field and produce consistently if this group wants to fortify its pass defense and work its way up from 17^th this time around.

Follow the same gameplan: By this, we mean an aggressive style of play that clearly worked no matter who was there last season. Williams entrusted his players to play a lot of man-to-man, and the results were solid. Desir shouldn’t have a problem with that, and the returning players will know what to expect. If it ain’t broke…you know the rest.

Go get Ryan: This might be cheating a bit because we’re going outside the current depth chart. But if this group really wants to excel this season, a true starter would be the cherry on top of a great offseason for Douglas. Ryan’s price tag was too high last time we checked, and the Jets are smartly waiting for it to go down. Once it reaches the right price, Douglas should pounce.