Jace Amaro

Amaro was drafted 49th overall in 2014 by the Jets, but the team cut ties with the 6-5, 260-pound tight end after a torn labrum cost him the entire 2015 campaign. He caught three passes for 59 yards after latching on with the Titans in 2016, but Amaro's shortcomings as a blocker have made it difficult for him to climb the depth chart. He's still just 25, so it's possible Amaro could start to show some of the receiving chops that helped him catch 106 balls as a senior at Texas Tech if he can beat out rookie third-rounder Jonnu Smith for the backup job behind Delanie Walker.

Jets tight ends had eight catches last season. To put that into perspective, NFL tight ends caught at least that many in a game 38 times last season. That happens when two WR, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, combine for 305 of the team's 604 targets. And it also happens when there's a lack of talent. Don't blame Amaro, though. He missed all last season with a torn labrum. Now healthy, Amaro, who had 38 catches in 2014 as a rookie, has little competition from Kellen Davis and Zach Sudfeld. The Jets plan also to use Amaro as an H-back. In the slot, though, he could use his speed (4.68 40). Wherever he lines up, he has the size (6-5, 265) to be a red-zone alternative to Marshall and Decker. The Jets' QB situation is a concern, but the bigger question is if coordinator Chan Gailey will incorporate the TE into the gameplan.

Selected in the second round of last year’s draft, Amaro faced a challenging transition coming from pass-happy Texas Tech to the Jets’ ground-heavy offense last season. Nonetheless, he finished his rookie campaign with 38 catches (on 53 targets) for 345 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Although that production is hardly spectacular, the towering 6-5, 265-pound target showed promise along the way, and actually tied for second on the Jets in receptions. With a year under his belt, Amaro should start at tight end this season and could become a nice sleeper pickup in deeper leagues.

The Jets drafted Amaro in the second round this year after he set an FBS record for most receiving yards by a tight end with 1,352 last season at Texas Tech. At 6-5, 260, Amaro is big and strong (28 bench press reps at the Combine) and has a long reach with 34-inch arms. While he doesn't have elite speed for the position, he moves well for his size (4.74 40) and is dangerous after the catch. He rarely played in a three-point stance in college, however, usually lining up in the slot. The Jets will use him as an oversized receiver in the slot, too, but Amaro will must learn to run routes as an in-line tight end. He also must improve his blocking to stay on the field. Jeff Cumberland is the No. 1 tight end entering training camp, but Amaro should challenge him for the job. Even if he doesn't start, Amaro will be used in two-TE sets with Cumberland and should see a decent number of targets as the Jets look to improve what was the league's second-worst passing offense last season.