Jets Roster Analysis: Jason Vander Laan Tries to Convert to Tight End

As we approach the 2016 season, we are going to profile the players on the roster. Today we look at Jason Vander Laan

Name: Jason Vander Laan

Number: 49

Year With Jets: 1st

Projected Role: Practice squad candidate at tight end

His 2015: A legend at Ferris State, Vander Laan won his second straight Harlon Hill Trophy as the most valuable player in Division II. The college quarterback signed with the Jets and is attempting to convert to tight end in the NFL.

2016 will be a success if: Vander Laan makes the practice squad and shows enough progress to stay for the entire season. I'm not sure there is a player on the 90 man training camp roster who faces longer odds to either make the Week 1 roster or have a successful career. While Vander Laan was a wonderful college player, he faces a number of challenges, any of which would be overwhelming on its own. Division II players are frequently overwhelmed when they reach the NFL and experience such a drastic increase in the talent of the opposition. That is just for guys playing their own position. Vander Laan is learning a new one from scratch so he is pretty much learning all of the fundamentals and nuances of the tight end spot as he's adjusting to such an increase in the quality of his opponents. Conversion projects rarely work out even  from big schools. This player would do very well to earn and keep a roster spot.

Odds of making the roster: Longshot (under 25%)