How did ex-Jets perform with their new teams in 2020? (Part One)

With the season now over, it’s time to report back on how former Jets players performed this season with their new teams. We’ll divide this into two parts, looking at AFC teams today and NFC teams in a few days.

As ever, this list is intended to be exhaustive, but if we missed anyone, let us know in the comments.

Bills:

Brian Winters started nine games for the Bills but was benched in December and ended up in a reserve role for the final five games of the year. He ended up with seven penalties and got beaten for three sacks. Winters is out of contract.

Andre Roberts again failed to emulate his excellent 2018 season with the Jets but still went to the pro bowl for the third year in a row. He averaged 28.5 yards per kickoff return with a longest of 60 yards and 9.2 yards per punt return with two muffs. He also caught four passes on offense. He is also out of contract.

Defensive tackle Brandin Bryant played in one game, recording one tackle in seven defensive snaps. He signed a futures deal after the season.

Others: Jonotthan Harrison, Darron Lee and Davis Webb spent time on the practice squad but did not play. Webb signed a futures deal after the season but Harrison signed with the Giants.

Dolphins:

Ryan Fitzpatrick was replaced by rookie Tua Tagovailoa before the bye week but made a few appearances after the bye, including one more start that saw him lead Miami to a 20-3 win over the Jets. He ended up with 13 touchdown passes and two touchdown runs and his career-high 68.5 completion percentage was good for seventh in the NFL. He is out of contract but recently said he doesn’t want to retire.

The versatile Jesse Davis started 15 games and came off the bench to play 57 snaps in the other. He only gave up one sack and two penalties and started at least three games in three different positions, but didn’t make a major impact.

Patriots:

Kicker Nick Folk had a remarkable season that included a game winner against the Jets. After missing his first two field goals of the season, Folk made his last 26 in a row, although he did miss three extra points.

On defense, Brandon Copeland started four games but spent the second half of the season on injured reserve. Safety Terrence Brooks played 254 snaps in a reserve role, although he did make two starts. He struggled in coverage.

Wide receiver Donte Moncrief joined the Patriots late in the season and although he only caught one pass, they did use him as a kickoff returner. He averaged 23.6 yards on seven returns, with a long of 53.

All four of these players are out of contract.

Others: Wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo, who spent the year on injured reserve is an exclusive rights free agent and tight end Matt LaCosse, who opted out before camp, is under contract for 2021.

Steelers:

The Steelers traded for Avery Williamson right before the bye and he made four starts for them in the end. He was solid against the run and very productive, with 52 tackles, including 14 in one game. He continued to struggle in coverage, though, giving up three touchdowns. He’s now out of contract.

Others: Safety John Battle signed a futures deal after the season.

Browns:

Sheldon Richardson had another solid season, racking up 64 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three passes defensed. He remains under contract for next season.

Jojo Natson spent most of the year on injured reserve and is now out of contract. In 2020, he had just one kickoff return for 31 yards, three punt returns for 25 yards and a carry for three yards on offense.

Veteran safety Andrew Sendejo is now out of contract again. He ended up starting 14 games but was benched for the playoffs. He gave up five touchdowns in coverage and missed 16 tackles.

Montrel Meander saw action on special teams in four games. He signed a futures deal after the season.

Offensive tackle Blake Hance was poached from the Jets’ practice squad right before the end of the season and ended up being unexpectedly thrust into postseason action when both Jedrick Wills and Kendall Lamm got hurt. He held up surprisingly well, considering, no doubt helped by the fact the rest of the Browns’ line is strong.

Bengals:

Randy Bullock ended the season with just five missed field goals and one missed extra point. However, he had missed a clutch kick that cost Cincinnati a chance to send the season opener into overtime. He’s now out of contract.

Ravens:

Safety Marcus Gilchrist was released before the bye week having played in two games earlier in the season. He ended up with three tackles, but did give up two first downs in coverage.

Tight end Eric Tomlinson signed late in the season and played in six games for the Ravens, starting two. He also played in both postseason games, starting one. However, he was only targeted once and didn’t catch a pass.

Cornerback Pierre Desir was added to Baltimore’s practice squad late in the year and elevated for three late season games. He recorded two tackles, including one on special teams as he played just five defensive snaps. He did not get a futures deal after the season.

Others: Nate Hairston was on the practice squad briefly but didn’t play.

Titans:

Tight end Anthony Firkser had the best year of his career so far, with 39 catches for 387 yards and a touchdown. He added two more catches for 44 yards in the playoffs.

Kalif Raymond made some big plays before the bye week with nine catches for 187 yards, including a 61-yarder. However, he had zero catches on four targets in the last eight games, with his costly slip in the playoffs leading to a key interception. His return game numbers were also underwhelming as he was moved off kickoffs in the second half of the year. Both Raymond and Firkser are restricted free agents.

Rookie pass rusher Wyatt Ray was activated four times off the practice squad to play during the season and once in the playoffs. He sacked Aaron Rodgers on Sunday Night Football in week 16 but only had one other tackle. He did not receive a futures deal after the season.

Others: Trevor Siemian spent time on the practice squad but did not play.

Colts:

Safety Ibraheim Campbell spent part of the year on the active roster and part on the practice squad, making five appearances. He recorded one tackle on special teams but didn’t play any defensive snaps. He signed a futures deal after the year.

Texans:

Brent Qvale spent most of the year as a backup but got to start three games at left guard down the stretch. He gave up one sack, but didn’t grade out very well. Qvale ended up the season on injured reserve and is now out of contract.

The Texans poached Josh McCown from the Eagles’ practice squad to be their backup quarterback but he didn’t see any action.

Wide receiver Chad Hansen saw some action towards the end of the year and was surprisingly productive. He had a hundred-yard game in his first appearance and ended up with 17 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown over the last five games. He’s under contract for next season.

Others: Brett Maher spent time on the practice squad but did not play.

Jaguars:

Doug Middleton was on and off the roster and practice squad all year but ended up on the roster and is signed for next season. He played in 10 games and recorded nine special teams tackles but only played five defensive snaps.

Others: Rookie offensive lineman Jared Hilbers spent time on the practice squad but did not play.

Chiefs:

The Chiefs picked up Le’Veon Bell but he was mostly a disappointment for them and heads into free agency without much of a market. He rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns at an average of 4.0 per carry and caught 13 passes for 99 yards for the Chiefs, adding just six yards on two carries in the postseason.

Mike Pennel did a solid job in the Chiefs’ defensive line rotation. He was suspended for the first two games, but played in the rest, starting one. He ended up with 29 tackles and a quarterback hit, adding one tackle in two postseason appearances.

Kelechi Osemele had started the first five games and played quite well, although he did commit five penalties. However, he missed the rest of the year after injuring both knees.

Others: Running back Elijah McGuire has been on the practice squad but hasn’t played.

Raiders:

The Raiders were the only NFL team that didn’t have a single ex-Jet on their team this year.

Chargers:

Tevaughn Campbell ended up seeing significant action, especially after Desmond King was traded. He started four games, racking up 22 tackles, three passes defensed, an interception, a forced fumble and a quarterback hit. However, he gave up four touchdowns in coverage, including a last-second game winner against Denver. He’s an exclusive rights free agent, so should be back next year.

Troymaine Pope spent time on the active roster and practice squad during the season but wasn’t signed to a futures deal at the end of the year. He had 67 rushing yards and five catches against Denver, but otherwise registered just 23 yards on eight touches.

Kalen Ballage was a little more successful than Pope, although he struggled a bit down the stretch. He ended up with 290 yards and three touchdowns along with 20 pass receptions. However, he only averaged 3.3 yards per carry and less than five yards per catch.

Linebacker BJ Bello came up off the practice squad to play in six games, recording seven tackles. He only played 13 defensive snaps though. Bello and Ballage are both restricted free agents.

Others: Lachlan Edwards spent time on the practice squad during the year and didn’t play, but signed a futures deal after the season.

Broncos:

Shelby Harris had a great season, although he missed five games on the Covid-19 reserve list and injured reserve. He ended up with 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks and seven passes defensed.

Jeremiah Attaochu started the first three and the last two games of the year but the middle part of his season was disrupted by injuries. He performed well, though, with 31 tackles and five sacks.

Offensive lineman Calvin Anderson was on the active roster all year and saw the first offensive snaps of his career when he made two late season starts - one at each tackle spot. He didn’t have a penalty or give up a sack but struggled in the running game.

Austin Calitro, who was acquired via trade before the opening game, played in 13 games and spent three on injured reserve. He only played on special teams, registering three tackles and two penalties.

All four of these players are out of contract at the end of the season, although Calitro is a restricted free agent and Anderson is an exclusive rights free agent.

Nate Hairston, who is under contract for next season, saw action in three late season games, but only on special teams.

Others: Tight end Jordan Leggett signed a futures deal after the season after spending time on the practice squad, but was released in February.

We’ll be back with a breakdown of the ex-Jets on NFC teams’ rosters later this week.