New York Jets rookie spotlight on safety Ashtyn Davis

Rookie Impact

The NFL draft is a crapshoot and you’ll never know which prospect will have an immediate impact. Ashtyn Davis could have a variety of roles in his rookie year with the New York Jets, but a lot hinges on what Joe Douglas does with his starting safeties.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, Jamal Adams has been throwing tantrums and wants out of New York. The only problem is he has zero leverage. The New York Jets control him for at least two more years and do not have to move him. Marcus Maye, on the other hand, is a free agent after the season and plays the same exact position as their new third-round pick, Ashtyn Davis.

If Maye is moved I’d expect to see Davis as the starting free safety next to Adams. If Maye stays he’ll keep his starting role alongside Adams and you’ll see Gregg Williams get creative with his schemes. In that scenario expect Davis in on a lot of sub-packages.

Things will get tricky if Adams forces the New York Jets’ hands and they trade him. Davis isn’t a strong safety and I cannot see Maye switching either. Gregg Williams would really need to figure something out in the event that Adams isn’t around in 2020.

Davis will not only see the field on defense, but he’ll be a key player on special teams as well. He has the speed to be a gunner and could also play in coverage. He can also battle as a return man as he has experience as a punt and kick returner.

It may go without saying but Ashtyn Davis is my favorite draft prospect for the New York Jets and I’m excited to see how he does in whatever role he has for the 2020 season. It will definitely be a challenge for him and all of the rookies that need to learn their playbooks amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

There has yet to be a set date for training camp, which will make it that much harder for Davis and fellow rookies to adapt to the NFL.