New York Jets 2017 Roster Preview: Tight Ends
By Sean Dyer
Eric Tomlinson, Chris Gragg, and Jason Vander Laan
With Austin Seferian-Jenkins suspended, the New York Jets will likely keep two of these tight ends to start the season and release one when Week 3 comes around to make room for ASJ.
Eric Tomlinson spent part of 2016 with the Jets, appearing in seven games and making five starts.
Despite his playing time, Tomlinson has zero career catches.
Tomlinson uses his size (6’6″ 263 lb.) more to block in the run game instead of as a reliable receiver.
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He won’t start in Seferian-Jenkins’ place because of his limited receiving ability but Eric Tomlinson will make the team as the Jets blocking tight end and should stick around past Week 3.
Chris Gragg has spent the last three seasons with the Buffalo Bills where he saw limited action as a receiver.
Gragg started ten games over the three-year span and caught 24 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns.
Chris Gragg could be the receiving tight end the Jets use to replace Seferian-Jenkins for the first two weeks but his time with Gang Green could come to an end when ASJ returns.
Jason Vander Laan went undrafted in 2016 after a career as Division II Ferris State’s quarterback.
He’s still making the transition to tight end after spending last season on the Jets practice squad.
At 6’4″ 244 lb., Vander Laan has the size to play tight end in the NFL but he’s still figuring everything out.
The Jets will likely put him on their practice squad again this year as Vander Laan continues his tight end conversion.