As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.
No. 5: David Harris
Last year’s ranking: 5
Position: Inside linebacker
Age: 30
How acquired: Selected in the second round of the 2007 Draft
Years left on contract: 1
2014 salary cap figure: $7 million
Looking back at 2013: I thought Harris had a bounceback season after struggling a bit in 2012. He was a leader on a defense featuring seven new starters. Harris is the quarterback of the defense and communicates all of the defensive calls.
He led the Jets with 124 tackles and had two sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 18th best inside linebacker out of 55 that played at least 25 percent of their team’s snaps. Harris prospered from playing behind the strong Jets defensive line, which kept the blockers occupied.
On the downside, he did have 13 missed tackles and he struggled in coverage. Quarterbacks completed a whopping 78.8 percent of the passes thrown Harris’ way, according to PFF.
Outlook for 2014: Harris is always judged a bit too harshly, in my opinion. I think the root of it is his contract. He always appears on the list of “most overpaid players.” This season Harris’ salary cap number is $7 million and it is the final year of his deal, so he will be playing for a contract.
This season should be considerably easier for Harris, in terms of communication. The Jets won’t have any new starters in the front seven to worry about.
Harris has been a steady player for the Jets. He is one of only two defensive players left from the Eric Mangini era. He is very valuable for Rex Ryan when it comes to teaching his defense and being a coach on the field.
Harris has shown no signs of decline and the expectation is he’ll continue to be a steady force in the middle for the Jets this year.