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. 18: Willie Colon
Last year’s ranking: 17
Position: Guard
Age: 31
How acquired: Signed as a free agent on March 15, 2013
Years left on contract: 1
2014 salary cap figure: $2 million
Looking back at 2013: The Jets brought in Colon last year to replace longtime starter Brandon Moore at right guard. He arrived from the Steelers as an injury question mark because he had missed a lot of time in Pittsburgh due to his health. But Colon made it through 16 games before tearing his biceps in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ final game in Miami.
Colon was steady for the Jets. He allowed only one sack and three quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus. His biggest problem was penalties. He had 12 penalties (one declined), the most on the team.
Colon’s biggest contribution may have come in the locker room, where he was a leader for a very young team.
Outlook for 2014: Colon spent the winter recovering from right biceps surgery and then he suffered a slight tear in his left meniscus that required arthroscopic surgery in May, causing him to miss all of OTAs and minicamp because of it.
Colon expects to be fully recovered by August and should slide right back into his starting spot on the right side. The coaches talked up what second-year guard Oday Aboushi did in Colon’s absence this spring, but he’s not ready for a full-time role.
When Colon does return, he will have to get used to playing with a new right tackle. The Jets added Breno Giacomini to replace Austin Howard on the right side. The Jets need a strong year from the offensive line to give Geno Smith a chance to succeed and establish a ground game with Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory. Colon is a key piece of that.