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. 6: Matt Forte
Last year’s ranking: 6
Position: RB
Age: 31
How acquired: Signed a three-year, $12 million contract as a free agent on March 10, 2016
Years left on contract: 2
2017 Salary Cap figure: $5 million
Looking back at 2016: In Forte’s first season with the Jets, he had some good moments early in the year but injuries slowed him down late.
When I first started putting this list together, I had Forte rated lower but after re-watching the season, I realized he played better than I remembered. Forte ran really hard when he was healthy and had some big gains. A torn meniscus in his knee plagued him for most of the year and the huge deficits the Jets had in some games prevented the running game from really thriving.
Forte had 218 rushes for a career-low 813 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had a career lows in catches (30) and receiving yards (263). He had one receiving touchdown. Forte had two 100-yard rushing games. He had five catches in the first game of the season against the Bengals, but he never hit that number again.
Pro Football Focus rated Forte as the 11th best halfback out of the 53 they graded. He was 12th in running and 41st in receiving.
Forte went on injured reserve before the final game and had knee surgery.
Outlook for 2017: Forte must be looking around the locker room and feeling like a dinosaur. The 31-year-old is one of the few veterans who survived the great Jets purge of 2017. He only survived because his $4 million salary is guaranteed.
How the Jets use Forte this season will be fascinating. He has a tremendous resume in the NFL, but Bilal Powell really came on at the end of last season when Forte was hurt. How will John Morton divide the carries between those two this season?
Forte was not used enough in the passing game last season. Chan Gailey took him off the field on third downs too often. Forte is a great weapon out of the backfield. The Jets failed to utilize that last year. I have to think Morton will correct that this year.
With a group of young wide receivers, Forte catching passes out of the backfield is going to gain importance. He could be a great security blanket for Christian Hackenberg when he gets on the field.
The Jets also will be relying on Forte’s leadership. He appeared to be more comfortable in that role this spring than he was last year when he first arrived with the Jets. Now that he is comfortable, expect Forte to be one of the vocal leaders of this team.