New York Jets' 2023 Undrafted Free Agent Signings Ledger
It's an annual practice around the National Football League and the New York Jets have been working hard at it.
Each of the League's 32 teams are permitted to hold 90 men on their rosters entering training camp. Every year following the NFL Draft, general managers hit the phones in an attempt to build a list of undrafted signees who will help fill out the offseason roster.
In addition to the reported UDFA deals, the Jets will bring in a select number of prospects to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
According to the NFL and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team can host one post-Draft rookie minicamp, which may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the draft. Gang Green will host its minicamp May 5-7.
Continuing with the Pitt Panthers' NFL Draft Week theme, the Jets have added edge rusher Deslin Alexandre. The two-time Pitt captain will reunite with college teammates Carter Warren (LT) and Israel Abanikanda (RB), who were both Day 3 draft picks.
Alexandre, a defensive end with 58 career collegiate appearances, earned a spot on the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which highlights community leaders and their service.
The first small-school prospect to sign a UDFA deal with the Jets this year is linebacker Maalik Hall from NCAA Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State. Hall was the 2021 Great American Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
After drafting LSU defensive back Jarrick Bernard-Converse in Round 6 Saturday, Gang Green picked up another rookie with corner skills in Washington State's Derrick Langford. The 6-foot-2 defensive back started all 13 games for the Cougars last year, recording 39 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions.
The Jets made three UDFA additions to a stacked receivers' room, inking Southern Mississippi's Jason Brownlee, Stephen F. Austin's Xavier Gipson and Gardner-Webb's TJ Luther.
Brownlee, a JUCO product, was Southern Miss' leading pass-catcher in 2022.
Gipson, who played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, was a big-play machine for SFA. He accounted for at least one 45+ yard play from scrimmage in seven of Stephen F. Austin’s 11 games.
As a senior, Luther averaged 89.7 yards per game for Gardner-Webb en-route to an All-Big South Conference First Team honor.
Georgia Tech tight EJ Jenkins is a proven pass-catcher, too. He made 13 touchdown receptions as a wide receiver for FCS program Saint Francis in 2019. With the Yellow Jackets in 2022, the 6-foot-6 Jenkins averaged 18.6 yards per reception and scored touchdowns against Clemson, Florida State and Pitt.
Jets' UDFA Contract Signings
Deslin Alexandre, EDGE, Pittsburgh (Team)
Jason Brownlee, WR, Southern Miss (Team)
Claudin Cherelus, LB, Alcorn State (Team)
Trey Dean, S, Florida (Team)
Travis Dye, RB, Southern California (Team)
Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin (Team)
Kahlef Hailassie, CB, Western Kentucky: Jets (Tom Pelissero)
Maalik Hall, LB, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Team)
EJ Jenkins, TE, Georgia Tech (Team)
Caleb Johnson, LB, Miami (Team)
Brent Laing, OL, Minnesota-Duluth (Team)
Derrick Langford, CB, Washington State (Team)
TJ Luther, WR, Gardner-Webb (Team)
Marquis Waters, S, Texas Tech (Team)
Rookie Tryouts
Tim DeMorat, QB, Fordham (Tom Pelissero)
[Washington announced it signed DeMorat to an UDFA contract on May 1]
Josh Falo, TE, Southern California (Rich Cimini)
Sherrod Greene, LB, South Carolina (Ben Portnoy)
Jerome Kapp, WR, Kutztown (Jerome Kapp)
Lindsey Scott, QB, Incarnate Word (Tom Pelissero)
RELEVANT LINKS:
Draft Tracker: Logging the Jets' Picks
Sports Illustrated Grades Jets' 2023 Draft Below Median
