Ex-Jets Scout Applauds New York For Signing C.J. Uzomah

Tight end C.J. Uzomah was the perfect free agent signing for New York.

Kudos to team general manager Joe Douglas.

On the surface, Uzomah looks like nothing more than a $24 million dollar safety valve.

However, that is exactly what quarterback Zach Wilson needed.

At first glance, Uzomah looks like he is in the mold of a receiving tight-end, but that could not be further from the truth.

Uzomah is not even an ideal receiving tight end, but he is a heck of a run blocker.

Uzomah is not one of these traditional tight-ends who gracefully glides around at the intermediate and deep route levels catching the football. In fact, Uzomah struggles to create enough separation and throwing windows if he is covered.

He just has this knack for being able to slip into short zones, and making himself unnoticeable.

This is his forte.

He is often just standing there, open.

Then if the ball gets thrown to him, and nobody is around, he has shown he can pick up large chunks of yardage.

Perfect.

Joe Burrow to C.J. Uzomah was a 55-yard touchdownpic.twitter.com/V42yLqqO2m
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 24, 2021

There is nothing flashy about Uzomah, which only adds to his allure. Wilson desperately needed someone like this who could just be there — standing there short range when all hell breaks loose in the pocket.

It was striking on game film how in tune Uzomah was with Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow last season. Uzomah had a good sense when his QB was in trouble, and he did everything he could to get open.

Former Jets Scout Calls Signing of Tight End C.J. Uzomah "Perfect" For New York

This former NFL scout thinks the Jets made the right decision by signing C.J. Uzomah this offseason, giving quarterback Zach Wilson another weapon to work with.

Grading C.J. Uzomah

6-foot-6, 260 pounds

2021 game film reviewed: (9/30) JAX, (11/7) CLE and (1/22) TEN

2021 stats: 49 receptions (63 targets), 493 yards, (10.1 average), 5 touchdowns

Grade: B - (Good player, but not elite; he’s good enough to win with)

Scouting Report

Lanky high effort target with average speed, has dependable hands and he is a heck of a run blocker. Excels with short-range routes. Average catch radius, but he caught most everything thrown in his direction. Unable to create much separation if covered at breakpoints, but can use his frame to box out short hook routes. Has a knack for getting open and and he can pick up yardage after the catch if he is uncontested. He is not an intermediate to deep route threat. Good at slipping into short routes after he sells that he is staying in to block. Good instincts if his QB is in trouble. Likes run blocking and does a good job holding the point consistently. Physical. He is even able to finish sometimes and put his assignment to the turf. Gets after it and uses hands well. Nice job on hook blocks. Understands leverage. Maintains good positioning and keeps going until the whistle blows. Very competitive player.

Bottom Line

The signing of Uzomah proves Douglas is very in tune with Wilson’s strengths, and his weaknesses.

It would not shock me to see Uzomah catch 90 passes this season in this offense.

Uzomah grew on me. The more I watched him play, the more I was able to catch the vision of what he brings to the Jets.

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