As the Jets get closer to training camp, I am examining the roster and giving 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. 21: Bryce Hall
Last year’s ranking: Unranked (rookie)
Position: CB
Age on Opening Day: 24
How acquired: Selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft
Years left on contract: 3
2021 Salary Cap figure: $858,950
Looking back at 2020
Hall began the year on the non-football injury list as he recovered from an ankle injury that ended his college career at Virginia. He was activated for the second half of the season and played in eight games, starting seven.
Hall looked like a rookie who had no offseason or training camp early after his activation but improved as the season went on. He had a critical interception in the win over the Rams. It showcased his ball skills as it was not an easy pick. He had three passes defended, 36 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Hall’s rookie season needs to be graded on a curve when you consider how little practice time he had before playing. There was no OTAs or minicamps because of COVID-19 and his ankle kept him from participating in the condensed training camp. His first game was against the Patriots on Monday night, and his inexperience showed on the final Cam Newton completion that set up the game-winning field goal. Hall gave too much cushion and allowed the long completion to set up the Nick Folk game-winner. He surrendered two touchdowns last year and had a passer rating against of 103.6, per PFF.
PFF rated Hall 67th out of 121 cornerbacks they graded.
Outlook for 2021
The Jets have decided to give their young cornerbacks a shot, and Hall is near the top of that list. Hall worked as a starter all spring and it would be a surprise if he is not one of the starters when the season begins.
Hall is a candidate to make a huge leap this year. His talent is better than a fifth-round pick, but he fell in the draft because of his injury. Then, last year he had so little practice time before getting thrown into the fire that you’d have to think he will make strides this year with more coaching and practice reps.