In drafted rookies cannot afford to miss time during training camp. Fortunately for defensive lineman Leonard Taylor and wide receiver Tyler Harrell, both will be available when the New York Jets kick off training camp practice.
After landing on the Physically Unable to Performer (PUP) list last week, Taylor and Harrell passed their physicals in Florham Park, the Jets removed the two first-year players from PUP on Tuesday. Meanwhile, veteran wide receiver Mike Williams remains on the PUP list with the training camp practice schedule beginning Wednesday.
Both Taylor and Harrell competed for the Miami Hurricanes in 2023 before landing with the Jets following the 2024 NFL Draft. It’ll be an uphill climb for either rookie to earn a 53-man roster spot, but, now deemed healthy, the two former college teammates will have an opportunity to make noise in an NFL training camp.
Taylor is the more highly-touted prospect between the two. Considered by some to possess Top 100 talent, the interior lineman was given the “underachiever” label by his college critics, who also questioned the player’s commitment.
One of the nation’s highest-rated high school defensive linemen, Taylor went on to play three seasons for the Hurricanes. The two-year starter totaled 10.5 tackles-for-loss, six quarterback hurries and 3.0 sacks in 2023. Now, he’ll try to crack a defensive tackles rotation that returns only two pieces —Quinnen Williams and Solomon Thomas— from last year’s squad.
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Harrell appears more of a long shot to survive cutdown day. The native Floridian competed for three different Power 5 college programs, but played sparingly at each stop. He totaled four receptions in eight appearances for Miami last fall. Harrell is one of 11 wide receivers on the Jets’ 90-man roster and has a steep climb ahead.
