#The Jets players with most to prove during 2020 NFL season

The Jets have had four straight losing seasons and have not made the playoffs in the last nine seasons. With that as the backdrop, nearly everyone in the organization from the players to the coaches to the front office and ownership has something to prove.

But we are going to zero in on a few that have more to prove than others. The 2020 NFL season will be critical for these three Jets for different reasons. One is looking to prove he belongs, another is looking to prove he still has it and another is looking to prove he deserves a long-term contract.

Here are the three Jets with the most to prove in 2020.

Quinnen Williams

The No. 3 overall pick in 2019 had an underwhelming rookie season. It is too soon to label him a bust or make any major pronouncements about what he will or won’t be, but it is fair to say he needs to pick up his game in his second season.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams recently said he expects a big year from Quinnen Williams. The defensive tackle impressed Jets coaches with his ability to move around the defensive line and play different positions. Williams was stout against the run but did not make many impact plays (2 ½ sacks, 4 tackles for loss). When you are the No. 3 pick in the draft, the microscope is on you and Williams sometimes disappeared in games.

This unusual offseason may hurt Williams. He would have benefited from a full offseason program, but people close to him say he has been working very hard to transform fat into muscle and he is motivated. Williams came in at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds last season.

Le’Veon Bell

Bell’s first season with the Jets was a huge disappointment. After signing a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the team, Bell struggled mightily. He failed to rush for 100 yards in a single game and his longest run of the season was 19 yards.

There is plenty of blame to go around for Bell’s ineffectiveness. You can start with an offensive line that was terrible at opening up holes for him. Bell repeatedly was drilled in the backfield and very rarely was able to use his patient style effectively. Bell would wait for holes to open that never did. There was a disconnect at times between Bell and coach Adam Gase on how to get the most out of the running back.

Still, it is fair to question whether Bell can recapture the form that made him one of the league’s best running backs with the Steelers after a season where he averaged 3.2 yards per attempt. To me, the most damning statistic from last season on Bell was his failure to have one run longer than 20 yards. There should be at least one, even if it is a fluke. Has Bell lost a step at 28? Did the year away during his contract dispute hurt him? Bell will be trying to prove his critics wrong this year. A third season with the Jets seems unlikely, but he may be able to impress someone enough to sign him in 2021 with a strong season.

Jamal Adams

Adams’ inclusion on this list is a little more nuanced than the other two players. This is not really about what he produces on the field. Adams’ play over the past three seasons has been at a high level and there is no reason to expect it to drop off.

This is about how Adams handles the contract standoff with the Jets in the coming two months and possibly into the season. Adams is looking for a big contract, but the way he has gone about pushing the Jets to do it and then pushing them to trade him has been ugly.

It seems like Adams does not even want to be on the Jets anymore, but if there is still a chance of getting a long-term deal done Adams can help himself with how he comports himself once training camp comes. Is he going to cause a distraction? Is he going to show up for camp? Is he going to claim to be unable to practice if he does? Will he keep firing away at the organization on social media?

Adams has proven he is worth big bucks on the field. But the way he has handled his business this offseason has to have the Jets and other teams questioning whether he is worth a long-term investment.