The New York Jets filled quite a few big holes on the roster with their haul in the 2022 NFL Draft. And they’re hopeful that they’ll develop another useful player or two from the group of undrafted rookie free agents they signed.

There’s no doubt all eyes will be on first-round picks Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson, and second-rounder Breece Hall in training camp. Fourth-round pick Micheal Clemons could be a valuable core piece on defense.

But the Jets would be thrilled if their depth can be bolstered by one of the less heralded rookies entering camp.

The Jets signed wide receivers Keshunn Abrams (Kent State) and Irvin Charles (IUP), running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight (North Carolina State), safety Tony Adams (Illinois) and linebacker DQ Thomas (Middle Tennessee State) after the draft and each took part in rookie camp the following week.

Charles is intriguing because he was a solid special teams contributor at Penn State before transferring to Indiana University in Pennsylvania. He’s also a big target (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) who caught 12 touchdowns last season. That could give him an edge for the final wide receiver spot on the roster. Although it’ll be an uphill battle against Jeff Smith and possibly Denzel Mims, the disappointing 2020 second-round pick.

The Jets are deep at running back but don’t rule out Knight, who rushed for over 2,000 yards in college. What could set him apart is that he’s an electric kick returner. He earned All-ACC honors as a return specialist in 2021, averaged nearly 30 yards per return (29.8) and scored three touchdowns on returns in his college career.

The one player, though, who has the best chance to make the team out of training camp plays on the other side of the ball.

Jets Undrafted Free Agent to Make 2022 NFL Roster

Tony Adams (Safety, Illinois)

It’s surprising to some that Adams was not selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. He played 41 games over five seasons in a Big Ten program at Illinois. He’s got the size (6-foot, 205 pounds) and speed (4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL combine) to play the safety position in the NFL.

Adams was second on Illinois with 47 solo tackles last season and had 206 total tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss during his college career.

His ball skills and coverage ability are both solid. Adams was a cornerback his first two seasons and finished his college career with six interceptions and 17 passes defensed. A wide receiver in high school, Adams was the first true freshman to start a season opener for Illinois since Vontae Davis in 2006.

The Jets have veterans Jordan Whitehead and Lamarcus Joyner set to start at safety. The list of backups is long and includes Ashtyn Davis, a third-round pick in 2020 who was a starter last season and played in 23 games so far with the Jets.

Davis, though, has not stood out and is no sure thing to survive final cuts. The Jets are expected to give a long look at Adams and the other young safeties in camp. Elijah Riley and Jason Pinnock got some experience with the Jets last season and veteran Will Parks is in the mix, too.