Can O.J. Howard be the Jets long-awaited TE fix?

In 2016, Brandon Bostick was the Jets highest PFF graded tight end earning a 50.0 grade, 51st overall among qualifying tight ends. The Jets haven’t had a tight end finish as a top-15 PFF-graded tight end since Ben Hartsock in 2009.

• The Jets were the 27th-ranked run-blocking unit in 2016, per PFF. O.J. Howard was PFF’s No. 1 run-blocking tight end in college football last season with an 81.5 run-block grade.
• With only 48 pass plays resulting in 20 yards or more (18th in the league). the Jets are in need of big plays. Howard averaged 14.6 yards per completion and 7.8 yards after catch per reception in his career. His four deep receptions were the fifth-most among 78 qualified draft-eligible tight ends and his average of 1.79 yards per route run ranked 13th.
• Tight ends were targeted just 30 times on 514 aimed passes in the Jets offense last season, so they were virtually a non-factor. New offensive coordinator John Morton comes from the Saints, where they targeted tight ends on 104 of 674 aimed passes in 2016. With the new offense, an upgrade at tight end is needed.