After drafting seven players, Jets general manager Joe Douglas signed 14 undrafted free agents. Here is a brief summary on each player.
OF Deslin Alexander (6-3, 264), Pittsburgh
Alexandre was an All-ACC honorable mention and a team captain in 2021 and 2022, and was named Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year 2023. In 58 games (35 starts), he has 131 tackles, 29.5 TFL , 16.5 sacks and 8 assists defensively. Alexandre, who was born in Haiti before moving to the United States in 2022, competed in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He joins Panthers teammates T Carter Warren (fourth-round pick and RB Israel Abanikanda (fifth-round pick).
WR Jason Brownlee (6-2, 198), southern Mississippi
Brownlee played three seasons at South Mississippi after beginning his college career at East Mississippi Community College, where in 2019 he was a first-team NJCAA All-American with a national record 75 receptions for 1,055 yards. He has good size (39.5-inch vertical jump in the NFL Combine), speed (4.59 in the 40), and jumping ability (10-11 in the wide jump). As a senior, he led all 55 receptions for the Golden Eagles for 891 yards (16.2) and 8 touchdowns. He was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team.
LB Claudin Cherelus (6-2, 230), Alcorn State
Cherelus played two seasons at UMass before heading south to Mississippi for his final two college seasons at Alcorn State, an HBCU school. In his two seasons he played in 20 games, totaled 149 tackles (87 solo), 25.5 TFL and 8 sacks for the Braves. While at Golden Gate (FL) High School, he also had 526 all-purpose rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Cherelus was also a power forward for the school basketball team.
S Trey Dean (6-2, 200), Florida
Dean has a lot of experience. He was named to the All-SEC Freshman team in 2018, starting 9 games for the Gators. In 2021, he led the team with 92 tackles and 10 pass defenses. Last season, he had 81 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks and 4 PD, earning him an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Dean, who is cousin to Browns WR Amari Cooper, had 259 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 1 FF, 24 PD and 4 INTs in 62 games (40 starts) in Gainesville.
RB Travis Dye (5-10, 201), USC
Dye was a one-year starter for the Trojans, rushing for 884 yards and 9 touchdowns last season, earning second-team All-Pac 12 honors. He began his college career in Oregon and became the fifth player in school history to reach 3,000 career rushing yards. In 58 games (33 starts) between two schools, he averaged 6.0 and had 3,995 rushing yards, 30 touchdowns as well as 1,071 receiving yards and 8 receiving scores. Dye also has return experience, averaging 19.1 yards per kickoff return.
WR Xavier Gipson (5-9, 189), Stephen F. Austin
After first committing to SMU, Gipson shifted gears and jumped to Stephen F. Austin, where he made an immediate impact with the Lumberjacks. In his first season, 2019, he had 52 receptions for 934 yards (18 yards average) and 7 TDs. He was named to the All-Southland Conference second team on offense and third team as a returner (17 returns, 56 yards, 20.9 average). As a junior, when Austin joined the WAC, Gipson was named to the All-League First Team, leading the FCS with 1,367 receiving yards, third with 14 receiving touchdowns, and eighth with 74 receptions (18.4 per ). He was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022, leading the team with 65 catches for 1,163 yards (17.9) and 7 touchdowns last season. He also has four comeback scores over the past three seasons.
LB Maalik Hall (6-3, 235), Southeast Oklahoma State
Hall spent five seasons with the Savage Storm (the 2020 season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic). He returned in 2021 to record 54 total tackles ((31 solo), 12 TFL and 6 sacks. As a senior, he had 77 tackles (34 solo), 11 TFL and 8 sacks. He was named a big American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and also landed D2football.com’s Top 100 Players list.
TE EJ Jenkins (6-6, 245), Georgia Tech
Jenkins played one season for the Yellow Jackets and had 17 catches, 316 yards and 3 scores. He played for South Carolina in 2021 (8-117-1) and St. Francis University in Loretto, PA from 2017-20. Jenkins played wide receiver for the Red Flash and set a school record in a season with 13 touchdowns in 2019.
LB Caleb Johnson (6-0, 235), Miami
Johnson, not to be confused with a Jacksonville Jaguars player of the same name, started his collegiate career with Texas (one season in 2019) then moved to UCLA (he’s from Murrieta, CA) before joining into the transfer portal and land with the Hurricanes for the 2022 season. Appearing in 10 games last season, Johnson had 48 total tackles (26 solo), 1.5 sacks and forced 2 fumbles.
OL Brent Laing (6-3, 304), Minnesota-Duluth
Laing was a DII first-team All-American and first-team All-NSIC in 2021 and 2022. He has started 34 games at right tackle over the past three seasons and has not allowed a sack in 2022. Laing considered transferring to play DI, but opted to stay and play for the Bulldogs where he was team captain. He accepted her invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
DC Derrick Langford (6-1, 205), Washington State
A two-year starter for the Cougars, Langford had 78 tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions, 6 pass defenses and 3 forced fumbles. He first played at San Francisco Community College in 2018 before transferring to Washington State. Langford’s father, Derrick Sr., was drafted by the Atlanta Braves of MLB in the 52nd round of the 1994 draft.
WR TJ Luther (5-11, 189), Gardner-Webb
Luther played two years at Wofford before moving to Gardner-Webb for his final two seasons. He had 22 receptions in 2021 for 371 yards (16.9 per catch) and 3 touchdowns. He broke out in 2022 with 63 catches for 1,666 yards (18.5) and 8 touchdowns. He also had six 100-yard games (five straight in the first six games).
S Marquis Waters (6-1, 215), Texas Tech
Waters played four seasons at Duke and earned a degree in sociology with a minor in education before joining the Red Raiders in 2021. Injured after four games, he was redshirted and able to return for the past season. Back at full strength, he had 60 tackles (41 solo), 14 TFLs and 1 sack. Was honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by conference coaches and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors by PFF. He was also named to the All-Big 12 Academic First Team.
