Over the following few months, we’ll be breaking down all undrafted free brokers signed by the Jets. We proceed at the moment with a take a look at large receiver DT Sheffield.
The 25-year outdated Sheffield is listed at 5’7” and 175 kilos and was undrafted out of Rutgers. He caught 44 passes for Rutgers final yr having transferred from North Texas the place he was an all-AAC first-teamer. He additionally performed for Washington State and on the JUCO degree.
Sheffield was a quarterback in highschool and was not closely recruited, so he opted to play on the JUCO degree for Northwest Mississippi CC.
He had 20 catches for 358 yards and 5 touchdowns in a pandemic-shortened six-game season in 2020, then broke out with 57 catches for 1,089 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021. This earned him NJCAA all-American first group honors and he was additionally named an all-MACCC first-teamer.
In 2022, Sheffield had 58 catches and 11 touchdowns however his yardage complete dropped to 776. He was as soon as once more an all-MACCC first group choice and an honorable point out all-American.
In 2023, he lastly earned a long-awaited shot on the FBS degree however would final simply two video games with Washington State, for whom he caught 5 passes.
Having transferred to North Texas, Sheffield broke out and earned all-AAC first-team honors in 2024 as he had 66 catches and 822 yards and let the convention with 11 touchdowns. He was named as an all-AAC first-teamer as a receiver and third-teamer as a return specialist.
His remaining season noticed him transferring once more, this time to Rutgers. He had 44 catches, 577 yards and 5 scores in his lone season with them.
Sheffield was not anticipated to be drafted and the Jets signed him to an undrafted free agent contract that included low ensures.
Let’s transfer onto some extra in-depth evaluation of what Sheffield brings to the desk, primarily based on in-depth analysis and movie examine.
We just lately broke down Caullin Lacy, who we described as undersized, however Sheffield is even smaller. Nonetheless, he displayed good energy for his dimension with 15 bench press reps at his professional day.
His different athletic numbers had been additionally good as he ran 4.45 and posted good explosiveness and agility numbers, together with a 42-inch vertical soar.
Sheffield has performed virtually completely within the slot throughout his profession and can be somebody who might be efficient moving into movement.
He carried 5 instances for 83 yards on the FBS degree, with 75 of these approaching a landing run.
Sheffield’s pace and acceleration imply he can get downfield and be a deep menace and he has had a handful of huge performs down the sector over the previous two seasons. He exhibits an excellent capacity to find and observe with the ball within the air.
Sheffield posted a good 65 p.c catch charge over the course of his profession and has proven he could make some robust catches in site visitors.
Nonetheless, he is usually a little bit of a physique catcher at instances and has been responsible of some irritating focus drops. He solely had 5 drops in every of the previous two seasons, although so his drop charge was not alarmingly excessive.
He hasn’t made many highlight-reel kind grabs throughout his profession.
Sheffield’s quickness and burst might be an asset when he runs routes however his total route-running wants some refinement as he doesn’t at all times make sharp breaks or use deception to arrange his breaks however is best when he does.
As you’d anticipate, he’s efficient on slant routes, crossers and on flats and out routes.
Sheffield is an possibility across the objective line, as proven by the truth that he had double digits in touchdowns in three of his six school seasons.
Whereas he lacks the dimensions to be a fade or soar ball possibility, his quickness briefly areas means he can get open or get into the top zone on quick passes.
Sheffield actually showcased his skills after the catch in 2024 as he usually displayed his elusiveness and skill to slide tackles.
On display screen/pop passes caught behind the road of scrimmage, he had virtually 300 yards and two scores on 33 catches in 2024.
When he arrived at Rutgers, they used him extra on downfield routes and he wasn’t actually a part of the display screen recreation.
He had three fumbles on offense on the FBS degree, all in 2024.
Sheffield’s lack of dimension means he’s not very efficient as a blocker and his poor efficiency grades from analytical websites like Professional Soccer Focus mirror this truth.
Sheffield has a surprisingly respectable file on contested catches, though he’s most likely higher utilized in conditions the place you may get it to him in area.
He battles for yardage as a ball provider however will not be a lot of a blocker, as famous, and can enable defensive backs to disrupt his routes an excessive amount of.
Sheffield has loads of expertise of returning each kicks and punts in school. On the FBS degree, he was used extra as a punt returner, posting a good common of over 11 yards per return. He had two punt return touchdowns on the JUCO degree.
He solely muffed one punt on the FBS degree.
Instincts and Intelligence
Sheffield has performed on 4 completely different groups over the previous 4 seasons, so he has had expertise in quite a lot of completely different offenses which might serve him effectively as he learns one more new system with the Jets.
Throughout his time with the Cougars, he had the play the place his mistake led to him being berated by a teammate and which might have been a part of the rationale why he stop this system.
He had one pre-snap penalty in school.
Sheffield has proven good willpower to ultimately get to the FBS degree and have some success after initially being ignored. It’s not going to be simple to repeat the trick on the NFL degree however he clearly has perseverance and drive.
The explanations for him bailing on Washington State so early on had been saved non-public on the time, however might have been linked to the above incident the place he obtained in his teammate’s method. Nonetheless, his feedback at North Texas recommended all he needed was a possibility so we will maybe conclude that’s what prompted him to stop this system.
Sheffield is diminutive, so might be a sturdiness concern, however hasn’t been affected by accidents to this point throughout his profession.
Sheffield was completely a slot receiver on the FBS degree in order that’s the place he’ll compete for taking part in time in preseason. Realistically, although, his finest shot at making the group could be if he excels on returns.
You’ll be able to by no means rule out a return specialist from with the ability to make an impression and Sheffield’s glorious athletic numbers recommend he might have been ignored by different NFL groups.
Nonetheless, with Isaiah Williams and Kene Nwangwu having performed so effectively final yr, and Caullin Lacy having vital ensures in his contract, it’s troublesome to see a path to a roster spot for Sheffield except there are accidents.
However, if he can break an enormous return or two in preseason, his profession will probably be off to an excellent begin and his probabilities of sticking round will enhance.
As for whether or not he can ever contribute on offense, which will should be a secondary consideration for a yr or two till he’s had an opportunity to lock down a spot as a consequence of his return skills.
