ArDarius

Stewart

Stewart was the No. 79 overall pick out of Alabama by the Jets last year but lasted one season with Gang Green and was cut ahead of Week 1 this past summer. Stewart will look to maybe get a late-year promotion in Oakland.

The 2017 third-rounder spent 2018 out of the league. He appeared in 15 games as a rookie but was handed a two-game PED ban in July 2018. He was then waived in September. Already 25, Stewart is in danger of falling out of the league.

Stewart is back from his two-game PED suspension but the Jets don’t want him anymore. A 2017 third-rounder out of Alabama, Stewart secured six catches for 82 yards on 12 targets over 231 offensive snaps last season. He shouldn’t take long to resurface.

Stewart has five grabs for 41 yards through two preseason appearances. Suspended for Weeks 1 and 2, Stewart will be no better than the No. 5 receiver when he returns.

Stewart (5’11/204) turned pro as a redshirt junior after compiling a career 129-1,713-12 (13.3 YPR) receiving line as a two-year starter and three-year contributor in Tuscaloosa. An above-par athlete with 4.49 speed and a solid 10-foot-4 broad jump, Stewart looks like a cross between Golden Tate and Pierre Garcon on college film with powerful shiftiness and impressive run-after-catch skills. Stewart dealt with horrific QB play at Alabama – particularly in 2016 – and became a player the Crimson Tide coaching staff proactively manufactured touches. Also a physical blocker with special teams experience, Stewart has a chance to develop into a plus No. 3 or lower-end No. 2 NFL receiver.

Stewart missed OTAs with the thumb issue, and it was revealed Tuesday he would sit out minicamp due to the groin. A rookie being counted on to play right away, this is a setback to Stewart’s development. For now, fellow rookie Chad Hansen is the No. 3 wideout behind Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson.

Hughes noted that Stewart had a “good couple of days” at rookie camp. Coming from Lane Kiffin’s West Coast offense at Alabama, Stewart should make a smooth transition to the pro ranks. With Brandon Marshall gone and Eric Decker coming off multiple surgeries, Stewart will be a big contributor in year one.

A run-after-the-catch specialist, Stewart is a top-notch athlete with toughness that shows up on film. He was a physical blocker who also played special teams in the SEC. Per ESPN New York, Jets coaches have already come away impressed with Stewart’s toughness. He’s competing with Robby Anderson for No. 3 receiver duties.

It’s not a major injury, but Stewart previously missed OTAs with a thumb issue. Stewart did not have a reputation as an injury-prone player at Alabama, but seems to be having trouble adjusting to the NFL grind. With Eric Decker no longer a Jet, Stewart is locked into a top-three job.

Stewart played in a modernized West Coast scheme similar to the Jets’ under Lane Kiffin at Alabama. He ran most his routes near the line of scrimmage but is one of the more pro-ready receivers. With Brandon Marshall gone and Devin Smith (knee) spending another year on IR, Stewart looks like an immediate contributor in three-wide sets.