With Dalvin Cook no longer in the picture, the Jets have added rookie running back Xazavian Valladay to their active roster. The team also extended his contract to keep him with the team through 2025. This, according to NFL insider Mike Garafolo.
The #Jets are signing RB Xazavian Valladay to their roster from the practice squad and adding two years to have him under contract through 2025, per his agent @thelawmvp. It’s the team’s way of getting a jump on the reserve/future deals we’ll see once the regular season is over.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 5, 2024
A former Arizona State product, Valladay can do a little bit of everything for you and has enough positive traits to be an NFL back. He shows both speed and explosiveness as a runner which helped him run for just under 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns last season for the Sun Devils.
@ASUFootball RB Xazavian Valladay hasn't generated much buzz with the draft approaching, but whether he's a day 3 pick or UDFA, the kid has enough traits to be a good NFL back. pic.twitter.com/8Resqm2LMg
— Glenn Naughton (@JetsPicks) April 17, 2023
The 6′ 198 Valladay also catches the ball well enough out of the backfield to force defenses to stay honest. He hauled in 60 balls for just over 500 yards over his final two collegiate seasons.
Given Cook’s recent departure, Valladay may see some action in the team’s final contest this Sunday against the New England Patriots. How much success he or any Jets back will have behind their beleaguered offensive line remains to be seen.
