Gase: 'Unicorn-type player' Jets TE Chris Herndon can play on 'all three downs'

Adam Gase evidently is the unofficial president of the Chris Herndon Fan Club, waxing poetic about his young tight end during a media session at the annual NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday.

“I think Chris is unique,” Gase said. “I don’t think you find a lot of tight ends that are able to be on the field all three downs. Obviously, he’s a very good receiver. He’s very good in the run game. He did a really good job in pass protection last year. He’s a unicorn-type player ... You don’t see a lot of these guys that can all three phases of the game.”

The fourth-round pick showed flashes of top-end play during his rookie season. Herndon, who finished with 39 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns, has the skill-set to be an integral piece to Gang Green’s puzzle for the foreseeable future.

“He was a guy that we evaluated extremely hard in Miami because we were looking for a tight end,” Gase said. “We were actually looking for more than one. He fit that mold of what we were looking for. I think him coming to New York was good for me at the end of the day.”

As a rookie, Herndon finished No. 12 in points per snap in both standard and PPR formats. He only played about 63% of the snaps as a rookie, but if his playing time increases to 80% and he maintains his point per snap efficiency, then he's likely to finish in the top 10. He's currently a nice value in the 10th round of early best ball drafts.