As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 6: Jermaine Kearse

Last year’s ranking: Unranked (not on team)

Position: WR

Age: 28

How acquired: Traded by the Seahawks on Sept. 1, 2017, along with a second-round and seventh-round pick in exchange for Sheldon Richardson

Years left on contract: 1

2018 Salary Cap figure: $5.5 million

Looking back at 2017: The Jets acquired Kearse just before Week 1 last year in a trade with the Seahawks. They needed a veteran receiver after Quincy Enunwa was lost for the year with a neck injury.

Kearse was exactly what the Jets needed. He was a professional who set a good example for their group of young receivers and was very productive on the field.

Kearse caught 65 passes for 810 yards, both career highs. He scored five touchdowns, tying his career high. He led the team in receptions. Kearse had two games with seven receptions and one with nine.

Pro Football Focus rated Kearse 43rd out of 118 wide receivers the site graded. Quarterbacks had a 98 rating throwing to him, per PFF, and he dropped only three out of 68 catchable passes, the eighth best drop rate.

Beyond what he did on the field, Kearse added professionalism to the Jets locker room, particularly with a group of really young wide receivers. He won a title with the Seahawks, so he brings a championship pedigree the Jets need.

Outlook for 2018: The Jets have some depth at wide receiver this year. That has led to some speculation that the team might move on from Kearse, who has no guaranteed money left on his deal.

I don’t see it.

To me, Kearse is a key piece of this offense. He is the most dependable receiver they have. Robby Anderson will stretch the field. Quincy Enunwa will present problems for the defense. But I think the Jets’ quarterbacks will lean on Kearse as a security blanket. He showed last year that he runs precise routes and always seems to be in the right spot.

My expectation is he and Anderson will be on the outside this year with Enunwa in the slot. Terrelle Pryor could change those plans if he has a monster training camp and preseason, but I think Kearse is going to be a major player in Jeremy Bates’ offense.

The trade for Kearse, which sent defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson to Seattle, is one of Mike Maccagnan’s best moves as GM. They acquired the second-round pick that helped them trade up in this year’s draft for Sam Darnold, but they also landed Kearse, who was a player they desperately needed.