FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — What's a Big Apple without a core?

While Jets fans salivate over the idea of Sam Darnold becoming a franchise-altering quarterback, it's too early to anoint him messiah — at least for now. The rookie showed flashes during OTAs and minicamps in 2018, but New York's upcoming season is not solely about Darnold; it's about the blossoming offensive talent around him.

Darnold will get his opportunity whether it comes in Week 1 of 2018 or Week 1 of 2019. His progress already has pleased many in the organization, from coach Todd Bowles, to offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates to various teammates.

But regardless of QB, the Jets need the core group of offensive skill players they haven't had in a long time. The answer to the question last season — "What's a Big Apple without a core?" — was "rotten." In contrast, Gang Green on Thursday wrapped up spring activities with oodles of optimism and the talent to potentially match it.

"It's a good thing because nobody can take a break," Bowles said following the final day of minicamp. "We got guys that — obviously there was a talent gap in between certain guys. But this is the closest it's been since I've been here at a lot of positions."

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Bowles reaffirmed the sentiment shared by wide receivers coach Karl Dorrell, running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach Jimmie Johnson: This is the deepest their positions have been since they've been with the Jets.

Said Johnson: "This is the most guys I've ever had at the position. We feel strongly about the position this year. A lot of young guys. … They're young and they're hungry and they're competing real hard."

Said Dorrell: "This is gonna be a hard camp for us coaches. I believe this position is the deepest I've had since I've been here. … It's a pretty deep position; there's a lot of competition."

Said Mitchell: "The Jets and myself are probably one of the luckiest teams in the NFL because of the skill set of all of those guys that we have."

The responses were so similar, one could put them over a beat, repeat them a few times and have the latest single from Lil Pump. "Gucci Gang Green," maybe. (Sorry.)

Some other buzzwords being thrown around with conviction: Depth. Competition. Skill. Potential. Youth. For the coaching staff, it's a matter of taking those words and translating them into opportunity and productivity.

To that end, the Jets don't seem to be falling into a trap of recycling veterans. Young talent is poised to make noise in key offensive positions — not just Darnold or Bridgewater at QB. Sure, the roster has been bolstered with veterans in spots, including Terrelle Pryor out wide, Isaiah Crowell in the backfield and Spencer Long along the offensive line. But no veterans will be surefire answers beyond 2018.

The young talent on the roster manufactured by general manager Mike Maccagnan was evident at times in 2017. Eli McGuire saw limited touches (88 carries) behind Bilal Powell and Matt Forte last season; Mitchell said Thursday he feels McGuire has a skill set that mirrors that of LaDainian Tomlinson.

#Jets running backs coach Stump Mitchell with glowing praise for Eli McGuire, compares his talent potential to LaDainian Tomlinson. "He can do it all." — Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) June 14, 2018

Receivers Chad Hansen and ArDarius Stewart saw 17 and 13 targets, respectively, in 2017. Like McGuire, they too were 2017 draft picks who played behind veterans last year.

"They both have tremendous potential," Dorrell said. "There's a reason why we drafted those guys, and it's because we feel they have some long-range potential."

The pillow-handed Hansen seems to have turned heads at OTAs and minicamp. Dorrell hailed Hansen's catching ability as his best attribute while still leaving room for improvement in terms of the receiver's explosiveness and physicality.

"He's improved a lot from last year," Dorrell said. "I think he's ready to (make a big jump). You can sense he's more comfortable with what his role is on our offense. He's done some pretty good things so far."

Between Hansen, Stewart, Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Jermaine Kearse and a cast of others, the Jets seem comfortable with their wide receiver group; one that comes across as criminally underrated, even with its relative lack of experience. With their options in the backfield seemingly limitless (Isaiah Crowell, Bilal Powell, McGuire, Thomas Rawls and others), the Jets are set there, too.

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That leaves one glaring hole on offense; the same hole that has plagued New York for years.

The Jets have lacked a legitimate tight end since the days of former first-round pick Dustin Keller snagging passes from Mark Sanchez. There have been failures and cast-offs for decades. (Kyle Brady, anyone? Anthony Becht, Line 1. Johnny Mitchell might come back to play for the Jets again.)

In recent years, it hasn't been a "who's who" at the position, but rather a "who's that?": Jeff Cumberland, Kellen Davis and Kellen Winslow have taken snaps for the Jets, while second-round pick Jace Amaro was both ineffective and injured before being waived a couple years after he was drafted. Austin Seferian-Jenkins turned in a pedestrian performance in 2017; though compared to the production of previous tight ends, he seemed like the second coming of Rich Caster.

Last year, the Jets drafted tight end Jordan Leggett, fresh off a national championship victory with Clemson, to help fill the void. Leggett missed the 2017 regular season due to injury. In 2018, the Jets took Chris Herndon out of Miami to bolster the position and inject more youth.

Now, Leggett and Herndon, plus Neal Sterling, Eric Tomlinson, Bucky Hodges and Clive Walford, will vie for roughly three spots. Leggett understands the competition is wide open.

"There's a lot of competitive play out there. We're all having fun, 'cause we're all still young," Leggett told Sporting News. "You have Josh (McCown) there to settle us down, get us on the same page. It's a lot of fun playing with him, and it makes it easier when you have a veteran like that in the backfield."

What about that other quarterback?

"(Darnold's) looking good out there," Leggett said with a wide smile. "Some of the throws he's making, we're sitting there watching film like, 'Wow. What a throw.'

"He is gonna be fun to play with. Once he gets it, runs away with this offense … he'll be good."

In all, there are a lot of reasons for optimism around the Jets' offense in 2018. One bad apple could spoil the bunch, sure. But for Gang Green, these apples look ready to ripen.