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. I also am not including Ryan Fitzpatrick on the list because he is not technically a Jet at this time.

No. 15: Bilal Powell

Last year’s ranking: Not ranked

Position: Running back

Age: 27

How acquired: Selected in the fourth round of the 2011 Draft

Years left on contract: 3

2016 Salary Cap figure: $1.7 million

Looking back at 2015: Powell has always been a solid change-of-pace back for the Jets, but he really exploded in 2015, showing more quickness than he had earlier in his career.

The numbers don’t reflect how important Powell was because he missed five games with an ankle injury. But the Jets’ 1-4 record without Powell shows how important he was to the team.

He missed four games in the middle of the season. When he returned, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey got Powell involved heavily in the passing game. Powell was a huge factor in the Jets’ five-game winning streak. He finished the season with a career-high 47 catches for 388 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 70 times for 313 yards and a touchdown.

Powell had eight catches for 91 yards and a score against the Giants and seven catches for 54 yards against the Cowboys, becoming one of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s favorite targets.

Powell reinjured the ankle and missed the season finale in Buffalo. The offense looked totally out of rhythm that day, and you can’t discount how Powell’s absence factored into that loss.

Outlook for 2016: The Jets let Powell know how they felt about him by signing him to a three-year, $11.25 million contract in free agency. Powell is one of the few holdovers left from the Mike Tannenbaum era. Powell’s ability to stick with the Jets through three general managers and four offensive coordinators shows how valued he is.

The Jets revamped their running back corps this offseason, but Powell remains in the middle of it. It will be interesting to see how Gailey divides up the carries between Powell and Matt Forte, who arrives with a great reputation and resume. Powell complemented former Jets running back Chris Ivory, who was more of a bruising back than he is, but Powell and Forte have similar skill sets, so this could be a trickier division of labor for Gailey.

You can count on Powell getting major touches this season, though. Gailey will figure out a way.