Jets DC Kacy Rodgers: Dee Milliner will compete for roster spot 'like everyone else'

Continuing to work his way back from an Achilles injury that brought a disappointing end to his second season, New York Jets cornerback Dee Milliner still has a lot to prove at the NFL level.

The 23-year-old has yet to live up to expectations after being the ninth-overall selection in the 2013 draft, and the Jets' offseason additions at the cornerback position have pushed him further down the depth chart.

"When you look at Dee coming in, you see a guy still kind of working off of an injury, trying to get himself to 100 percent," defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers told reporters last week, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.

"But as we looked at him, we expect Dee to compete for a position on the roster like everyone else. This was a top-10 pick, and we think he has a lot of ability and we expect him to compete."

Stating that Milliner will compete for a roster spot may simply be a way of scaling back expectations for the once highly-touted Alabama product, but the third-year cornerback does indeed face an uphill battle upon returning to the field.

After the Jets added Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine in free agency, Milliner has quickly gone from the club's top cornerback to its fourth, and will likely only see the field in limited defensive packages.

With two years remaining on his relatively inexpensive rookie deal, it's unlikely the Jets would opt to part ways any time soon. However, with a decision on his fifth-year contract option looming next spring, Milliner not earning a role this season would all but guarantee the team declines and thus sets him up for unrestricted free agency after the 2016 campaign.