I am torn here, I' m with you that we have not had a really good LB corp since Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones but Byrd is such an upgrade you almost have to go after him. The game against the Steelers pinpoints exactly what you said in your last sentence. They did nothing but throw underneath, it was awful
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000329702/article/top-101-nfl-free-agents-for-2014 Not completely accurate but at least gives a good perspective to base opinions on. This makes me want Byrd even more but may catapult him out of our price range.
I'm not sold on Byrd. I wouldn't throw big dollars at him at all. He's had a lot of lucky bounces go his way over the years. He's fools gold. Most of his name is based on INTs, but most of them have occurred in garbage time or against garbage QBs.. He's been fortunate that our Jets have had terrible QBs in his tenure as he's had more interceptions against the Jets than any other team. (6 of his 22 ints are against the Jets: Sanchez, Brunell and Geno Smith - not exactly QBs who protect the football) In the big games he's not existent - He has NEVER picked off Tom Brady for instance.. plays the guy twice a year, he's supposed to be a difference maker and he can't even make a play once against him???? He's a decent safety but he's not a Polamalu, a Bob Sanders, etc.. and yet he's trying to get that kind of money. I'll let Buffalo pay him that - if he wants to play for that craphole organization (doesn't seem like he does)
I wish we can get J.Mayo to replace Harris . He would cost half of what harris is making. I lihavinke the 5 million in savings on a 7 million contract if harris is cut.They say a great D starts up the middle . DT,MLB and S are crucial to having a great D. How many times did opposing RB's break outside for long runs? That is what players like ray lewis excelled at chasing down the outside stuff. We can address offense in the draft but look at what players like Luke Kuechly and Patrick Willis turned their defenses into the best ones out there! Even Bobby Wagner from the Seahawks is a pretty good player and SEA is an exception to the rule due to every player is good to great on D. I also like to see if S.Rice would take a 1 year deal? He kinda was lost on a stacked team ..
John Carlson released by the Vikings...he has had concussion issues but might be worth taking a look at
I really like Jason Avant would be a solid veteran with good hands that we could plug in at #2 if someone goes down (as per every year) or if we just bomb the draft or FA.
I like Avant too. He was the number three with a very good 1 & 2. I'm not saying bring him in as the answer but if we get Lee or Evans in the draft I would be comfortable with Avant, Lee and Kerley (not necessarily in that order) next year given we keep Hill, Nelson or a later pick for depth.
Avant would be a good and fairly cheap addition. He's also a plus because he knows MM's system. Make it happen, Idzik.
Are we that desperate that we are looking at Avant? Good guy but #3 or #4 WR. We've already got Kerley and Nelson for those roles. Get a legit #1 or #2.
IMO you can forget about that. I just don't think Idzik is the type to sign a high dollar FA. IMO that lets out both Decker and Nicks. Even Tate may cost too much for Idzik's tastes. He is committed to building the team through the draft. He may be willing to blend in some young, cheaper veteran talent, but overall, I think he will look to build through the draft. The FAs he brings in are mostly to provide competition and as insurance so he doesn't have to enter the draft feeling pressured to have to draft a particularly position and can feel free to go bpa. While Avant isn't a sexy player by any means, he's a solid, consistent vet with good hands who can help keep the chains moving. He would be an upgrade over any WR we have outside of maybe Kerley. He would be a stop gap and insurance and not "the" answer or even part of the long term answer. Idzik might not even want to sign any older FAs if he doesn't absolutely have to, so Avant may not even be on his radar, but I think he could do a lot worse than signing Avant.
I disagree. I'm not a fan of his, but the WR position needs upgrading and he would definitely be an upgrade. We don't have a single WR on our roster with hands as good as his or who catches the ball with the same consistency as him. He would be insurance in case the draft doesn't fall our way in terms of WRs. At 30 and having been a 3rd string WR, he's not gonna break the bank.
This is exactly it. There is no clear cut number ones out there to pick up. This would be a solid signing familiar with the system. We need to add some receivers in case the draft doesn't pan out how we like. Only way we get a #1 is if we trade for Fitzgerald or something and I don't see that happening.
Like I said, if he's coming cheap then fine. But the Jets offensive woes aren't going away with the signing of Avant. More than just WR, the Jets need playmakers. If the draft and FA don't fall our way in terms of offensive skill talent than this team is in trouble next year.
No, they won't go away by themselves, but nobody's suggesting that. It will be a step in the right direction, however. FA is already not falling in our way in term of offensive skill talent. Tate and Pettigrew or if he's healthy, Finley would definitely help, but I'm not holding my breath on any of those guys. I don't think that Nicks or Decker are even on the Jets' radar, so it looks like we'd all better hope the draft falls our way in terms of WR and TE talent.
avant is a guy you bring in work out find out what he is looking for and than put on the backburner until free agency is 3 weeks old. if the music stops and you still have a seat at the wr table and he is available you call him. no reason to do more than that now
I disagree. Avant is a lot better than Robinson ever was. You have to sign FAs as insurance so that you don't go into the draft having to draft positions out of need. Avant is better than anyone presently on the roster, except maybe Kerley. He has good hands and is a solid player. He would be a reliable target for Geno, something he never had this past season. Hopefully, the Jets will draft two WRs and at least one, if not two TEs, but the draft may not fall that way. As insurance, the Jets have to upgrade the WR position in FA (or at least provide some competition).
