It actually seems a pretty good idea since it's a transition in the defense scheme and he's the QB of the defense.
Depends on the numbers. He's old and slow. He makes tackles because he's set up to make them. 3-4 MLB's are going to rack up tackles no matter what. Mac and Bowles need to decide whether he is worth what he is asking for.
many want a speedier pass cover LB, but an anchor MIKE with vet savvy and team tenure isn't a bad thing to have. get younger! faster! but replacing such an integral piece takes time, and we don't know how the draft will fall, or if Spikes or whoever will get the job done in lieu of Harris… he becomes less of an answer and more of a bridge for the future but a necessary one. I give him two years 8 mil, and start thinking of tomorrow.
don't think i'd go above 5M per, but makes a lot of sense to get him back. he's very valuable in run defense, is a sure open field tackler, he's smart, durable, and a leader who can provide consistency thru the transition.
Limited options in free agency and the draft should steer us to a re-sign. I like the 2 yrs 8 mil idea.
If we don't pay more than $4-5 million I would prefer to keep him and have more flexibility in the draft even though I think there are plenty of good linebackers available this year.
Short term deal, 4 mil a year max for this guy. Veteran lb with no speed. Good nose for the ball but that's about it. Need to get younger and much faster at all lb positions.
He is the QB of Rex's defense. Bowles would probably prefer a safety be the QB of his defense. Whatever they sign him for, they have to be able to cut him next year. He just gets slower and slower, and all the experience in the world will not save you when you get to a certain slowness.
Agree with all of this. I'd say not much more than 3yrs and 15M with most guarantees in the 1st year to make him able to be cut if he truly regresses I believe the fewer gaping holes that you have on your team heading into the draft the better. Resigning Harris gives the team some continuity, a pair of solid starters, but doesn't discount the Jets from drafting an ILB at any point if the value is there. If they don't resign Harris or some other free agent ILB (thin class), then you're handcuffed to drafting one early regardless of how the draft plays out
I just don't see anyway we can keep him for just $4m/yr. The hitman has been a top tackler in the NFL for 10 years and stopping the run is the number one mission of all 32 teams. Compare the contribution of having the hitman in the middle of our D to what CJ2K provided the offense last year. You think those 2 contributions are equivalent? $4M?
I've never been too big a fan of Harris and while he's a decent player he's never once been worth the money he's made. A sound tackler but it seems like there's always tons of miscommunication on the defensive side of the ball. Whether it's blown coverages over the top or backs running free out of the backfield. Not to mention the wrong personnel always being on the field forcing a timeout but I think that was more of a Rex problem. In any event keeping him around at $3-$4 mill wouldn't be the worst thing but he shouldn't be looked at as a starter on this team for much longEr. He's very slow to the edge and literally can't cover any type of eligible receiver back or tightend. I'd rather see him blitz every down than try.
Right--he is an honest player who has probably been overpaid. You do not resign him if he wants you to overpay him again. The Jets have holes at LB, though. While Harris is not a world beater, he is not a hole--yet. If he will take reasonable short term money, I would sign him.
I said this along time ago,Harris is underrated he is a very important part of this defense.Even if he isn't gonna be starting every down anymore he is still a good leader and has more left to offer compared to guys like Pace & Babin.He is top notch at stopping the run
Harris was one of our leading tacklers but he is a liability in coverage. If he wants more than $5 mil we have to let him walk or we will not have the money to extend Snacks, Davis, Wilkerson, and Richardson. We also need cap room for free agents to help fix the secondary, offensive line, and pass rush while filling the gaping hole at QB.
Not a big Harris fan here, either. Bringing him back depends totally on the number. I think he's been overpaid two of the last three years.
I agree. Rex and Buffalo will probably seek to drive Harris' price up. I'd like to keep Harris as a backup or only short term starter (half a season or less) until a younger, faster player can take over. If they are talking extension, I hope it's for no more than 1-2 years with no guaranteed money, and a cheap deal.
2 year, 4-5 million. He's a necessary resign in my eyes. I get he's old and slow blah blah blah but he's a integral part of our defense right now and can be this year at the very least. He knows how to make tackles and has good instinct, sometimes people forget how valuable those two things are. However we do need to start thinking about getting younger in this draft
That's subjective whether you consider him a hole or not. To me he's really only a 2 down run stuffer and very one dimensional. He cannot cover a senior citizen in the flats. I view that as a hole considering the NFL is a spread offense league. When teams go 4 wide receivers he's useless if he's not blitzing.
