as we've seen before JD doesn't really make big splashes. he knows there are a lot of holes in the roster and likely is looking to add solid depth pieces or T2 free agents over the top guys. it's a pretty weak FA class but here are some we probably look at. another thing notes id JD made a point of saying he believes games are won in the trenches Randy Gregory (EDGE , DAL) dallas likely can't afford him and he's nto a complete player but he's very similar to carl lawson and would likely get a similar deal (12-13 mil per year) he is a bit injury prone but as a rotational pass rusher really shines. add him with JFM, lawson, and if were lucky a high pick rookie and if not maybe huff and we have our 4 man pass rush rotation at DE with 3 on similar contracts (JFM, lawson, gregory) Akiem Hicks (DT, CHI) he would be about 7-8 mil a year and essentially a similar signing to rankins last year. it's likely shepard is gone and we need someone opposite Q inside who can be a big run stopper and a pass rusher. this allows foley (hopefully he comes back) and rankins to rotate in as needed. rankins as a pass specialist and foley as a run specialist emanual ogbah (EDGE, MIA) he's a guy who has been trending up. hasn't become an elite rusher but has become an above average players. he's young though still and would likely command about 16m per year and would be a solid addition to the EDGE rotation if we don't sign gregory. Dalton Schultz (TE, DAL) he only has a 1 year resume and is physically limited but he's a great run blocker and has good hands and can work zones in the short game. the perfect kind of TE for this offense. pair him with kroft and a rookie and yeboah and suddenly our TE group goes from awful to pretty solid. probably gets around 12mil a year Melvin Ingram (EDGE, KC) another older edge guy who would be a stop gap. probably a 1 year deal in the 8-10mil range but would be like we wanted curry to be here. I know we want more pass rush so it's likely JD takes a look at most of the guys out there Laken Tomlinson (G, SF) he's a perfect run blocking RG for us and knows the system coming from SF. played well there and isn't a true stud but for us a huge upgrade over GVR and would only cost about 9 mil a year. that projects our starting o-line at Becton, AVT, Mcgovern, tomlinson, Fant. if we draft an RG they wouldn't be rushed and can serve as depth for us. Devondre Campbell (LB, GB) an off ball LBer who the packers brought in on a 1 year prove it deal for 2 mil. We would have been better off signing him over davis. he keeps improving every year, he's durable, 3 down LBer who's really good aginst the run downhill and not bad in coverage. basically a better quincy williams and can be had for not much. likely around 6 mil a year. Michael Gallup (WR, DAL) a somewhat big physical WR who would be a WR2 for us opposite davis. which would allow moore to play in the slot exclusively gallup is a good blocker and fits our scheme well as another corey davis type. since he's on the T2 list of WRs probably cost around 13 mil similar to davis. he's also a good route runner which is important in our system and gets good seperation Connor Williams (OG, DAL) very similar to tomlinson above as far as strengths and weaknesses. not as good as him and likely a little cheaper but a huge upgrade to us who'd been overshadowded on an o-line stacked with talent in dallas. he's been improving every year so likely a good value signing who will outplay his contract James Daniels (OG, CHI) probably the best talent on this list as far as O-line goes and likely cost the most around 10mil but he's only 25 has improved every season and can be a legit top 10 OG in the NFL and at worst an above average starter guarenteed. also knows how to play OC so if mcgovern were to go down, he can slide into the OC spot giving us depth with versatility. also fits our blocking scheme great Juju smith-schuster (WR, PIT) a slot WR who tore it up a few years ago. signed a 1 year prove it deal and got hurt so likely does it again for 1 year 8 mil. he's better then what we had in the slot so an upgrade there David Njoku (TE, CLE) former 1st round pick has improved every year. don't let his numbers fool you, he's better then you would think based on stats. nto much of a blocker but a deadly reciever at TE who can generate YAC. likely cost the same as schultz so depends what way JD wants to go as far as TE if he wants the better blocker and more solid overall guy or the explosive receiving threat guy Steven Nelson (CB, PHI) JD is very familiar with philly and their FO so probably knows more about this guy then we do. a perfect CB2 for our system and would likely be cheap at around 7 mil a year Ben Jones (OC, TENN) a starting quality OC who would only command about 6 mil. too much for a backup but could allow us to move mcgovern to RG and provide depth with versatility. also very durable and hasn't missed a game DJ Chark (WR, JAX) nicknamed Chark Attack, he's big and fast and made a name for himself with scrub QBs including a 1000 yard season just 2 years ago with minshew at QB. he's a WR3 overall but a very good deep threat and despite his size not a great blocker but he's a guy who can play outside in 3 WR sets and stretch the field. his biggest issue is durability though and would likely cost around 13 mil. a more durable but not as good option for this could be christian kirk as well Quandre Diggs (S, SEA) The other man for seattle next to adams has actually outplayed adams and would bargain in at about 8 mil a year. he's physical, great tackler, and rangy. would be a great addition to replace maye for us. pair him with hamilton as a draft pick and we are set at safety Corderelle Patterson (WR/RB, ATL) the former 1st round bust made a huge name for himself this season on a 1 year signing deal and will now look to cash in. he put up over 1k yards and 11 TDs as a RB and WR could be the RB2 to carter and play some slot WR for us. he's still got speed and elusiveness would cost about 6 mil a year james connor (RB, ARI) perfect RB2 for us. tough between the tackles, great hands, and a gritty player. would cost about 6 mil a year
Daniels feel like the type FA Douglas has tried to target and would be at the top of this list. Also, I'm admittedly a bit bias on this one since he's a local product I've followed since his days at Cedar Grove, but I still think Njoku has a massive upside. Patterson is certainly a unique chess piece, and for that reason I'm not sure what to make of his market. I like Schuster the most of the 1-year prove it WRs and Diggs (or someone like him) would be very high on the list considering safety is the biggest question mark on a roster full of them.
Hicks would be an awesome signing. I also had interest in Gallop, but I have a good friend who's a cowboy fan and apparently he's injury prone. I think we just have too many injury prone players, even though that's hard to forecast. On board with Njoku also. I'd also pick up a FA guard thats an upgrade to LDT.
Gallup tore his ACL late in the year. I wouldn't offer him multiple years and if he's looking for a 1-year prove it deal, there are much better places for him to rebuild his market than here.
Njoku is a weird one. You look at his measurables and how athletic he is and it seems like he should be putting up huge numbers every year. I guess he's just not great at the nuances of the position. Regardless though he's gotta be way better than the garbo we've been trotting out there at TE over the years.
One guy I'd add to the list and I have no idea what his market will be is Rashaad Penny. Serious history of injury and inconsistency, but he was a 1st rounder for a reason and over the final five games went 92-671-6 rushing. Also only 280 career carries so there isn't a ton of wear and tear on the tires. This might be the RB version of Denzel Perriman, but considering the depressed market for RBs, I'd pay a few million to find out.
No doubt, but I'd like to think Hooper's presence put a significant dent into Njoku's opportunities the last 2 years.
Not a great year to need a big time guard. Mark Glowinski from the Colts should be looked at. I liked Austin Blythe from the Chiefs as he spent meaningful time in the zone with the Rams but he hasn’t sniffed the field all year. He played both guard and center for the Rams. It will not be a good look if we don’t sign a NFL tightend with the solid FA class. Can’t go into the year with this group next year. AJ Johnson is a run stuffing linebacker for the Broncos that’s been good all year according to my friend that’s a Broncos fan. Always liked Anthony Walker from the Browns versatility. I think we also badly need to sign a run stuffing defensive tackle. Not sure who, but I’d cut Rankins if that’s a possibility and bring in someone who can stop the run. Maybe Hassan Ridgeway? Or Al Woods as a stop gap and two down player? Darius Philon dominated the LOS at the end of the year for the Raiders but he’s now hurt. DaQuan Jones from the Panthers?
In addition to Njoku and Schultz, I wouldn’t say no to Mike Gesicki or, for the right contract, Gerald Everett. Both younger guys that could be locked in for many years. The TE free agent class is deep.
it's partly becuase baker sucks and the OC knows it and chubb is a top 3 RB and they have a top 5 o-line so the offense is built to hide baker. just look at the 10 min video OBJ dad posted of baker missing OBJ that led to his release who went to the rams and had a good few games despite not knowing the offense and looks good so far
Quite a few proven guys on the TE free agent market. It's a must add for us in the coming months. Do not wait for the draft. Just look at what Kittle has done in this system in SF. Schultz, Ertz, Njoku, Gesicki, Conklin, Everett, Uzomah, Ebron, Tonyan, Hurst, Engram. None of these guys is GK but all a significant upgrade to what we've had in the past and such an important position of need for Wilson's growth. Screw it, I say we pull a Belichick and sign two of them!
Excellent research as always. Comprehensive list with lots of options. Without being critical, but simply based on our past outcome, I would automatically dismiss any one whose resume hits at “slight tendency to be injury prone” Here is my down select criteria 1 Demonstrated durability 2- Demonstrated solid above average performance at NFL level
Gesicki is a terrible fit for the Jets. He's a bad run blocker and he's almost never lined up in line as a TE. The Jets absolutely need to double or even triple dip at TE this year. Sign 2 FA TEs like a Schultz + Njoku or Njoku + Mo Alie-Cox/Conklin/Hurst AND draft a rookie like McBride or Ruckert.
I would imagine Njoku falls into this category too although he likely had no choice but to line up in line and block a bit due to their style of play. I would guess that’s why they went and signed Hooper and drafted Harrison Bryant though.
I'm not sure how often Njoku is in-line compared to out-wide, I'll have to try to find it later but it might be hard without a PFF subscription. The Jets need a starting TE that is a pass catching threat and a willing blocker. I'm not huge on Gesicki because it's well known he doesn't line up in-line and when he does, he's a terrible blocker.
they don't really fit the system. I don't want to pay a guy 12-13m a season who doesn't really fit what we need I think 1 is ok. resign kroft, keep yeboah, draft a TE. kroft is a capable 2 but the hope is that the rookie takes that role and kroft is a depth guy and we continue to develop yeboah
If the Jets run it back with a rookie TE, Kroft, and Yeboah, Joe Douglas should be immediately put on the hot seat. Kroft can't stay healthy and Yeboah hasn't proven anything besides being a camp body. The TE spot has been a black hole on this team for 11 years, it's time to fix it with a NE-esque approach to it like how they signed Henry and Jonnu.
