I know there have been too many of these already, but I decided to give one a shot. I know the Jets have a ton of cap room, but I think a lot of these scenarios have been too optimistic about the Jets' chances of landing an elite FA. Teams on average have more than $20 mil in cap room and it doesn't neccessarily seem to be Tangini's style to spend heavily on one or two players any way. Release: Kevan Barlow RB B.J. Askew FB Kimo Von Ohauffen DE Brad Kassell LB Resign: Anthony Clement RT, 2 years $5 million. He's not the ideal solution at RT, but will be cheap and a nice stopgap in the meantime. Hank Poteat CB, 2 years $2.5 million. Performed admirably when injuries forced him into the starting lineup. Hopefully he'll be a full-time backup in 2007. Free Agents DT/DE Terdel Sands: 4 years $16 million. A massive body to provide the depth up front that has been sorely lacking. OG Derrick Dockery: 3 years $12 million. The massive run blocker the team sorely needs at the guard position. OLB Tully Banta-Cain: 3 years $9 million. Would be an excellent depth signing and is still pretty young. ILB Napolean Harris: 3 years $7.5 million. Has experience as an ILB in the 3-4 defense, still young and a former 1st round pick. RT Langston Walker: 2 years $3 million. Has been a disapointment with the Raiders, but the talent is there. He has the size to be a very good run blocker. ILB Randall Godfrey: 2 years $4.5 million. He's getting up there in years, but provides veteran leadership and run support. Trades 1. Justin McCareins for a 5th round pick. Normally I'd say he has zero trade value, but this year's WR class in free agency is very week and team's have a ton of money to spend. 2. Eric Barton for a 4th round pick. I like Barton, but based on everything you read, it appears that the coaching staff doesn't find him to be a good fit in the 3-4 and too expensive. I'm sure he'll be fine elsewhere back as a 4-3 OLB. 3. Adrian Jones for a conditional 2007 pick. He lost his job in training camp and I think the DUI sealed his fate with this team. Draft 1. Dwayne Jarrett WR. Yes I know some of you think I am out of my mind for suggesting a WR here. If Jarrett falls (which some think he will), he is way to big of a steal to pass up here. Could he be Keyshawn part 2? He immediately becomes the team's #3 and replaces Coles in the near future. 2A. Adam Carriker DE. A perfect fit for the 3-4 defense. 2B. Brian Leonard HB/FB. A pick that is either loved or hated. I think he can be the thunder to Leon's lightning that Cedric Houston hasn't been. Also his ability to play FB gives the Jets added dimensions and matchups to their offense. You can play Leon with Leonard at the same time, something that can't be done with a Houston, Michael Bush, etc. 3. Dan Bazuin DE/OLB. He went to a small school (Central Michigan), but 27 sacks over the past 2 years is impressive at any level. Looks like a guy who projects as a 3-4 OLB. 4. Darius Walker RB. I'm sure are wondering why another RB here. Walker is an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield. I honestly think he's the next Kevin Faulk. 5A. Mansfield Wrotto OG. I'll admit that at this point I don't have a great idea of what will and won't be available. Based on his report on nfldraftcountdown, he appears to be a very raw player (former DT), but has excellent potential. With Kendall/Dockery/Moore, he wouldn't have to play right away. Hopefully he'd be ready in a couple years when Kendall retires. http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/og/mansfieldwrotto.html 5B. Ikaika Alama-Francis DE. A potential 3-4 DE, who reportedly torn his pec muscle in the Hula Bowl. If this is true, his stock will fall dramatically, allowing the Jets to potentially steal a guy who would have been a first day pick. In general one of the problems I felt the Jets had with their offense this year was a lack of consistent receiving options for Chad after Coles/Cotchery. Jarrett is a bit of a luxury pick (though #3 WR is a legitimate concern with McCareins gone), but too good to pass up in that situation. Pass catching RBs such as Curtis, Richie Anderson and Sowell were key in Chad's success over the years. This year, they didn't have those guys (though Leon showed flashes late in the year). With Leonard and Walker, Chad will have that security blanket to check off to that he was missing this season. The other problem I think the Jets had was a lack of depth in the front seven. With the additions of Harris, Sands, Godfrey, Banta-Cain, Carriker and Bazuin the depth has been improved dramatically.
I have to disagree with you here about the cap troubles comment. There aren't any contracts that are particularly big here. With the possible exceptions of Harris and Dockery, none of those guys would see a signing bonus over $4-5 million. None of the players have annual values over $4 mil per. An Asante Samuel, Lance Briggs, etc. will have $15+ million in a bonus with an average of 7-8 million per. With the way contracts are often distributed (especially on big ones like those), they will be cap busters in 3-4 years.
