Jets Outside Free Agency

 In a previous post, titled "Stay or Go," I examined the Jets free agents, who I would bring back, and who I would send on their way. After that exercise, we had $45 million in cap space. With many premium picks in April's draft, the current estimate is it will take about $15 million to sign the class, so that means we have $30 million remaining. 

Now we have seen Joe Douglas likes to leave a little wiggle room under the cap; he is not going to spend every last dollar, so I'm going to say he leaves about $5 million leftover, which gives us $25 million to spend. Of course, a contract can possibly be restructured, such as the 17.5 million for CJ Mosley or the $11.1 million for George Fant, if the Jets are interested in extending him. And I'm going to say that will happen, and the cap hits for those two players will be reduced by $5 million total, taking us up to $30 million.

The depth in free agency is top heavy at certain positions and downright dreadful at others. What I will do is list my primary target at several positions of need, list why I'm high on them, and what offer I would make. I'll also add a couple of backup plans.

Running back

Michael Carter has proven to be an excellent draft pick. He can catch the ball well out of the backfield, something Mike LaFleur likes to do. I also decided in Stay or Go to retain Tevin Coleman for a year. But this team does lack a power back, who can be relied on to convert a 3rd and 2 or 4th and 1. I would prefer to draft one in the middle rounds, but I'd at least check in with a couple of free agents.

My target: Pass, address this in the draft.

FA's I would consider:

James Conner-Arizona

Leonard Fournette-Tampa Bay

Melvin Gordon-Denver

Wide receiver

We kept Berrios, to go along with Elijah Moore and Corey Davis. An outside starter is sorely needed. I would get aggressive at this position, but cautiously aggressive. Mike Williams was my target, but the Chargers have locked him up and I never considered Devante Adams or Chris Godwin as realistic targets due to money.

My target: Pass, address this in the draft. If anything I would sign one for depth like a Keelan Cole-type. But I am thinking we will know the new starting receiver by Day 2 of the NFL Draft, if not Day 1.

FA'sI would consider:

Allen Robinson-Chicago

Christian Kirk-Arizona

DJ Chark-Jacksonville

Tight End

I'm not even going to mention Dalton Schultz, because I don't expect the Cowboys let him reach free agency, he will likely be franchised. Mike Gesicki is not a blocker, he is a glorified slot receiver. I saw one analyst who thought the Jets should pursue Evan Engram. As much as Giants fans loathe him, I can't imagine Evan Engram's drops would go over any better in Florham Park. So with the expectation the Jets will address tight end with a pick in the first two rounds, and considering I kept Tyler Kroft for one year as a backup, I would buy low.

My target: Maxx Williams-Arizona. Contract offer: 2 years, 3.5 million per year.

I like that Williams has the ability to block, first and foremost. He's 6'4, 252 pounds, great size. He has a run block grade of 70 or higher for 5 of his 7 seasons in the NFL. In an offense that places extra emphasis on run blocking, the Jets may value Williams more than other teams would. As far as his receiving ability goes, he's caught 103 of the 122 passes thrown his way and he only dropped two of those passes. The Jets had the highest overall drop rate of any offense last season, Williams can help turn that around. Now on the negative side, he is coming off a torn ACL. But that may benefit the Jets as they could get him on a cheaper contract.

Others I would consider:

Gerald Everett-Seattle

Mo-Alie Cox-Indianapolis

Offensive line

With re-signing LDT and Feeney, they have some depth. I do think Morgan Moses will leave, but I think right tackle gets addressed in the draft with Ikem Ekwonu. Bradley Bozeman does intrigue me, but I don't see Joe Douglas signing a center and shifting Connor McGovern to guard.

My target: James Daniels-Chicago. Contract offer: 5 years, $30 million, $17 million guaranteed

He's that young big body that teams would crave on their o-line. Right guard solved and LDT becomes a great backup.

Others I would consider:

Bradley Bozeman-Baltimore

Laken Tomlinson-San Francisco

Defensive tackle

It's the need nobody wants to address. But as of now, our interior line includes John Franklin-Myers, Quinnen Willians, and Jonathan Marshall. I don't expect Foley and Rankins back, we need to add a piece, especially one who can stop the run.

My target: DJ Jones-San Francisco. Contract offer: He made 3.5 million, so let's go 3 years, 15 million.

Others I would consider: 

Harrison Phillips-Buffalo

Linebacker

This is a position that the Jets are sorely lacking, especially in terms of speed on the outside. Jarrad Davis and Blake Cashman are projected to be gone. Quincy Williams is a useful piece, but hasn't yet proven he can be relied on as a 3-down linebacker. The quality of this position is pretty dreadful overall, so I would try to sign a starter for cheap.

My target: Anthony Walker Jr-Cleveland. Contract offer: 2 years, 8 million, $ million guaranteed.

He consistently has made 100 tackles in 3 of his first four seasons. He isn't the biggest, but he has the speed and we sorely need that to stop the dreaded screen pass.

Others I would consider:

Davondre Campbell-Green Bay

Josey Jewell-Denver

Foye Oluokon-Atlanta

Cornerback

The situation has to be just right for me to sign a starting corner in free agency. Guys like Carlton Davis, Stephon Gilmore, and JC Jackson will not come cheap. And this isn't the position where we can be investing $10 million plus. So if anything, I'm going bargain hunting here. But with a lot of young depth, I'm going to predict Douglas passes.

Players I would consider:

Joe Haden-Pittsburgh

Kyle Fuller-Denver

PJ Williams-New Orleans

Safety

This is the position that presents an impressive level of opportunity. Because I kept LaMarcus Joyner, may not be as dire as it was looking. I mean come on, our safeties right now are Ashtyn Davis and maybe Jason Pinnock. But since Joyner can't be viewed as a long term piece, it makes sense to invest in this position now while there are many young safeties hitting the market. While not all of them will be available on March 16, some of their teams are in cap hell, and aren't about to break the bank to keep them. 

My target: Marcus Williams-New Orleans. Contract offer: 4 years, $50 million, $30 million guaranteed

Second team All-Pro. Awesome against both the run and the pass. I love his speed, his youth his, energy, and his coverage.

Others I would consider: 

Terrell Edmunds: Pittsburgh. Watch for him if Williams doesn't sign.

Quandre Diggs-Seattle

Justin Reid-Houston

Jabrill Peppers-NY Giants

In all, we spent $31 million for this season on outside free agency, leaving us about $14 million left over to sign the draft class. I'll be back for a look at the draft once we start to see the dominoes of free agency fall.