New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan spoke with the media this week in the season-ending presser. He confirmed what we thought, the Jets ‘will be very active’ in free agency.
Our speculation has been confirmed by New York Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, the Jets ‘will be very active’ in free agency in 2018.
Maccagnan said #jets will be “very active” in free agency
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 2, 2018
We all thought that this was likely with the Jets projected to have $80m plus in cap space in 2018. The Jets can make even more moves on the roster to create even more cap space.
If the Jets cut Muhammad Wilkerson the team can save $11m on this year’s cap. If the Jets also cut Matt Forte, they’ll save another $3m. With some other maneuvering, the team could have as much as $100m in available spending funds.
The Jets if you look at their history have had huge years after spending in free agency. Look at the Brett Favre, and back-to-back AFC Championship games, that was all powered by the 2008 spending spree on both sides of the football.
While the initial Mike Maccagnan spending spree in 2015 didn’t last as long as the earlier window, some of the fruits of the labor are still there. So with an overachieving year in 2017, perhaps this infusion of youth and talent can be enough for the Jets to get over the hump in 2018.
The Jets are not short of needs on this year’s roster, here are the top available 2018 free agent options at some positions of need:
Quarterback
- Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins
- Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
- Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
Edge Rusher
- Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit Lions
- Sheldon Richardson, Seattle Seahawks
- Aldon Smith, Oakland Raiders
Cornerback
- Trumaine Johnson, LA Rams
- Malcolm Butler, New England Patriots
- Vontae Davis, n/a
Offensive line
- Nate Solder, New England Patriots
- John Sullivan, LA Rams
- Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals
Running back
- Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts
- Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns
Wide Receiver
- Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
- Sammy Watkins, LA Rams
- Terrelle Pryor Sr, Washington Redskins
Tight end
- Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
- Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets
