The New York Jets have holes to fill this offseason and general manager Joe Douglas is scouring the free-agent market for the right guys.
Joe Douglas is finally beginning his first full offseason as general manager of the New York Jets. Rebuilding the team in the trenches seems to be a top priority for Douglas and he’ll need to snag talent in free agency to put the Jets in position to succeed in 2020.
The offensive line is a priority this offseason, but Douglas allowed other teams to scoop up all the top-tier free agents. It’s still early though.
New York Jets have serious interest in Dante Fowler
The #Rams did not use their franchise tag on DE Dante Fowler. He’s a free agent. The #Jets are very interested, per sources, and will pursue.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 16, 2020
The Jets haven’t had a strong edge rusher in a long time. The last time they had a linebacker with double-digit sack numbers was Calvin Pace in 2013. The last time they had any player with double-digit sacks was Mo Wilkerson in 2015.
Dante Fowler would be a huge change. Fowler had 11.5 sacks in 2019 for the Los Angeles Rams. He’s finally healthy and living up to his potential. Now that he’s hit the open market, the Jets have serious interest in adding him to their defense.
Adding a legitimate pass rusher to the best run defense in the NFL could make the Jets one of the best defenses in the NFL.
New York Jets showing interest in Phillip Dorsett
Just got off the phone with impending FA WR Phillip Dorsett. He told me, teams showing preliminary interest in him include the #NYJ, #SEA, #LAC, #SF, #LVR. He said, "I just want to come in and have a great opportunity to play and showcase how I can really flourish as a player."
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 16, 2020
With Robby Anderson looking unlikely to return, New York needs to find a way to add speed to their team. Phillip Dorsett isn’t the best receiver, but he is fast.
He would be a decent option to stretch the field if Anderson does leave. The issue is that Dorsett doesn’t do much else. He’s a fourth or fifth option on a good offense. He would be the Jets’ second option.
Dorsett makes some sense, but he can’t be the only move the Jets make at wide receiver.
Miami Dolphins showing interest in Brian Poole
Dolphins are actively looking at starting CB market. There is some interest in Cowboys' Byron Jones, as @JosinaAnderson reported. They are also interested in Titans CB Logan Ryan and Jets CB Brian Poole, among others.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 16, 2020
Brian Poole was one of the biggest steals of free agency in 2019. He was the best slot cornerback in football and arguably a top-10 corner in the league. Now he’s back on the market.
The Miami Dolphins have an interest in the former Jet which would be a huge loss for the Jets’ defense. He was the only good corner on the roster in 2019.
The Jets have enough holes on their roster. Opening another at slot corner would put the defense in a difficult spot. That’s especially true when that player goes to a division rival.
New York Jets out of the running for Jordan Jenkins
Here’s some development:
The #Jets don’t appear to be in the running anymore to retain LB Jordan Jenkins, according to league sources. He’s expected to sign “elsewhere."
Things can obviously change with last-second deal, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be back in green.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 16, 2020
Jordan Jenkins was a bright spot on the Jets’ 2019 defense. He set a career-high in sacks while setting the edge in the run game. He proved to be a solid strong-side linebacker.
The Jets can do better than Jenkins and the aforementioned Van Noy comes to mind. Still, it’s a surprise to see the Jets bow out of the running for one of their primary free agents.
They will now need two edge rushers in the 2020 offseason. If they don’t acquire two, they’ll have one of the weakest linebacker corps in the NFL.
Jets have serious interest in Chris Harris Jr.
With the corner market about to get crazy, Jets have their eyes on veteran Chris Harris, who could be a perfect fit … https://t.co/MI6AzFXwM2 pic.twitter.com/Baj3FlU2ev
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) March 16, 2020
According to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, The New York Jets have showed serious interest in Chris Harris Jr. since the combine.
Harris makes little sense for the Jets. He’s older, 31-years-old by the start of the season, and he’s in clear decline. Harris is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career in 2019.
At one time Harris was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Now, he’s not a number one corner. He makes sense on a cheaper short term deal to play slot corner to replace Brian Poole. However, that’s not likely the contract they’re discussing.
Harris isn’t the elite cornerback he used to be. If the Jets pay him for the player he used to be, it’ll show they learned nothing from the Trumaine Johnson debacle.
Jets “poking around” Prince Amukamara
#Jets are among teams poking around ex-Giants/Bears CB Prince Amukamara, per source.
Would be a good signing for #NYJ. Yes, they need a No. 1 CB … also a No. 2.
Amukamara is 30, but still playing good ball: PFF coverage grades of 71.5, 77.1, 70.5 last 3 years. Outside CB
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 16, 2020
According to Connor Hughes of The Athletic, the Jets are “poking around” Prince Amukamara. Amukamara isn’t a No. 1 cornerback, but that doesn’t mean he’s useless.
The Jets need two maybe three cornerbacks before the 2020 season kicks off. Amukamara would be a very solid number two cornerback at the right price.
This would likely be a short term deal after Amukamara was cut by the Bears. Amukamara is going to be 31-years-old at the start of the season, so decline is inevitable.
On a one or two-year deal this makes sense. Anything longer would be a mistake.
Jack Conklin signs with the Cleveland Browns
Jack Conklin agreed to a 3-year deal with the Browns for $42M with $30M fully guarantee, per @RosenhausSports. He earns $20mil in the first year. Wanted to keep it short due to the projected increases in the salary cap. Conklin will only be 28 when this deal expires.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
The New York Jets miss out on the top tackle on the market. Jack Conklin is off the board signing a deal with the Browns that earns him $14 million per year.
With both Conklin and Joe Thuney off the board the Jets options at offensive line are becoming limited. Their top priority seems to be interior offensive lineman Graham Glasgow.
In the broader sense, this likely means the Jets are going to go with Chuma Edoga at right tackle in 2020. It’s unlikely that Joe Douglas will overpay for second-tier offensive linemen.
Sam Darnold should buckle up, it doesn’t look like the 2020 offensive line will be much better than the 2019 version.
Jets in communication with Jadeveon Clowney
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the New York Jets are in communications with the top edge rusher on the open market.
Clowney would be a difference-maker for the Jets. He’s the best run defending edge rusher in the NFL, and his pressure rates are through the roof. He would be the first elite edge rusher the Jets have had since John Abraham.
The issue is that Clowney doesn’t put up sack numbers. Clowney has never had a 10 sack year, and only had three sacks in 2019. Despite that, he’s elite because he puts pressure on the QB and he’s a monster in the run game.
Adding Clowney would make nearly impossible to run the ball against the Jets. He would also see improvements in his pass rush over 2019 due to the Jets’ strong defensive line.
According to Pelissero, Clowney is looking for a market-setting contract, and he’s not expected to get it. Is Joe Douglas willing to spend $20 million on Clowney? That could be the difference.
Denver Broncos sign Graham Glasgow
Broncos signing OL Graham Glasgow to a four-year, $44 million contract, including $26 million guaranteed, @SPORTSTARSNYC tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
The New York Jets have struck out on all of the big-name offensive linemen. They were reportedly interested in Thuney, Conklin, and Glasgow and now all three are off the board.
It’s going to be incredibly difficult for Joe Douglas to build an offensive line out of the spare parts left in free agency.
There are some decent players left like Connor McGovern, Matt Skura, and George Fant, but it’s a clear tier below.
This a damaging first day of free agency for Joe Douglas and the New York Jets.
Jets turn their attention to Greg Van Roten and Stefen Wisniewski
Sources: #Jets have turned their attention to #Chiefs C/G Stefen Wisniewski & #Panthers G Greg Van Roten now that Thuney/Glasgow are off the board.
Van Roten (30) an impressive pass blocker with 27 starts last two years. Wisniewski has been a consistently-good player since 2011
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 16, 2020
With the big names off the market the Jets have turned their attention to the second-tier of offensive linemen.
Greg Van Roten is a former CFL player turned NFL starter. He spent the previous two-year playing guard for the Carolina panthers. He’s coming off a good 2019 that ended with a dislocated toe.
He would be a fine addition that would certainly be an improvement over the Jets guard situation in 2019. He just wouldn’t be a long term improvement or a large improvement.
Wisniewski is a trickier player. He was on a clear decline in his career prior to 2019. He was cut by multiple teams before landing with the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs. He’s going to be 31-years-old and is a better guard than center at his age.
Neither seems a strong bet to drastically improve the Jets offensive line, but Van Roten is the better of the two.
Miami Dolphins sign Kyle Van Noy
#Dolphins have agreed to terms with LB Kyle Van Noy, source says. Reunited with Brian Flores.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2020
The New York Jets are having an incredibly tough first day of free agency. It seems as though every single player they’ve been connected to has signed somewhere else.
The good news is that Joe Douglas clearly has a price for everyone and won’t go over it. He isn’t going to be dragged into a bad free agent contract out of desperation.
The bad news is that the Jets need to fill a number of holes and they’re running out of quality player to fill them with. It seems Joe Douglas is more concerned about risk aversion than buying known commodities.
For Joe Douglas’ strategy to pay off, the Jets are going to need a strong draft class. If Douglas doesn’t deliver there he’ll be on thin ice after just one off-season.
New York Jets sign George Fant
Former Seahawks’ OT George Fant reached agreement with the Jets on a three-year, $30 million deal that includes $13.7 million guaranteed, per @JFowlerESPN and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020
The New York Jets finally make a move to improve along the offensive line. They have signed 28-year-old swing tackle George Fant.
Fant played left tackle for the Seahawks as their primary backup offensive lineman. He’s also played some tight end. Fant is incredibly athletic for his size and that should come in handy in Frank Pollack’s zone-blocking scheme.
Fant has never been a starting offensive lineman. He tore his ACL in 2017 costing him a chance to compete for a starting spot. He hasn’t missed a game since.
Fant allowed three sacks and took only one penalty in the 16 games he played in 2019, seven starts. He is likely going to slot in as a starting tackle, which side will likely be determined by who the Jets draft at 11.
