new york jets free agency
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ESNY’s 2021 New York Jets Free Agency tracker will provide news on all of Gang Green’s signings and re-signings this offseason.

It’s that time of year again. On Monday at 12:00 p.m. ET, NFL teams can begin speaking to agents of prospective free-agent targets, and on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, the new league year begins and those teams can thus begin signing free agents.

The New York Jets possess a whopping amount of cap space — nearly $70 million as of Monday morning. They can thus use that room to acquire a new edge rusher, offensive guard, and importantly, a new wide receiver or running back.

Joe Douglas and his front office will have a number of responsibilities over the next few weeks, and luckily, ESNY will provide updates on each of their signings and re-signings.

Players who will be signing

iOL Corey Levin

Per Connor Hughes of The Athletic, the Jets will be signing center/guard Corey Levin. The 26-year-old originally went in the sixth round of the 2017 draft out of Chattanooga and most recently spent time with the Patriots practice squad in 2020.

RB Tevin Coleman

The Jets have signed free-agent running back Tevin Coleman to a one-year contract worth up to $2 million.

Coleman will now reunite with Jets head coach and former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, as well as Jets offensive coordinator and former San Fran passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur. Thus, he’ll work within an offense that carries elements of the offense Kyle Shanahan ran out West.

DE Vinny Curry

According to Ian Rapoport, the Jets have inked a deal with veteran defensive end Vinny Curry.

It’s a one-year deal worth a maximum of $2 million.

 

Curry previously spent time with the Eagles from 2012-17 and then again from 2019-20. Joe Douglas, current Jets general manager, was Philly’s VP of player personnel from 2016-19.

The 32-year-old racked up 16 combined tackles and three sacks through 11 games with the Eagles last season.

DT Sheldon Rankins

The Jets will be signing former Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a two-year contract worth up to $17 million, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Rankins was a first-round pick of the Saints in 2016.

TE Tyler Kroft

The Jets have agreed to a one-year deal with tight end Tyler Kroft. The 28-year-old caught 12 balls for 119 yards and three touchdowns (10 games) with Buffalo last season.

WR Keelan Cole

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Jets will acquire wideout Keelan Cole on a one-year, $5.5 million deal. Cole previously spent four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cole is primarily a slot receiver and caught 55 balls for 642 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Amid this move along with the agreement to acquire wideout Corey Davis, it’s unclear if the Jets will still look to sign JuJu Smith-Schuster. Ian Rapoport reported Thursday the Jets have spoken with the free-agent receiver.

iOL Dan Feeney

NFL insider Adam Caplan reports the Jets have agreed to a deal with interior offensive lineman Dan Feeney.

The 26-year-old spent time with the Chargers from 2017-20 after being selected in the 2017 draft’s third round out of Indiana.

ST Ace/CB Justin Hardee

Per Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football, the Jets have agreed to terms with Justin Hardee.

Hardee is mainly a special teams ace, having hardly played defensive back for the Saints in the four seasons in which he was on the roster.

DE Carl Lawson

The Jets have agreed to terms with the talented defensive end that is Carl Lawson, who’s expected to boost the team’s pass rush in 2021 and beyond. Lawson notched 5.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits with the Bengals last season.

The deal is for $45 million across three years.

WR Corey Davis

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets have come to an agreement with wide receiver Corey Davis. It’s a three-year deal worth $37.5 million.

This is a great move by the Jets, who need a superb wideout on the roster to assist whoever starts at quarterback for them next season (whether it’s Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson, or somehow Deshaun Watson).

LB Jarrad Davis

The Jets have agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with linebacker Jarrad Davis. The 26-year-old originally went in the first round of the 2017 draft but recorded just 46 combined tackles and .5 sacks for Detroit last year.

 

Players who will be re-signing

DB Bennett Jackson

ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports the Jets have retained defensive back Bennett Jackson. The veteran took part in four games for New York last year and was exclusively a special teams weapon.

RB Josh Adams

The Athletic’s Connor Hughes reports Josh Adams is returning to the Jets on a one-year deal. Adams played in just eight games with New York last year.

WR Jeff Smith

ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports the Jets are returning wideout Jeff Smith, who’s an exclusive rights free agent.

Smith racked up 167 yards on 17 receptions in 12 games last year.

WR Vyncint Smith

The Jets re-signed receiver Vyncint Smith to a one-year deal. Smith caught just one ball for 13 yards in seven games last year.

 

Players leaving

LB Frankie Luvu

Linebacker Frankie Luvu is leaving the Jets for a new contract with the Carolina Panthers. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported the news Tuesday.

EDGE Jordan Jenkins

Jordan Jenkins is leaving the Jets to sign a two-year, $6 million deal with the Houston Texans. Jenkins led Gang Green in sacks in both 2018 (7.0) and 2019 (8.0).

WR Breshad Perriman

Adam Schefter reports wide receiver Breshad Perriman, who spent one season with the Jets, will sign a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.

Why is this so cool?

Breshad’s father, Brett, played for the Lions from 1991-96.

OLB Tarell Basham

Outside linebacker Tarell Basham is signing a two-year deal with the Cowboys. Basham played in all 16 games with the Jets last year while starting in nine.

The 27-year-old recorded 36 combined tackles with 3.5 sacks in 2020.

OL Pat Elflein — Carolina Panthers

Pat Elflein has reached an agreement with the Panthers, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Elflein’s contract is for three years and worth $13.5 million ($6 million guaranteed).

Elflein played and started in six games for New York last year.

DL Henry Anderson

It’s already been known the Jets released Henry Anderson — it occurred earlier this month. Nonetheless, he won’t be departing the AFC East.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots have agreed with Anderson on a two-year deal.

 

Marcus Maye Franchise Tag News

On Saturday, it was reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that safety Marcus Maye would be accepting his $10.6 million franchise tag. The Jets tagged him earlier this offseason.

Both Maye and the organization have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal.

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Ryan Honey
Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.

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