Jets’ Still Have Holes to Fill Three Weeks into NFL Free Agency
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It’s not time to panic, but the New York Jets should add players at three specific positions before offseason mini camps commence.
With the National Football League Draft three weeks away, the Jets lack a starting center, an experienced free safety and interior defensive line depth.
There are still a number of viable free-agent options at the three aforementioned positions, but Gang Green's limited salary cap space will likely force general manager Joe Douglas to browse through the bargain bin.
As for the current free-agent options at center, 2022 starter Connor McGovern remains on the sagging market.
McGovern, who made 48 of a possible 50 starts for the Jets over the past three seasons, likely thought his services would command close to $10 million per year, but the market never noticeably materialized.
Reports have suggested that Jets’ brass has heavy interest in signing 34-year old veteran Ben Jones, who spent the last seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Jones missed two games during the second half of the 2022 campaign due to a concussion.
Center Ben Jones
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“There is interest in Ben [Jones], another outstanding veteran. [He was a] Pro Bowler last year. You talk about tough, smart, just a great leader, great person,” said Douglas while attending the NFL Owners' Meetings in Arizona.
The Jets have a back-up plan at center after signing versatile veteran Wes Schweitzer away from the Washington Commanders. The 6-foot-4 Schweitzer has taken snaps at all five offensive line positions as a pro, but he was available for only seven games last year due to a head injury.
Meanwhile, Tony Adams, an undrafted free agent last year, is the lone true free safety on Gang Green’s roster.
Free safety John Johnson, who started the last two years in Cleveland after four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, remains unsigned in what is now a dried-up pool of free-agent safeties. NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal ranked Johnson at No. 75 overall in his “Top 100 free agents of 2023” article.
The Jets’ defensive front contains a hole next to All-Pro tackle Quinnen Williams after Sheldon Rankins (Texans) and Nathan Shepherd (Saints) left in free agency.
Six-time Pro Bowl selection Calais Campbell was scheduled to visit Florham Park, but he signed with the Atlanta Falcons two days earlier.
Al Woods, a 12-year NFL veteran, is reportedly making an official visit to the Jets, but his former Seattle Seahawk teammate Poona Ford is a much more attractive option.
DT Al Woods
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Routinely overlooked due to his height, the 5-foot-11 Ford has started all 50 games over the past three seasons. The 27-year old nose tackle has yet to sign with a team, but his asking price may not align with the Jets’ salary cap situation.
New Jersey native Matthew Ioannidis and 28-year old A’Shawn Robinson are also on the market. The former has appeared in 86 career regular season games (53 starts) while the latter has spent the past three seasons as Aaron Donald’s linemate in Los Angeles.
The NFL Free Agency signing period opened at the start of the new league year on March 15. The Jets have been relatively active shoppers, securing names such as Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman while pursuing a trade for four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
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