Jets 'Best Fit' for Commanders' Free Agent Safety?
Defense can be a treacherous thing to build around and put faith in when it comes to championship aspirations. Turnover luck, a string of injuries, and a myriad of other factors can render an elite unit average faster than you can say “regression to the mean.”
However, if there are precautions teams with strong defenses can take, it’s investing in good coaching and continuing to add talent.
The New York Jets, led by head coach Robert Saleh, have the opportunity to do both.
Oct 29, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Julio Jones (80) catches a touchdown pass as Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl (31) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExField.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
In 2023, New York finished third in expected points added per play and second in success rate on defense, the team’s second consecutive year amongst the league’s best. The Jets did so without the help of an offense capable of merely pretending to score and faced a gauntlet of quarterbacks.
It was the brightest spot of Saleh’s tumultuous season and an aspect of the Jets that must remain intact if a Super Bowl run has any hopes of coming to fruition.
On Monday, New York voided the contract of safety Jordan Whitehead, signaling that there will be at least some turnover on that side of the ball. According to ESPN, Gang Green is the best fit for a definitive upgrade at the safety position.
Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl is set to hit the open market. He’s one of the best safeties in a strong free-agent class and a name the Jets may have underlined come March.
“Curl is a highly instinctive safety who can roll into the front or drive top-down from split-field alignments – traits that work well in Robert Saleh’s system,” Matt Bowen wrote. “While I would like to see Curl create more on-the-ball production … he’s a solid pro who could produce in the Jets’ defined coverages.”
Curl has spent about half of his snaps in the box during his professional career but has shown more than enough in coverage to take on the quarters and deep-half responsibilities, even without blazing speed. He’s a year removed from a season of legitimately elite play, a drop-off that may have been exacerbated by a Washington secondary that gave up explosive plays at a debilitating rate.
Whitehead may have been scapegoated a bit during his Jets tenure, but an upgrade was never out of the question, and at Pro Football Focus’ projected four-year, $12.5 million per year deal, Curl is a fair buy.
Saleh continues to get the best out of defenses. Surrounded by more talent and optimized by his coach, there’s reason to believe Curl would outperform his contract on yet another excellent New York defense.
