Jets Free Agency Plan: First Steps?
The New York Jets are expected to be busy this offseason with improving their roster for the 2024 season.
That doesn't mean they'll be on every free agent, though.
© Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com
With three days left before the start of the legal tampering period where players can sign contracts with different teams, the Jets have to decide if their overall strategy should be one of grabbing the top available guys at positions of need or using a more calculated approach that keeps them quiet at the start.
Earlier this week, New York Post Jets beat writer Brian Costello stated on the Boy Green Daily show with Paul Esden Jr., that he believed the Jets would be quiet to start free agency.
"I’ll give you one prediction, you guys are all going to be pissed off on the first day of free agency that they’re not doing enough," Costello explained. "I do not think they’re going to come out guns blazing when the legal tampering period starts... you guys will be losing your minds seeing other teams do stuff."
The Jets will hardly be the only team to be passive to start free agency, but what exactly will that look like?
Some of the best free-agent moves have been for players on one-year deals that allow them to play their best for potential massive payoffs. In 2017 and 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles signed several important players to one-year deals that helped them reach the Super Bowl.
Just last season, the Chiefs did the same.
The 2024 free agent class is very strong in positions that the Jets need - particularly at offensive line, safety, and wide receiver. Just because there are good players at positions of need doesn't mean New York should overpay for those players, though.
Some of the best teams in football use a calculated approach in free agency and allow the first waves of free agents to dictate the coming market. Through that, strong deals for solid players can be found if organizations are willing to be patient.
The Jets have over $27 million in salary cap space but are willing to show that patience to find the right deal and fit for the franchise.
Fans may not like it right away, but there's plenty of recent history to show that the teams that strike in free agency first aren't the last ones standing come playoff time.
New York has plenty of needs, but their patient approach to this current free agent class might just set themselves up for success in the long term.
