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Three Late Free Agency Additions That Could Quietly Affect AFC East Race
They aren't high-profile players who demanded top dollar on the NFL free agent market, but their signings should not go unnoticed.
Despite not landing a deal until May (NFL Free Agency kicked off March 15), all three veterans address needs in the trenches for their respective AFC East teams.
Defensive linemen Al Woods and Poona Ford have left the nest in Seattle, moving east to join the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, respectively.
Then, there's offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, who gleefully left New England to ink a one-year deal with the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins.
Here's a closer look at the three late signings:
DT Poona Ford (Bills)
The Bills were run over in their 2022 AFC Divisional loss to the Cincinnati Bengals with defensive tackle DaQuan Jones unavailable that day. Ford delivers some more beef in the middle of a defensive line that wasn't exactly a team strength last season.
Ford has been a productive NFL starter for Pete Carroll’s defense since making the Seattle Seahawks' 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2018. The stout 5-foot-11 lineman has logged 76 regular season career appearances (64 starts), totaling 28 tackles-for-loss and 27 quarterback hits. He has started all 50 possible games over the past three seasons in Seattle.
In 2022, Ford was a disruptive force to the tune of 14 quarterback hurries and 3.0 sacks. He doesn't solve the Bills' long-term defensive line issues (they have no interior linemen under contract past 2023), but he'll be a nice plug-and-play piece for Sean McDermott's defense this fall.
DT Al Woods (Jets)
The Jets did not add a defensive tackle through the 2023 NFL Draft after losing two significant interior pieces - Sheldon Rankins (Texans) and Nathan Shepherd (Saints) - in free agency, but their patience was rewarded when they wound up with Woods.
The 6-foot-4 Woods, who has been linked to the Jets since late March, officially landed with Gang Green on May 11. The 330-pound road block will fit well in a rotation that includes All-Pro Quinnen Williams, re-signed veteran Solomon Thomas and free-agent addition Quinton Jefferson.
The 36-year old Woods is as battle-tested as they come, having logged 155 career appearances (78 starts). He has appeared in regular season games for five different NFL teams over the course of his career (Seahawks, Buccaneers, Steelers, Colts, Titans).
Woods, who totaled 30 starts for the Seahawks over the past two years after opting out of the 2020 COVID season, has experience in a true nose tackle role from his days in Tennessee. In 2022, he accounted for 39 combined stops and 2.0 sacks over 14 starts.
Former Jet defensive lineman Leger Douzable, who now serves in the media, posted his approval of the Woods signing on Twitter by saying, "Woods is a run stuffing DT that can push the pocket. Solidifying the DT position was a must for the Jets and they get Woods under contract."
OT Isaiah Wynn (Dolphins)
Wynn clearly wanted out of New England, but it took some time for the offensive tackle to find a new home in free agency.
Heading south, but remaining in the AFC East, Wynn takes his services to Miami, which was in serious need of insurance on the end of the offensive line. Outside of starters Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson, the Dolphins depth at tackle was non-existent.
The 6-foot-3 Wynn has shown the ability to start and succeed in the NFL, but his availability has been lacking. He missed his entire rookie season (2018) after tearing his Achilles in a preseason game. Wynn returned to injured reserve in 2020 and his 2022 campaign ended on IR due to a foot injury.
Wynn, the No. 23 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, made 40 starts for the Patriots over the course of his rookie contract. He stabilized the left tackle spot for New England in 2021, playing 16 games (15 starts), but couldn't carry the momentum over into 2022. After flipping to the right side prior to the season's start, Wynn never appeared comfortable while making only nine appearances (7 starts).
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