Jets free agency: Meet the newest members of the team
Tyrod Taylor of the Giants throws a pass during the second quarter against the Rams at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 31, 2023. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Meet the newest members of the Jets this offseason:
Tyrod Taylor, QB
2023 team: Giants
Contract: Two years, $18 million
Taylor stays in New Jersey after playing for the Giants last season. The 34-year-old backed up Daniel Jones and saw time in 11 games (including five starts), throwing for 1,341 yards with five touchdown passes and three interceptions. He backed up Joe Flacco in Baltimore from 2011-14, then started for the Bills for three seasons (amassing 8,857 passing yards, 51 passing touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 1,575 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns) before continuing on as a backup for the Browns, Chargers and Texans. Taylor has thrown for 12,135 yards, 65 touchdowns and 29 interceptions while rushing for 2,268 yards and 19 rushing scores in 92 career games (58 starts).
Morgan Moses, T
Ravens offensive tackle Morgan Moses is seen before an NFL divisional round playoff game against the Texans on Jan. 20 in Baltimore. Credit: AP/Daniel Kucin Jr.
2023 team: Ravens
Contract: One year, $5.5 million
The Jets traded a fourth-round pick (No. 112 overall) and a sixth-round pick (No. 218) to the Ravens for Moses and a fourth-round pick (No. 134) in this year's draft. This is Moses' second stint with the team; he played all 17 games at right tackle (with 16 starts) for the Jets in 2021 before leaving for Baltimore on a three-year, $15 million deal (of which one year and $5.5 million remain). A third-round pick of Washington in 2014, the 33-year-old Moses has missed just three games over the last nine seasons.
John Simpson, G
Ravens guard John Simpson looks on during pre-game warm-ups before an NFL game against the Lions on Oct. 22, 2023, in Baltimore. Credit: AP/Terrance Williams
2023 team: Ravens
Contract: Two years, $18 million
Simpson (6-4, 330 pounds) arrives as the expected replacement for left guard Laken Tomlinson, who was released earlier in the offseason. The 26-year-old, a fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2020, started every game for the Ravens last season and allowed one sack, according to Pro Football Focus.
Javon Kinlaw, DT
49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw looks on during the NFL football game against the Eagles on Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Chris Szagola
2023 team: 49ers
Contract: One year
Kinlaw, 26, played for Jets coach Robert Saleh when the two were with the 49ers in 2020. He arrived in San Francisco that year with high expectations as the No. 14 overall pick in the draft out of South Carolina, but injuries limited him to just 24 games in his first three seasons. The 6-5, 319-pound Kinlaw finally played a full 17-game schedule in 2023 and had 25 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and six quarterback hits.
Leki Fotu, DT
Cardinals defensive tackle Leki Fotu looks on during an NFL game against the Broncos on Dec. 18, 2022, in Denver. Credit: AP/Bart Young
2023 team: Cardinals
Contract: One year, $2.5 million (with another $1.5 million in incentives)
Fotu, 25, has spent his entire career in Arizona since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2020. The 6-5, 334-pounder has started 21 of 56 games, recording 98 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks (including 2 1/2 last year), 12 tackles for loss and seven QB hits. Fotu was a star rugby player as a child — he played for the USA Rugby All-American team and trained with the London Wasps rugby team in 2013.
Isaiah Oliver, CB
49ers cornerback Isaiah Oliver cheers before an NFL game against the Packers on Jan. 21 in Inglewood, Calif. Credit: AP/Ashley Landis
2023 team: 49ers
Contract: One year
Oliver played in San Francisco last season but has ties to the Jets dating to his days with the Falcons, where he played under Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. A former second-round pick of Atlanta in 2018, Oliver has 270 tackles, three interceptions, 37 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 79 career games (44 starts). He started six of 17 games last season in his lone season for the 49ers, recording 67 tackles, one interception, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
Nick Klopsis is Newsday.com's sports editor. He often can be found studying NFL and college football film for his latest draft breakdown.
