5 potential Jets targets in NFL free agency
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. Credit: AP/John Locher
The first big decision the Jets’ new regime made was moving on from Aaron Rodgers. Now they will begin working on finding Rodgers’ replacement and filling other holes.
The Jets have a lot of them.
The NFL’s free-agent negotiation window opens at noon Monday. The Jets have needs at quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, right tackle, defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback, safety, kicker and possibly punter.
Welcome to New York, Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey.
Glenn, a first-time head coach, and Mougey, a first-time general manager, have a lot of work to do to end the Jets’ 14-year playoff drought — the longest current streak in the four major professional sports.
“We’re looking for smart, tough, aggressive and resilient players. We got to do everything we can to find those guys,” Glenn said. “Wherever we can find them, we’re going to try to bring them on this team.”
The Jets will use next month’s draft to address some of their many needs and supplement whatever they do in free agency. They began the weekend with about $51.8 million to spend on players, according to overthecap.com. They can create more salary-cap space and get it well over $60 million with some cuts and contract restructures.
“We’ll have a plan,” Mougey said. “I don’t know how active or measured we’ll be, but we’ll have a good plan.”
Here are five free agents the Jets could pursue in free agency:
Justin Fields, QB
The Jets want to bring in a veteran to compete with Tyrod Taylor for the starting job. Fields’ ability to run would give the Jets another dimension. His relationship with Jets receiver Garrett Wilson — they were teammates at Ohio State — can’t be discounted.
Fields, 26, showed improvement last year with Pittsburgh. He could be a multiyear starter if he continues to develop. The Jets may have to outbid the Steelers for Fields; Pittsburgh could choose him over Russell Wilson going forward.
If Fields is out, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz and Marcus Mariota are possible one-year rentals and potential mentors for a rookie quarterback. Kirk Cousins also could fill that role if he is released by Atlanta.
Tim Patrick, WR
The Jets’ receivers room is thin. They released Davante Adams and Allen Lazard is expected to be next. Patrick has connections to some Jets coaches and Mougey, and he probably won’t cost much.
Patrick played last year for Detroit; Glenn was the Lions’ defensive coordinator and new Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was the passing game coach. Patrick had 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns after missing two years because of injuries. He spent six seasons with Denver, where Mougey worked in the front office.
Chargers receiver Joshua Palmer also could be a target.
Carlton Davis, CB
D.J. Reed is all but gone, so Glenn could turn to someone he knows well to fill the void opposite Sauce Gardner. Davis, a Super Bowl champion with the Buccaneers, was with the Lions last year and played well before suffering a season-ending injury.
The Jets need multiple secondary additions. Other options are versatile Ifeatu Melifonwu — who played safety and cornerback for Glenn with Detroit — and San Francisco safety Tashaun Gipson. He has history with new Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. The Jets could re-sign safety Isaiah Oliver, who also has played for Wilks.
Nick Bolton, LB
The Jets want to re-sign linebacker Jamien Sherwood, their leading tackler last year. They could face competition from several teams. Former Jets’ coaches Robert Saleh (49ers defensive coordinator) and Jeff Ulbrich (Falcons DC) may want to reunite with Sherwood.
Either way, the Jets need linebackers with C.J. Mosley unlikely to return.
They could take a swing on Bolton, an impactful linebacker who won two Super Bowls with Kansas City. Other names to watch could include Dre Greenlaw—– who played for Wilks — Kyzir White and or Cody Barton. He played for Denver last season.
Levi Onwuzurike, DL
Another former Glenn player, Onwuzurike would give the Jets a young, still-improving presence on the interior defensive line next to Quinnen Williams. Onwuzurike was Detroit’s second-round pick in 2021 — Glenn’s first year as defensive coordinator — and became a starter last year. He finished with 29 quarterback hurries and 13 QB hits.
The Broncos’ D.J. Jones and the 49ers’ Javon Hargrave have ties to Mougey and Wilks, respectively, and could be targets.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
